Another week passes by. Another week closer to graduation, to the job hunt, to the anxiety, to the unfulfilled promise. I have to say, I can't wait. As I reflect on the past two years at Texas State, I can't help but realize how much I've changed. I've become an individual, someone who firmly (as firm as I'd like to think) knows what she wants out of life. It's a pretty scary thing.
Being 23 is like being in a cannon. Ready to be launched, not knowing exactly where you will land or what condition you will be in when you finally hit the ground. But of course I hope for a soft landing or that I come out in one piece. But those are only hopes...
I hope for my dreams and I dream for what I hope. In other words, I'm screwed because I'm realist. And as much as I love for my head to be in the clouds, I know that my life will pull me limb by limb till I'm planted, if not rooted into the ground. However, hoping is good, it gives you time to think about things you would never dream possible and "hopefully" give you the courage to try and achieve it. I hope for that courage.
Until then, I prepare as if I'm going into war. I prepare emotionally, physically and mentally. Financially? Well, that's where the job comes in. But I would like to move out of state so that requires some advanced cash. My saying has been I'll go where ever the wind blows me and so I wait for that gust to thrust me out there, spinning me out of control and hopefully landing into my dreams. Because as much as I'm a realist, I am still a dreamer. And I'm HOPING to make make my dreams a reality.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
My Life as of Today
School's back in session. It's the last semester of college and things are coming to a close for me as an undergraduate student. It's a hard fact to accept but I'm learning that as I approach the "real world" that opportunties are endless.
That being said, here are some things that I've been working on this semester:
1. My first Web site -started with basic HTML, then integrated it with CSS and I'm still working with it so don't judge.
2. My first YouTube video -recorded with the Kodak Zi8, I used this for my Web design class as a blog entry assignment
3. My internship -my internship at The Center for the Study of Latino Media & Markets has given me access to edit and update the school's Web site.
4. Social Media Club -as Secretary officer for the first chapter of Social Media Club at Texas State, I am responsible for all things social media.
I have been trying to put as much on my plate this semester to squeeze as much knowledge and experience out of me before I walk that stage and enter the "real world."
That being said, here are some things that I've been working on this semester:
1. My first Web site -started with basic HTML, then integrated it with CSS and I'm still working with it so don't judge.
2. My first YouTube video -recorded with the Kodak Zi8, I used this for my Web design class as a blog entry assignment
3. My internship -my internship at The Center for the Study of Latino Media & Markets has given me access to edit and update the school's Web site.
4. Social Media Club -as Secretary officer for the first chapter of Social Media Club at Texas State, I am responsible for all things social media.
I have been trying to put as much on my plate this semester to squeeze as much knowledge and experience out of me before I walk that stage and enter the "real world."
Friday, October 23, 2009
Things I learned at Mass Comm Week
Mass Comm Week is an annual event hosted by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University. Media professionals from all over come and talk about their professions, how the mass media industries are changing and what to expect after graduation.
Great advice was given this year and though a majority of my time was helping with the event, I was still about to sit in on sessions and soak in what the speakers were saying.
The most important things I learned
1. Have a passion: When Gary Vaynerchuk came to speak to students, he didn't hold back from expressing how important it was to have a passion and go for it. His new book "Crush It!" tells how he made his passion (Wine Library TV) a profitable passion.
2. Be positive: Laura Lorek told students that people are attracted to others who are charming, genuine, and positive.
3. Stand up for what you believe in: When Brian Cuban came to talk about the "First Amendment, Hate Speech and the Internet," I'm not going to lie, it made me come out a lot more patriot. The power has so much influence on people to spread love and hate that it is our duty to protect the "incubation of hate" from exploding. Cuban told students to report obscene and hateful material to the Web site and take a stand against hate speech.
4. Get creative: Burnie Burns, founder of Rooster Teeth Productions, makes a living off on using the internet platform to distribute his online video. It made me want to learn how to use video to fuel my passion to reach a larger audience.
5. Dress to impress: I learned that in the business world, they do judge a book by its cover. At the PRSSA fashion show, Dress For Success, the host told the audience that a person has a perception of you in a matter of seconds. You don't even have to say hello and they can tell whether they will hire you or not. Dressing well is key when trying to make a good first impression.
Over a month of planning, four days of great advice, 70+ speakers and hundreds of happy students made Mass Comm Week a great success. I narrowed my favorites down to five, but there was so much more. The opportunity to help with the event was a great learning experience itself.
Many thanks to Carly Smith, Jamie Anderson, Chris Simpson, and Dara Quackenbush.
Great advice was given this year and though a majority of my time was helping with the event, I was still about to sit in on sessions and soak in what the speakers were saying.
The most important things I learned
1. Have a passion: When Gary Vaynerchuk came to speak to students, he didn't hold back from expressing how important it was to have a passion and go for it. His new book "Crush It!" tells how he made his passion (Wine Library TV) a profitable passion.
2. Be positive: Laura Lorek told students that people are attracted to others who are charming, genuine, and positive.
3. Stand up for what you believe in: When Brian Cuban came to talk about the "First Amendment, Hate Speech and the Internet," I'm not going to lie, it made me come out a lot more patriot. The power has so much influence on people to spread love and hate that it is our duty to protect the "incubation of hate" from exploding. Cuban told students to report obscene and hateful material to the Web site and take a stand against hate speech.
4. Get creative: Burnie Burns, founder of Rooster Teeth Productions, makes a living off on using the internet platform to distribute his online video. It made me want to learn how to use video to fuel my passion to reach a larger audience.
5. Dress to impress: I learned that in the business world, they do judge a book by its cover. At the PRSSA fashion show, Dress For Success, the host told the audience that a person has a perception of you in a matter of seconds. You don't even have to say hello and they can tell whether they will hire you or not. Dressing well is key when trying to make a good first impression.
Over a month of planning, four days of great advice, 70+ speakers and hundreds of happy students made Mass Comm Week a great success. I narrowed my favorites down to five, but there was so much more. The opportunity to help with the event was a great learning experience itself.
Many thanks to Carly Smith, Jamie Anderson, Chris Simpson, and Dara Quackenbush.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
FTC vs. Blogging
It's not a surprise that the Federal Trade Commission wants to slap restrictions on blogging. After all, as mush as the online journalism field has grown, the FTC feels the need to "respond to the needs of consumers" who spend an increasingly amount of time on the Internet.
The guidelines state that bloggers must disclose information related to the receiving of products in exchange for blog reviews. So basically, this puts blogging in the same category as broadcasting, newspapers, and other publications that adhere to FTC regulations--really?
The FTC's actions arose because more companies are using blogs to generate viral marketing Thus, the government steps in to protect consumers and make them aware of when they are being targeted for product consumption.
The regulations are aimed at bloggers who buddy-up with advertisers. This is the case with bloggers writing positive reviews for Wal-Mart, Fort Mort Co. and Microsoft after recieving products from the companies. Oh, and if these ad-bloggers don't supply a written disclosure for readers, they will have to fork up as much as $11,000 per violation.
The regulations could also have an impact on PR firms who give bloggers free merchandise. But Ted Murphy, found of IZEA Inc., says it could have positive affects because "disclosure and transparency are key to making this social media space sustainable."
The FTC mainly wants to establish an honest relationship between reader and blogger. So if you are supported by an organic diaper company, say it and be proud!
However, First Amendment advocates claim that, like other publications, bloggers should be able to self-regulate themselves in terms of editorial content. Therefore, they should not even accept gifts in exchange for reviews.
But let's face it, new media is in a world of its own. With information being tweeted, linked, e-mailed and posted every second, how does one police themselves? According to Gregg Leslie, the legal defense director for nonprofit Reporters Committe for Freedom of the Press, it begins with good journalism; and stated that this issue "is not the government's business to regulate."
So take that FTC!
Source: http://global.factiva.com/ga/default.aspx?imt=2&ao=5&aod=0
MySpace Joins Forces with Facebook
Many people believe MySpace is dead, dying, being shut out by the growing popularity of other social media like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. However, these critics that voice opinions are no longer users of the site, so how do they really know?
What they should know is that MySpace is in the works to have music videos on social networking sites like Facebook, Bebo, Orkut and hi5. The videos will play through the iLike application in place of going through Google Inc's YouTube.
This step shows that even social networking sites will call on rivals for answers. After all, MySpace is known for specializing in the music area so why not lend its expertise to other thriving sites. It's like buying 250 million ads (according to Brian Cuban, Mass Comm Week speaker, regarding Facebook's population). So, I say smart move MySpace and Facebook.
But this act echoes MySpaces' recent addition of "sync" that updates a users status on Twitter and MySpace simultaneously or one to the other. This allows hyperlinks in MySpace status, a very vital component to Twitter.
MySpace CEO Owen Van Natta is open to the "socialization of content" and its flexibility and willingness to join forces with dominate social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook may help it make a comeback.
Personally, I think MySpace's strategy works. They are using their unique content of music to share with more influential sites. I think Facebook called the experts on this one, but I may be biased because I'm probably the only one with a MySpace page.
Source #1
Source #2
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
