Communicating a social campaign in just 5 minutes

Can you imagine delivering a social campaign speech in just 5 minutes? This challenge was the core of 5-Minute Social Campaign Competition that was organized by students of Communication program, Binus Univeristy International on 23 November 2020. The online speech competition that was conducted via Zoom was one of the activities in the main event called Comm Space 2020.

COMM SPACE 2020 is a two day online event that was created by Binus International University’s Communications program batch 2023 students, the competitions took place via Zoom conference meeting on the 23rd and 25th of November 2020. These events explored the two aspects of communications during this uncertain time of pandemic. One of the competitions that took place during the two day event is a 5 Minute Social Campaign Speech Competition. The initiative for this event came from Communications program lecturer Ms. Lily El Ferawati as a final project for batch 2023 students.

Participants were given 3 topics to choose from and that is about Human rights, Global Warming, and Workers rights. There were 18 participants that took part in the competition and those participants came from universities such as University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, Padjadjaran University, Binus University, Binus International University, University of Pelita Harapan, SMA 6, Binus Simprug, Sam Ratulangi University, Al-Irsyad Satya Islamic School, Poltekkes Jakarta 2, University of Amsterdam, Oregon State University, and Prasetiya Mulya University.

The three winners of the speech competition were Muna Gayatari, Jenny Sari, and Deborah Mogot, the winners of this event had the chance to receive cash prizes, GOPAY/OVO vouchers, e-certificates, and most importantly, a new knowledge regarding communications.

Muna Gayatari was inspired to join this year’s first COMM SPACE because she is actually teaching Public speaking in BNEC, therefore she wanted to join the competition to showcase to her students how to do public speaking during a competition, she saw this competition as an opportunity and also an experience. Muna’s speech topic was inspired by how she’s always felt attached to the environment and cares very much about climate change and global warming. She wanted to pick a topic that she understood very well and can carry it emotional wise. She also wanted to speak about a topic that was simple and easy to understand, because she feels that if it is too complicated the audience will have a hard time comprehending it.

For Jenny Sari Winata, it was her first time joining a speech competition, she was looking for external experiences and when she came across the COMM SPACE poster she found the topics that were offered to be interesting as well as the competition format itself. Jenny’s speech topic was inspired by how she looked at the current condition of Indonesia, her speech brought up major challenges that the nation is facing, and she felt that it is crucial for the young generation to raise awareness about it.

Deborah Mogot was invited by a friend to become a committee member but was drawn to the competition because of the topics listed for the competition. She also has always loved making speeches and public speaking, so she felt like it was a good chance for her to be able to enhance her passion in public speaking. Deborah’s speech topic was actually a university political project regarding a campaign for abortion, so it felt perfect for her to do her speech about this particular topic., but she has always been adamant on her stance with abortion where she believes that people deserve to have those rights.  Deborah would consider joining again; however, it would depend on the list of topics given.

All contestants did very well in delivering their speeches, COMM SPACE committees also mentioned how this event would become a great benefit for the communications major as it teaches students how to organize and host an event – which can be very beneficial for the future.

Contributor: Nazira Muqthadi, Communications B2021 student

Editor: Lily El Ferawati, PhD.