Oklahoma State University PRSSA

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PRSSA Networking Night and Professional Panel Tomorrow Night November 11, 2008

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The OSU PRSSA Chapter will be hosting its second networking night and professional panel Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 6-8 p.m. at Joseppi’s. Last year’s networking night and professional panel with PR professionals from Tulsa was a huge success.

Due to last minute conflicts, there are four seats still available.  To reserve a spot, e-mail Marie Kadavy, chapter president, at marie.kadavy@okstate.edu by 10:00 p.m. Nov. 11.

If you are unable to attend, we will be posting minutes from the networking night and professional panel with photos here on our blog. Also, one of the officer’s will be tweeting during the event.

For the event, dinner is provided and dress should be professional. The following is a list of professionals and guests.

Professionals:

Melissa Clark
Manager, Internal Communication
Williams

Gina Godfrey
Senior Manager, Marketing Communications and PR
NORDAM

Amanda Clinton
Communications Manager
Cherokee Nation Businesses

Joy McGill
Media Relations Officer
St. John Health System

Jerry Goodwin
Assistant Professor, Tulsa Community College
Faculty Adviser, TCC Connection
Senior Partner, Goodwin and Grant, Inc.

Andrea Myers
PRSA Tulsa President
Williams

Special Guests:
Dr. Derina Holtzhausen, School of Journalism and Broadcasting Director
Prof. Brooks Garner, Chapter Adviser
Prof. Gina Noble, Student Firm Adviser

Bring your business cards and resumes, this could open up an opportunity for a potential job or internship.

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The School of Journalism and Broadcasting Offers its First Social Media Course October 28, 2008

Filed under: Announcements, Contributors — osuprssa @ 2:50 pm

Did you know? 75 percent of U.S. online adults now use social media tools compared to 56 percent in 2007.

The implications to this explosive growth is far reaching and as social media dominates how we communicate in public relations, journalism, advertising, marketing, business and life in general, one thing is certain, those who master the strategy and tactics of this communication phenomenon will be highly sought after, according to Bill Handy, OSU public relations visiting professor.

A basic understanding of the strategic uses of social media is essential to the field of public relations and setting yourself apart from other future public relations professionals in the near future.

So why am I informing you of what you have heard or already know? The School of Journalism and Broadcasting is offering its first course dedicated to Social Media for the spring 2009. After research, we are the first university in the state of Oklahoma to offer such a course.

The class is Tuesday and Thursday in JB 104, course No. JB 4520, from 3:30-4:45 p.m. The class is taught by the one and only social media king himself, Bill Handy.

The course will offer hands on training of social media tools. The course will also cover the following elements:
  • History of social media
  • Evolution of web 2.0, cloud computing and future of web 3.0
  • Ethical issues and legal implications
  • Changing/evolving communication styles
  • Applied Theory in social media
  • Mashable technology
  • Business use of social media
  • Journalistic use of social media
  • Advertising use of social media
  • Personal use of social media
  • Making money in social media
  • Finding your first job and every job after using social media
  • Citizen journalists and the “Cult of Amateur”
  • Word of mouth communication and “Crowd Sourcing”
  • Online reputation tracking in social media sites
  • Case studies of effective and ineffective use of social media
  • Usage of social media tactics (these tactics will be used hands on during the semester for our group project):
  • Blogs (including TypePad, WordPress)
  • Microblogs (Twitter, Pownce and Jaiku)
  • Social Networking (MySpace, facebook, Ning, Linkedin, Plaxo, forums,  etc.)
  • Social Network Aggregation (FriendFeed, yahoopipes)
  • Wikis (wikipedia, PBwiki, wetpaint, etc.)
  • Social Bookmarking (Delicious, StumbleUpon)
  • Social News Sites (Alltop, Digg, Reddit, etc.)
  • Opinion sites (epinions, Judysbook, etc.)
  • Multimedia sharing (flickr, Photobucket, YouTube, Vimeo, Ustream, etc.)
  • Cloud computing

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to contact Bill Handy at the following:

bill.handy@okstate.edu

Twitter

Facebook

(more…)

 

Public Relations and the Economy October 15, 2008

Filed under: Contributors — osuprssa @ 11:30 pm
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You may be starting your job hunt, or you might just be looking ahead to the future.  It seems everyone is a little concerned about the economy right now, and we’re searching for answers.  Will we be able to find jobs when we graduate?  What about PR?  Is it a stable field?

In Down economy is PR’s time to shine in the Oct. 13 issue of PRWeek, Shannon Troughton points out that marketing and communications budgets are often the first to get cut in times of economic instability.  But, Troughton is quick to remind us that in times of trouble, it’s important to reinforce the positive perception of the company.  It is a time that through PR efforts a company can gain strength in its market.   Budget cuts and economic troubles simply give PR professionals a chance to show their worth, be creative and use the inexpensive communication tools of PR.

As far as job outlook goes, the number of employed public relations professionals is expected to increase by 18 percent between 2006 and 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,.  This growth is higher than average, but entry-level jobs are predicted to remain competitive because the number of qualified applicants will exceed the number of openings.

For tips on job searching during a recession, visit careerbuilder.com.

-Marie Kadavy

OSU PRSSA President

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“America’s Greatest Homecoming: generation COWBOY” October 14, 2008

Filed under: Contributors — osuprssa @ 12:18 am

It’s that time of year where OSU alumni, students, faculty, staff and parents come together to celebrate the No. 1 Homecoming in the nation. A tradition, which began in 1920, has never been bigger than this year’s Homecoming theme “generation COWBOY,” as we celebrate 50 years of the Greatest Mascot – Pistol Pete.

Homecoming is a weeklong celebration, which concludes Saturday, Oct. 18 as the No. 8 football team in the nation, OSU Cowboys, take on the Baylor Bears at 2 p.m. in Boone Pickens Stadium.

Homecoming events this week include:

Tuesday: The Harvest Carnival and Chili Cook-off at the Payne County Expo at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Hester Street Painting at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: Orange Reflection Judging and All Night Pomp

Friday: OSU’s famous “Walk Around” at 6 p.m. and Homecoming & Hoops at 9 p.m. in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Saturday: The Sea of Orange Parade at 9 a.m., which starts at the corner of Main and 12th. Kick-off for the football game is at 2 p.m.

The parade will also be broadcast live on orangeconnection.org with a preparade broadcast beginning at 7:30 a.m. The broadcast is a student production of the OSU School of Journalism and Broadcasting with streaming assistance from the OSU Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence. So make sure to tune in if you’re unable to attend the parade.

Also, Saturday, Oct. 18 marks the 100th year of journalism classes at OSU. To celebrate such an important honor OSU alumni, faculty and staff will be having a cook-out on the lawn of the Paul Miller School of Journalism and Broadcasting from noon-2 p.m. This a great way to network with distinguished alumni whom are eager to meet OSU students for potential jobs and internships. So drop by with your family and friends to say hello and celebrate the achievement of the journalism school.

For more information on “America’s Greatest Homecoming,” visit www.orangeconnection.org.

Go Pokes!

Germaine Paul

OSU-PRSSA Vice President

 

Help a Reporter Out? Why not! October 10, 2008

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More than 36,000 people are doing it.  Peter Shankman started it.  And anyone can join.

Help a Reporter Out is a way of getting journalists the sources they need.  With the motto, “Everyone’s an expert at something,” Shankman, CEO of The Geek Factory Inc. and self-proclaimed entrepreneur and adventurist, started the increasingly popular listserv when his reporter buddies kept asking him for sources.  Shankman decided to pass these requests on to you in up to three e-mails a day with 15-30 queries each.

Why should you help a reporter out?

To build relationships. National journalists use this resource on a daily basis. We know PR is all about building relationships, so why not start with the nation’s best.  Help a reporter out, and you might be helping yourself out for the future with that major pitch or on your next job hunt.

To share your knowledge. It’s a great PR tool, and your company or organization may be a great source.  For example, my fellow intern, Megan, and I just finished a press release on a college’s efforts to go green, and what pops up in Megan’s inbox? A HARO query looking for just that.

To land a job. Shankman often includes PR and communications job openings at the beginning of his daily e-mails.

To learn about media trends. Do you want to know what’s newsworthy now?  HARO is a great gauge.    What issues are big right now?  You guessed it.  The financial crisis and health are topping the list.

To gain some experience. HARO queries often ask for individual and personal perspectives.  Interviewing with a major media outlet is sure to teach you a thing or two, and being a source in a national publication never hurts for getting your name out there.

Are you a journalist? HARO can help you. Submit a request.

Check out the HARO Web site.  Sign-up to receive the e-mails.  Don’t forget to use HARO responsibly.

- Marie Kadavy

OSU PRSSA President

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Finding Experience in a Not-So-Big Market September 19, 2008

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Map of Oklahoma highlighting Payne CountyImage via Wikipedia

There are probably a number of reasons you chose Oklahoma State University to pursue your degree, and the small-town feel or friendly campus just might have been one of them. But how are we as PR students in a fast-paced field like ours supposed to gain the experience we need to compete with students from the larger markets? The markets that seem to be busting at the seams with opportunities compared to our city of 40,000? Here are just a few options.

Find something close to home. There are internships available in Stillwater, especially on campus.  They may not be the most glamorous, but they still provide a wealth of lessons to learn.  You won’t find a Fortune 500 company, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find a worthy cause or a place to make a name for yourself.

Study Abroad. Learning about global markets and picking up a foreign language will definitely set you apart from your peers.

Get involved on campus or in the community. There are a number of PR-specific volunteer opportunities at OSU and around Stillwater, and community service is something a lot of hiring managers look for.

Taking an initiative or searching out nontraditional experience will get you noticed.  How have you overcome the challenges of living in a not-so-big market?

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The Value of Practicing What You Preach September 16, 2008

Filed under: Contributors, Uncategorized — osuprssa @ 4:20 pm
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I have recently become a fan of the social media world. It’s “what’s happening” in field public relations. It’s innovative, Web 2.0 and a powerful means of communication. As future PR professionals, building mutually beneficial relationships and understanding the latest technology is part of having a successful career in public relations. 

So why am I telling you something, you already know?

Well recently I received an e-mail from an account executive from the company VisualCV, which is an Internet-based resume that allows professional to build and manage an online career portfolio that comes alive with informational keyword pop-ups, video, pictures and social media networking. 

I blog about my senior thesis and how VisualCV is an amazing source to use and how it would benefit students at OSU within the School of Journalism and Broadcasting. Keep in mind that VisualCV is based out of Virginia. Katrina, the account executive, said she viewed my blog and was very interested in my thesis and offered a helping hand in my research. 

Also, Katrina mentioned that she would love to see the final product. Katrina said she would like to learn how to satisfy all the niche markets as far as what professionals in public relations what to see in a resume and portfolio. More details on my blog about VisualCV, which is gpaulpr.blogspot.com.

I’m still speechless about the situation, however, our professors are right, especially Bill Handy. You never know who’s viewing your blog, twitter or any other social media outlets. 

My advice: 

First, start a blog. It’s simple. Blogspot.com is a great source and WordPress too. 

Make sure to visit www.VisualCv.com, it’s an amazing Web site. And you too can be on the cutting-edge of resume building. 

Best, 

Germaine Paul 
Vice President of PRSSA
Senior

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Social Media: Your Best Friend or Your Worst Enemy? September 10, 2008

Filed under: Contributors — osuprssa @ 7:03 pm
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Facebook, Inc.Image via Wikipedia

You’ve heard the warnings from your professors, PR professionals and maybe even your parents: Clean up your Facebook profile. Watch what you put on your MySpace page.

You may want to start listening as new results from a CareerBuilder.com survey found 22 percent of hiring managers have checked the social media profiles of job candidates, up from just 11 percent in 2006.

But according to an Online Media Daily article,
More Bosses Using Social Media Profiles To Evaluate Potential Hires, taking advantage of opportunities to put your name, experience and skills out there for future employers to see could also give you a competitive edge.

Taking a look closer to home, Prof. Bill Handy recently mentioned an Oklahoma PR firm which asks for access to candidates social media profiles and expects those seeking a job to be active users on at least two social media sites. Employers in our field are starting to look for social media understanding and experience, but the key is balancing knowledge and good taste.

For more on social media, join us Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. in JB 101 for an Interactive Social Media Experience with Sam Sims!

-Marie Kadavy
OSU PRSSA President

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Strengthening Your Network on LinkedIn September 9, 2008

Filed under: Contributors, Uncategorized — osuprssa @ 4:42 pm
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We’re told time and time again that networking is key and what’s going to make you a successful public relations professional, especially with latest social media innovation. What would you say if I told you there was a Web site, which you could list your PR experience, professional organizations (hint: PRSSA), search for internships/jobs and network with not only PR professionals in the field already, but also classmates and OSU alumni? You wouldn’t believe me and you would think it’s just another internship or job posting Web site. But it’s NOT!

It’s LinkedIn. 

LinkedIn is a networking tool that helps you discover inside connections to key professional in any field of study. Sam Sims, an OSU alumni and active PRSA-OKC member, Bill Handy, public relations professor and business owner, and Bonnie Cain, OSU PRSA’s liasion are just a few individuals who are on Linkedin and have great connections with key professionals in the field. 

I’m not telling you this because I have to, it’s because I WANT TO. I want to help every single one of my fellow PRSSA members to be informed on what’s going on in the social media world and networking. And also, pass along some wisdom to our younger PRSSA members. 

This Web site has helped me personally with networking with PR professionals in the field and viewing my experience makes them more interested to get to know me and what I can bring to an organization. 

The Web site for LinkedIn is http://www.linkedin.com/

What are you waiting for? JUST DO IT!

 
Germaine Paul
PRSSA Vice President 
Senior

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The Possibilities Are Endless September 8, 2008

Filed under: Contributors, Uncategorized — osuprssa @ 5:21 pm
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T. Boone Pickens, oil an...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Today is my first day to blog, ever! I guess we all have to start somewhere.

I thought I’d tell you a little about my weekend. I got to meet T. Boone Pickens this weekend at our annual Library dinner. I was shaking when my boss, Bonnie Cain, our PRSSA Liaison, introduced me to him. The first thing he asked me was where I am from. He said he always asks people where they are from.

After getting to watch him in a press conference, walking him over to a VIP Cocktail party, cutting off the line of people getting their books signed and walking him to his table, I felt like I was one of the luckiest people in the world.

Did you know that Pickens has been discussing alternative energy with Obama and McCain? Yeah, I’d say he’s a pretty big deal! He’s also going to be on Jay Leno this week.

Back to the dinner, the fillet was amazing thanks to the cooks at the Atherton and the centerpieces were beautiful thanks to Mrs. Hargis and House of Flowers. The most exciting part of the night, however, was Burns Hargis and Pickens chatting like they’d grown up together on the same block. I can honestly say I paid attention the entire time because they knew how to catch the crowd’s ear and really make it an interesting conversation.

Did I mention that the networking at this event was nuts? I didn’t even have to ask for anyones business card, they just kept handing them out. The reason I am telling you this isn’t to brag, but to tell you that OSU grads are willing to help OSU students. It’s all about who you meet along the way. Remember, the possibilities are endless in the world of public relations.

-Maggie Kierl
OSU PRSSA
Programming Director
& Public Relations Intern
at the OSU Library

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