I Heart Social Media

A panel of professionals spoke to the audience about how new social media is being used in journalism today. On February 14, the Gaylord College of Journalism held a speaking event called “I Heart Social Media”. 

Twitter is the newest form of popular social media. Twitter is a good way to maintain a professional network and a great way to begin a professional relationship with someone you may potentially want to work for. Blake Jackson, manager of digital communications for Chesapeake Energy, said following the people behind the scenes, shows more interest in the organization which will allow you to build a relationship with that person quicker and smoother. Lauren Parajon, a social media specialist, said as journalism students we should think about where we want to work or who we want to work for in the next five years, and start following that person on Twitter. Twitter is also a great way of discovering who’s behind the scenes of certain campaigns or businesses and start following and building a relationship with them. 

“Follow all the social media people,” Parajon said, “they are following all the people you should be following. It’s a great way to build your social media circles.” 

Not only should you as a journalist know about the popular forms of social media but also the unpopular forms of social media. Google plus sparked a great debate on the panel, half saying that Google plus was a failure and the other half saying it’s on its way up. 

“I want Google plus to be good. I’m not hating I’m waiting,” said Dave Rhea, a freelance writer. It is important to know which social media sites will attract the largest audience and which ones will be a waste of your time. Apply social media to the way you connect to your audience. 

Online resumes has become the way many people have received work in the recent years. Because of this, Kelsey Humphries, a graphic designer and blogger, said that by the time you are a junior you should work on having a personal website for yourself that is linked to your Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts. Parajon said that she believes students should have started a LinkedIn account when they are freshman. LinkedIn is a professional social media site where people can build their resume and build a relationship with potential future employers. She said the sooner you put yourself out in the professional world, the better chances you will have a getting a job right when you leave college. 

“Use social media as a way to get your foot in the door, not as a way to get the job,” said Cassie Gilman, an associate director of the President’s Associates. 

To work in social media you must know how to write well. Since many of the social media sites have a limited amount of characters you can use, you must know how to make your stories informative but concise. You must also know how to advertise yourself to gain followers and how to advertise your company or business to gain consumers. 

“Social media encompasses every journalism major,” Parajon said, “ to have experience in Social Media is really good.” 

Search for Identity

Many Argentine families are still looking for their missing family members after they were kidnapped in the 1970s Dirty War. 

Gaylord College hosted a screening of the documentary “Search for Identity” on Tuesday, February 7. The film focused on the Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo and the discovery of the children of their missing family. 

 During a time of civil war in Argentina, many civilians went missing. The children of the missing people were kidnapped and given to military families.  Las Abuelas is a group of grandmothers whose mission is to find and reunite the missing children with their true families. 

Charlie Tuggle, a journalism professor at the University of North Carolina, is the director of the film. Tuggle explains his motivation behind the film in an interview via Skype. 

“The right to identity is the single right to being human,” Tuggle said. 

The documentary tells the audience that the search for the truth is something that all people should strive for. Tuggle says that he wants his film to inspire people to make a difference. 

“We can make a difference, but you don’t make a difference sitting down,” Tuggle said. 

For more information on the film visit www.searchforidentitydocumentary.com

And for more information on Las Abuelas and their mission visit www.abuelas.org.ar/english/history.htm

Relay for Life

        The University of Oklahoma will host a walk for cancer around the South Oval on April 21. 

Relay for Life is an overnight relay event that raises money for the American Cancer Society. Participants camp out around the track and each member of a team takes turns walking or running around the track. This year’s event will be hosting a number of activities such as: Zumba, live bands, DJ’s, video games, water pong, Ms. Relay and the Luminary Ceremony. 

Last year, Relay for Life raised over $90,000 in one night. This year the Relay for Life board is hoping to raise $100,000. Audrey Leeder, the Chair of Greek Recruitment for Relay for Life, said there will be a Greek competition leading up to Relay and the house that raises the most money will receive a prize

“We are going to bring more food and more activities to make the event more fun. Hopefully, that will help us raise more money,” Leeder said. 

Relay for Life begins at 7 p.m. on April 21 and ends at 7 a.m. on April 22. For more information about Relay for Life and how to get involved go to http://www.relayforlife.org/