PRODUCTION
Writing
1. Jeremy Deans, Junior Partner with Wilkins & Deans, a firm of City stockbrokers, yesterday called Peter Hartley, Supervisor of the European equities[1] trading desk, into his office. At the end of their conversation Jeremy, as Chief Administrator, asked Peter for a short but formal report (maximum 150 words) on discipline on the equities desk. Read the conversation and draft a report such as Peter might submit to him.
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JEREMY:
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Thanks for coming to see me Peter. I wanted to talk to you about a couple of disciplinary problems that I have noticed with your team. |
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PETER: |
Sounds serious. |
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JEREMY: |
Well I think so. The first one is swearing. I accept the dealing room is a tense place and they are under a lot of pressure, but it is all at top volume. I was taking an important Japanese client out last week and as we walked past I could see that he was clearly surprised and embarrassed. |
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PETER: |
It’s very difficult to handle. I mean the dealers do tend to get completely involved in the situation and a no-swearing rule would be very difficult to enforce. |
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JEREMY: |
I think you should have a word with the team. Remind them that I could cut their bonuses if I really saw no improvement. |
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PETER: |
OK, if you think it will help. |
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JEREMY: |
I do. What they say in the bar is up to them, but here it’s different. |
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PETER: |
Is there anything else? |
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JEREMY: |
Yes, I’m afraid so. Punctuality seems to be slipping. I’ve noticed dealers coming in after eight several times this week. Are there any reasons you know of? |
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PETER: |
I know that Michael and Claire take the train and there have been delays this week. |
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JEREMY: |
Well, I feel there is a general slackness. You were not here when I arrived at eight this morning. |
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PETER: |
Yes, sorry. I got stuck in traffic. |
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JEREMY: |
Alright. I accept that. These things happen, but I am sure the reasons are not always genuine. Imagine what they’d say if their pay cheques were late. |
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PETER: |
It starts with one person being a bit late and then someone else joins them. Before you know where you are it’s a major problem. I’ve spoken to a few of them, but I’ll let them know you are aware of the situation. |
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JEREMY: |
Please do, Peter. And say I shall be checking up on them for the next few weeks. If any of them come in late they are to account to me. We can’t afford to let this attitude take hold. We’ve got some promotion opportunities coming up shortly, and I was hoping to look to your team for candidates. |
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PETER: |
Michael has made a record profit on his portfolio this month. |
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JEREMY: |
That’s good. It’s up to you to see the others do the same! |
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PETER: |
One last thing. You mentioned a few days ago that personal phone calls seemed to be on the increase. Well, I’ve made a rule that no one is to make personal phone calls during trading hours except in an emergency. |
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JEREMY: |
Excellent. Clients get a bad impression if they see dealers just chatting on the phone, and it wastes good trading time. |
2. Two daily newspapers in the Manston Group, the Morning News and the Southern Star, are being amalgamated to form a new paper, the Southern Belle, in order to combat rising costs and falling circulation and advertising revenue. You are a personal assistant to Alan Crawford, who is the Personnel Manager at the Morning News. He has asked you for a brief report (about 200 words), covering specifically the staff problems you anticipate at the Morning News, and how these problems might be dealt with.
The Morning News This paper sells mainly in London and the south-east of England. The average daily circulation over the last six months has been less than 200,000 which is well below the breakeven point.
General layout of the paper: Pages 1 and 2: national and international news. Pages 3 to 6: local news (there are three varied editions for different geographical areas). Pages 7 and 8: special features. Then follow the pages given over completely to advertising, the final pages covering sport and entertainment.
The target audience is primarily male.
The printing works and offices are in Finchley in North London and there are 1,200 employees of whom nearly half are female part-time workers. 75 of the 115 journalists, however, are males over the age of 45.
The Southern Star This paper concentrates on national and international news, but also has six centre pages catering for a family audience. There are regular features on fashion and cookery, holidays and family problems. The circulation last year averaged 400,000 but there has been a serious decline in recent months.
The printing works and offices of the Southern Star are sited on the outskirts of Corydon in southern London. The workforce of 750 (all full-time) have known for some months that the existing works would be closing down when the lease expires at the end of next year.
The majority of the journalists on the staff are female, mainly under the age of 40.
The Southern Belle These two papers are to be amalgamated to make a completely new paper, the Southern Belle. It is to be published as soon as possible. Following market research, the Manston Board have decided on the new format.
According to the research, the public absorbs the main news items through television media, so the Southern Belle will concentrate less on the news and more on features, particularly those of general interest to the family.
It hoped to keep the circulation around the half-million mark, but 400,000 will be the breakeven point.
By using the latest technology the number of technical operators will be reduced to 250, with 45 on the editorial staff. Redundancies are inevitable.
The Southern Belle will be produced from the Southampton works and offices – 75 miles to the south-west of London. These will need to be modified to house the new equipment.