Social Media vs. Traditional PR

The two JB classes that I have this semester are Social Media and Advanced PR Media. They are both great classes that I thoroughly enjoy, but lately I’ve been wondering which will be most beneficial to me in the long run. Once I get out into the real world of PR, what will be the more marketable skill?

One major argument for social media that we always hear is that as a younger generation, we have a bit of an edge on those who came before us. We grew up IM’ing on AOL and surfing the Internet, and for the incoming freshman and those behind them, grew up with Myspace and Facebook. So we are naturally more comfortable with blogging, tweeting, etc. than someone who has been in the PR world for 20+ years  would be. I started the semester knowing not much at all other than how to use my Facebook, and now I feel that I have many great skills to offer in the area of social media. However, anyone can learn, so is this something that is really that valuable? As we’ve learned in JB 4520, at any site, whether it be Twitter or Visual CV, there is an instructional video to walk you through the entire process. Also, just about every company or organization out there has a presence on the Internet. So I’m sure being able to say I have had a class teaching me the specifics of all of these different types of media will be impressive.

Traditional PR, however, isn’t something that you can just log on and learn. Of course I’m sure there are sites telling you how to write a press release or that can teach you AP style, but isn’t this something that really should be taught in a classroom and drilled into your head? I have had more than 20 hours of PR specific courses, and some of the technicalities still make me a bit nervous. In my Advanced PR Media course we are learning to use InDesign and Photoshop to create brochures, newsletters, fliers, etc. , which are things any good PR practitioner will need to know how to do. Again, this is something that should help in the job search.

So when it comes down to it, is either set of skills more valuable than the other? Or has the world of PR come to the point that in order to be secure that you are doing the best job possible, you need to be a “guru” in both areas? Either way, I can rest assured that I’m getting a great education in both areas. Thoughts, anyone?

Celeste

Socially Orange

Just wanted to give a little update on the Web site that my Social Media class is creating. It’s really coming a long way pretty quickly, and we’re learning a lot of interesting stuff  while doing it. In fact, I helped my mom create a site for her new business after learning how to set one up in class! Look at me, already using what I’ve learned.

First of all, the site is called Socially Orange, if I haven’t mentioned that before. I think the name is so creative and fun, and definitely easy to remember! One of the girls in class came up with it, and I must say I’m impressed. As of right now we are focusing on getting members involved who are affiliated with the Journalism & Broadcasting (JB) school at Oklahoma State. Eventually we are hoping that it will expand beyond that, but that’s where we’re starting. The main goal of the site is basically to give JB students, prospective students, recent grads, or JB professionals a place to meet up and network. Hopefully it will lead to internships and jobs for students, and possibly stir up some interest in the JB school for future students and employers as well.

As of right now, groups are being created, blogs are being written, and videos are being uploaded pretty often. It’s definitely in the beginning stages, but I’m proud of the little piece of it that I’ve been involved with. We currently have five different groups available to join, and all of the events affiliated with the JB school are posted on the site, so it’s a great place to keep up to date on the school.

If you haven’t been to the site before, check it out by clicking here. Wish us luck!

Celeste

Guest Speaker in Social Media Today!

We had a great guest speaker today in our Social Media class, Mike Koehler of NewsOK/The Oklahoman. It’s always exciting to have guest speakers in class who provide different insights on things that are important to us as public relations/journalism/broadcasting etc. students. His presentation gave me a lot to think about regarding how I personally handle social media. He suggested that when engaging in social media you create your own online identity, and find your niche to focus on. I feel like I’ve done that to some extent, but could definitely improve upon it. I also feel like I should become a little more engaged in social media than I am, but I suppose I’ve come quite a long way in just a short time.

Honestly what I’m learning from every person I’ve heard speak in the last year or so is that social media is the way the world is heading. Mr. Koehler works for a newspaper who has now taken so much of their product online and is really doing some incredible things with it. And nearly every business you can think of is doing the same. Luckily those of us who are younger have grown up with the Internet and worked with computers from the time we were in grade school, so it’s easier for us to adapt to it all. People my parents age have a more difficult time. My dad knows the basics because he worked in a bank until he retired, but he can barely do anything online without asking for my help. I’m sure so many of the older people who are heading companies are hesitant to join the online world, but in reality they really don’t have a choice.

So, as I’ve said a million times before, I couldn’t be more happy that I decided to enroll in this course. I went from not even really knowing what Twitter was less than three months ago, to being “addicted” to it as my boyfriend says, and writing my own blog! I’m really excited to see what else I learn over the remainder of the semester.

Celeste

So I missed the Expo….

Today, of all days, I felt absolutely awful. I have no idea why these things happen, but it was completely frustrating because I was all prepared for the JB school’s Networking Expo. Resumes all printed up, outfit picked out, 30 second commercial planned out. Frustrating!

So I’m hoping it went well for everyone who got to attend! I know how important networking is and I feel that I really missed out by not being there. I can only hope we will have another similar event before too long.

I suppose since I missed it, I will just discuss what we learned on Tuesday. First of all, we got a great lesson in how unpredictable technology can be. Trying to get Twitter onto someone’s blog took up most of class, and we never quite figured it out.  I think that’s an important thing to see, because I’m always so concerned about doing everything “right” when it comes to all this social media stuff, and that just goes to show that sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Even if you’re a social media professor! We also learned a bit about fixing up our blogs, and I got on here as soon as I got home and started playing around with it. The most exciting thing I discovered was how to upload pictures to my blog. I must say, I think it already looks a ton better!

So, today was not such a successful day for me personally, but I am learning more and more every day when it comes to this wonderful little online life I’m leading now.  Can’t wait to hear how the Expo turned out!

Celeste

Learning to love my social media!

So, I’m really starting to get into this whole social media thing. Twitter is seriously addicting. I find that if I go a couple of hours without checking it I start to get a little antsy! I can’t believe how much I am learning in my social media class, and how useful it all is! In class this past week we learned how to create a social networking site on-line, and it is so much easier than I would have imagined. I’m so happy that I’m in this class learning so much valuable information that will be so helpful for when I am out there job hunting. And the fact that I get to be in a career field that uses all of these means of communication and promotion is so exciting! I think it’s all so much fun and I can’t wait to learn more.

In class on Thursday our professor announced that a PR firm in Tulsa is actually hiring someone to be in charge of their social media. What an awesome job that would be! I wish I was out of school so I could apply.  Of course I don’t think I’m quite experienced enough, but hopefully by the end of the semester I will be!

It really looks like this is the way business is headed. I’ve been telling my mom she needs to join Twitter and get her own Web site for her new business. Luckily, I can help her do it now! I’m pretty sure before too long businesses that don’t have a presence on the Internet will be far behind their competition. It’s already somewhat the case, because personally if I am searching for a particular type of business on the Internet, I will always choose the one with a site over the other, just because it’s so much more convenient!

Anyhow, I believe that’s all for now….I need to go check out Twitter!

Celeste

New Social Media Site Coming….

Our Social Media class is soon to begin the process of creating a Web site. The plan for the site is for all those  involved in Journalism and Broadcasting at OSU (or anywhere else I suppose) to have a place to network, lend advice, ask questions, and develop professional relationships. It will be open to current students, alumni, prospective students, and professionals.

I think this is something we JB students at OSU will find quite helpful. If we can get alumni and working professionals involved I think it will be incredibley beneficial to us all. As with all of the social networking sites I am now involved with, such as Twitter and our Social Media Club site, this will be a great place to go with any questions I have as I begin my internship and, soon enough, job searches.  It’s all so overwhelming when you have a million things you need to do and are unsure of where to start, that having a place to run to with all of your questions will be a lifesaver.

I truly hope we can get a lot of professionals and recent grads involved to kind of give us a heads up for what to expect the first couple years after graduation, and also hopefully some advice on how to prepare. I’m really looking forward to the experience, and also interested to see what goes into launching a site.

I’ll keep everyone posted on the progress!

Celeste

Social Media is taking over my life!

We had a guest speaker today in Social Media class who is a recent OSU grad, and she was speaking to us about the importance of social media in her job, and really in all jobs that any of us PR grads will be working in within the next few years . It really is unreal to me how important it is becoming to be up to date with all of the new technologies and methods of communication that are out there. Every day that I leave class I feel a little overwhelmed by it all, and by how little I know about it. However, I feel like I have such an advantage to be in this class.  So many people out there have no idea about Twitter (I really didn’t just a few weeks ago), or how to create a blog. And hopefully by the time I complete the class I will be comfortable with all of it and a bit ahead of the competition!

I have noticed one thing about all of the new sites I have joined: they are seriously consuming my life! It is so addicting to browse through peoples blogs or search on Twitter or any other sites that we are on. I have to remind myself to take a break from it all to accomplish things for my other classes, because once I am on my laptop, I’m basically on for the next few hours. So I think the important thing for me personally to realize is that although I need to become very comfortable using all of these things, I have other things to focus on as well! It’s just that a whole new world has been opened up to me, and I’m fascinated by it all. Speaking of that, I have some Spanish homework that I need to get to…

Celeste

Let’s get things started….

Hello to everyone (anyone at all?) that may be reading this! I suppose since this is my first blog, I’ll sort of start with the basics.

First of all, I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m in a Social Media class at OSU, where I’m a Public Relations major, and for the class I have had to register on a few social media sites. And I literally have no idea what I’m doing on most of them. It’s not that I’m not computer savvy, or whatever you would like to consider it, but…OK, that might be a little bit what the problem is. I can e-mail, facebook and check people.com all day long. But that’s really about it. When it gets deeper than that, I get a little nervous. Or terrified. Which is exactly why I’m in the class! In nearly every PR class I’ve had,the professors and just about any guest speaker have tried to drive home the point how vital social media is in the PR world. So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to expand my skills. I can already tell I will be learning A LOT from the course.

So…I’ve covered my fear of technology…other than that, there’s not a lot you need to know. I’m sure, unless otherwise assigned for class, my post’s will be completely random. I’m trying a new thing where, since I will be graduating in just over a year, I take a more professional approach to things. However, that’s never really been a huge priority in life before, so we shall see how I do!

If anyone happens to read this and has any comments or questions, wonderful!

Celeste