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Advanced Certificate in Online Reputation Management for Business Module 2: Tackling Falsehoods, Smear Campaigns, and Other Acts of Sabotage - How the Law Can Help

  • Digital Marketing & Comms
  • Basic
  • SkillsFuture
  • Short Courses
  • This module is part of Advanced Certificate in Online Reputation Management for Business

This module is conducted in-person.

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Fee
SGD2,180* (as low as SGD254 after maximum funding) Learn More
Duration

2 Full Days (Weekdays)

Level
Basic

Who Should Attend

  • Business owners, in particular, those from SMEs and start-ups with limited in-house legal and communications functions
  • Line managers and executives from various functions, especially those in marketing, PR, communications
  • In-house counsel


PREREQUISITES

Participants should be fluent in speaking and written English.

Overview

Businesses and brand live and breathe the Internet. Reputation is key, and even with the best product and service offerings, a business is bound to see its reputation take a hit every now and then.

Online reputation can be affected by a myriad of factors - negative reviews (whether genuine or malicious), acts of sabotage by competitors, cyberattacks, etc. In the face of negative online content targeted against a business, a paramount concern would be to manage and respond to such content constructively. However, there may arise situations where a business must take action against negative content arising out of malice and deliberate acts of sabotage so as to be accountable to its stakeholders.

This module will explore how various aspects of the law allow brands and businesses to take recourse against content that is defamatory, untrue, and calculated at harming a business’ image and reputation.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the 2-day module, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the differences between genuine (albeit negative) online content vs content calculated to smear or tarnish a business’ reputation

  • Be aware of the various legal doctrines that allow a business to safeguard its reputation: recourses against false statements; defamation; and fake news regime (and how it is not applicable, contrary to common misconception)
  • Understand when to turn to lawyers, and what tools lawyers have at their disposal to deal with malicious online content
  • Appreciate that anonymity of content originators can be a problem in tracking down the publishers of malicious content, and learn about the tools available to investigate and track down anonymous posters
  • Know the immediate steps a business should take in the wake of an online crisis in case the business decides to take legal action against the originator of malicious online content
  • Appreciate the different remedies a court of law can award a business that has been the subject of malicious online content

Assessment

As part of the requirement for SkillsFuture Singapore, there will be an assessment conducted at the end of the course. The mode of assessment, which is up to the trainer’s discretion, may be an online quiz, a presentation or based on classroom exercises.

Participants are required to attain a minimum of 75% attendance and pass the associated assessment in order to receive a digital Certificate of Completion issued by Singapore Management University.

Calculate Programme Fee

Click here for more infomation about SkillsFuture Credits (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)
For PSEA - Available only for Singapore Citizen below 31 (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)

Total Program Fee: SGD0.00

Fee Table

COMPANY-SPONSORED

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

SELF-SPONSORED

SME

NON-SME

Singapore Citizen < 40 years old

Permanent Resident

LTVP+

$654

(After SSG Funding 70%)

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$654

(After SSG Funding 70%)

Singapore Citizen ≥ 40 years old

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

International Participant

$2,180

(No Funding)

$2,180

(No Funding)

$2,180

(No Funding)

All prices include 9% GST

Please note that the programme fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Post Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
PSEA can be utilised for subsidised programmes eligible for SkillsFuture Credit support. Click here to find out more.

Self Sponsored

SkillsFuture Credit

Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use their SkillsFuture Credits to pay for the course fees. The credits may be used on top of existing course fee funding.

This is only applicable to self-sponsored participants. Application to utilise SkillsFuture Credits can be submitted when making payment for the course via the SMU Academy TMS Portal, and can only be made within 60 days of course start date.

Please click here for more information on the SkillsFuture Credit. For help in submitting an SFC claim, you may wish to refer to our step-by-step guide on claiming SkillsFuture Credits (Individual).

Workfare Skills Support Scheme

From 1 July 2023, the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme has been enhanced. Please click here for more details.

Company Sponsored

Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)

  • Organisation must be registered or incorporated in Singapore
  • Employment size of not more than 200 or with annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million
  • Trainees must be hired in accordance with the Employment Act and fully sponsored by their employers for the course
  • Trainees must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents
  • Trainees must not be a full-time national serviceman
  • Trainees are eligible for ETSS funding only if their company's SME status is approved prior to the course commencement date. To verify your SME's status, please click here. 

Please click here for more information on ETSS.

Absentee Payroll

Companies who sponsor their employees for the course may apply for Absentee Payroll here. For more information, please refer to:

AP Guide (Non-SME Companies)
Declaration Guide (SME Companies)

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Trainers

Fong Wei Li
Managing Director
Forward Legal LLC
Fong Wei Li
Managing Director
Forward Legal LLC
Wei Li is a multi-talented individual: lawyer, educator, and writer. He runs a boutique law firm specialising in media, Internet, and entertainment law. Apart from legal practice, he teaches legal writing and professional development courses at Singapore Management University's Yong Pung How School of Law. Wei Li values simplicity in communication, contrary to the verbose stereotype of lawyers. His background in psychology, media studies, and freelance writing enriches his understanding of effective communication. Certified as a translator, he's bilingual. Balancing law practice and teaching for nearly a decade, he believes in stress-free learning, making his courses interactive and engaging. Students commend his vibrant and enthusiastic teaching style.

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