NABJ Branding Workshop

Second Charter Workshop Done!

By Jessica Foumena

Today, I attended the second charter workshop for our NABJ chapter. There will be one more and our chapter will officially be a student organization on the Baylor campus!

The speakers were Lamar Bryant and Erin Ellis who work with campus programs in Student Activities talked about event planning and hosting.

I learned so much about this one-hour session. They briefly reminded us all the small but important details that come with an event. Among other things, they say we need to plan ahead, about six weeks ahead, save the location asap and make sure that our event fits the budget.

The next charter workshop will take place next week.

Sic'em Bears!

Online Branding

There are many online resources that offer tips on branding, which makes it hard to choose the best approach. Two Waco experts will help with this task at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, in 245 of Castellaw of Baylor University.

The panelists are Jay Hicks, Director of New Media at KWTX and Taina Maya, a KWTX morning anchor. The three will share their take on branding from their own perspectives.

BU NABJ President Joceyln Fowler and Vice President Jessica Foumena have planned three such events this semester to arm students with information that will help them compete in the job industry.

"We believe these types of meetings are much more beneficial to students that just listening to one speaker," Fowler said.

Foumena agreed. She said the chapter has received favorable feedback.

"This is a great way to help people sort through all of the messages they receive," she said. "It is easy to become confused."

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, e-mail chapter adviser Mia Moody-Ramirez @ Mia_MoodyHall@baylor.edu.

In the meantime, this website is an excellent resource for information on branding: http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/50-tips-to-brand-yourself-online/

Onlne Image Repair

Online image repair is one of the biggest issues students face in the 21^st Century when careless tweets and irresponsible Facebook posts are common. To help students improve their online presence, the Baylor University National Association of Black Journalists sponsored an image repair panel discussion on Sept. 11.

Panelists critiqued the Facebook pages, tweets and other online content of students and offered effective strategies to help graduates prepare to enter the competitive job market.

KWTX Director of New Media Jay Hicks, who spoke from an employer’s perspective, encouraged students to scrutinize their social media presence through the lens of someone else’s viewpoint.

“If you wouldn’t want your grandparents or parents to see what’s on your page, then you should remove it,” he stated.

One of Hick’s biggest pet peeves is Facebook users who whine and complain about employers, companies and friends in their posts.

“Social media is not the place for this,” he said. “You will be labeled a trouble maker and no one will hire you.”

Hicks estimates that more than 67 percent of hiring managers use social networking sites such as Facebook to find more detailed information about job applicants. This is an increase from a 2009 survey conducted by CareerBuilder.com, which estimated that 45% of more than 2,600 hiring managers reported searching social networking sites to learn about job candidates. In 2008, only 22% reported using them (Students, Here’s How to Kick-Start Your Personal Brand Online).




KeSha Lopez, a KWTX weekend anchor, provided real-world examples from her own job-hunting experiences.

“I was surprised by how many employers had actually Googled my name and looked at my Facebook page,” she said. “You must take your social media presence seriously.”

Dr. Mia Moody-Ramirez, an assistant professor of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media, encouraged students to take a close look at how they present themselves online.

“Start with a goal in mind,” stated Moody-Ramirez, who discussed some of the pitfalls of social media. “Goals include getting a job, driving traffic to your sites and repairing one’s image.”

Strategies for each of these goals range from removing inappropriate content from one’s page to beefing up the number of positive personal posts and photos. The overall objective is to project the image of a person who is well rounded, outgoing, mature and able to make appropriate decisions.

Other tactics include:

1. Ask professors and professionals to critique your pages

2. Remove photos of inappropriate activities such as drinking and using drugs

3. Check your social media pages frequently for content that other people post about you

4. Remove tags to photos that may be considered inappropriate.

5. Remove inappropriate song lyrics and quotes from other people.

6. Include photos and posts of /about yourself in positive activities and settings

7. Did we mention Googling your name to make sure the pages that pop up are positive???

The panel discussion was part one of a three-part series on communicating in a new media environment. 

"We believe these workshops will be very useful to students," said NABJ President Jocelyn Fowler. "We wanted to offer something that could make a difference in the lives of students."

NABJ Vice President Jessica Foumena said she is glad she attended the event.

"My schedule is very busy as a graduate student, but this is one event that was worth the time," she said. "I learned a great deal of information that I can apply to my personal online presence."

NABJ will sponsor “Branding” on Oct. 16 and “Creative Resumes” on Nov. 20. For more information, contact President: Jocelyn_Fowler@baylor.edu or adviser: Mia_MoodyHall@baylor.edu

New Media Tips for Journalism Majors

Jay Hicks, Director of New Media at KWTX-TV, with members of NABJ

In order to succeed, it is important to do “more of you and less of others,” said a new media specialist Thursday during a presentation for the National Association of Black Journalists at Baylor University.

Jay Hicks, the Director of New Media at KWTX-TV, said video games, e-mail and social media distract many of today’s students.

“Shut down your laptop, ignore Facebook and work on the things that matter like your resume,” he said.

Hicks develops and executes content on multiple-platforms including KWTX.com and the station’s mobile Web site. One thing that has become clear in the last few years, is everyone is a reporter, he said. People tell their own stories.

However, even with the popularity of new media, students must have traditional journalism skills.  Accuracy, credibility, writing and storytelling are all very important in today’s journalism industry, Hicks said.

“No matter what you want to do in the journalism industry, you must be able to communicate. Facebook and Twitter are platforms, but they change daily,” he said.

Hicks emphasized the importance of staying ahead of the curve. To compete in today’s competitive job market, journalism students must separate themselves from the crowd, he said. Journalism graduates must be able to write, network and most of all tell stories.

“Today’s students have their own tools to be content producers and creators,” he said. "However, in order to be in the game, students must hone their skills."

Hicks, a Baylor business graduate, said the most important skill journalists must have is storytelling via all platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Web design. Most importantly, students must blog on a regular basis.

He discussed two types of blogs: a passion, or “me,” blog to highlight their favorite pastime and a professional blog to demonstrate their skills and abilities.  Hicks’ “passion blog” focuses on track and field. It has gained him notoriety and respect in the social media industry.

“When I started the blog, I wasn’t thinking I would be quoted in other media outlets or labeled an expert. It happened on its own,” he said. 

He also encourages applicants to have  a game plan in place using the skills they have acquired in PR. However, students must be strategic to compete, he added.

“We may get 200 to 400 applicants,” he said. “But if we get a unique resume or a recommendation from someone we know, you may get your foot in door.”




The game plan must include a Facebook page that presents them in a positive light.




“Don’t put anything on there that that you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see,” he joked, encouraging students to be proactive in presenting a professional image on the social media outlet.


The most competitive students will be able to manipulate data. For instance, they should know how to edit photos in Photoshop, how to edit video footage and be familiar with all aspects of search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is an important skill for PR practitioners because they must be able to add affective titles to their blogs and websites to help them show up in search engines, he said.

Finally, Hicks suggests that students should find their passion and jump in.

“The industry will change,” he said. “However, you get your best experience by jumping in and learning things yourself.”

Other tips included:

Participate in Twitter parties or online chats. For instance, Wjchat is a weekly online chat emphasizing news-related issues. People throw out questions for students and professionals to answer.

Create a Twitter list and a RSS feed of key players in the media industry. Google people with similar skills and follow them on Twitter. Try to set up an informal interview. Take a Flip camera, and record it and put it on YouTube.

Have both a creative and a traditional resume. A compelling resume is attractive, intriguing and interactive. It includes photos, QR codes and unique designs. An enhanced resume can use a unique approach such as a slide show or a magazine design layout.

The Social Media Revolution

A LOOK INTO THE CHANGING WORLD OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Baylor University public relations students gain valuable insight from KWTX's Director of New Media

By Leah Sneed

Professor Mia Moody's PR Programming students had the opportunity to think creatively and realistically about their future in public relations, when the KWTX Director of New Media, Jay Hicks, spoke during class on March 27. 

Hicks provided insight into how media has developed over time and helpful hints that might lead to a successful career in PR.

"It's about catching the moment, whoever you work for," Hicks said, as he encouraged Moody's students to fully commit to their futures in public relations.

Hicks is not only the Director of New Media at KWTX, but is also a professional new-media producer focusing on interactive marketing.  Also a Baylor graduate, Hicks earned a Bachelor's of Business Administration Education degree.  He explained to students how traditional media was a one way conversation, but new media is about sharing.  

He urged listeners to always be transparent, conversational, democratic, and trustworthy in communication. 

"We are all publishers,"  Hicks said, as he discussed the power of blogging and all forms of social media. 

Facebook, Twitter and many more websites, now give everyone the chance to control their own paths and have their own voice.  While Hicks stressed the importance of taking advantage of social media outlets, he explained that Facebook and Twitter are just the base of a good social media campaign, the students must get creative and include so much more in their efforts as PR practitioners. 

"I learned so much from Mr. Hicks, he really got me thinking about how I could stand out in an interview and what special elements I could add to my resume,"  Leah Sneed, senior public relations major, said. 

Be "good story tellers," Hicks said. He stressed that an interactive resume, possibly a video resume, would allow students to be easily noticed by employers.  Hicks shared a video resume by Shannon Boodram, who has had extensive experience with both PR and interviewing. 

Ultimately, Hicks challenged students to:

·         make a game plan and to get creative

·         incorporate blogs that will grab readers' interest

·         develop a network of key industry players

·         conduct informal interviews

·         create a positive and effective approach to communication.

KWTX Anchor Taina Maya Offers Career Tips to Aspiring Journalists

By Mia Moody

Writing and paying attention to detail are two of the most important skills a reporter must possess in today’s competitive news industry, according to KWTX anchor, Taina Maya, who spoke at the November meeting sponsored by the Baylor National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

Maya encouraged journalism majors to sharpen their basic skills, while building their expertise in new media.

“Even in today’s multimedia climate, listening, writing and reporting are still very important,” she said.

Maya also stressed the importance of good storytelling.

“You have 30 seconds to tell a story,” she said. “You have to be conversational and you have to be hard hitting. There is no way around it.”

Maya, who was born in Hollywood, Calif., said she found her true calling by the age of 6 when she began serving as a voice-over on the television series, “Spider-Man.”

That experience motivated her to seek a career in the entertainment business. In the fifth grade, Maya anchored her elementary school's news show, “Regency Place Television.”

Her experience helped solidify her interest in the news industry. Her drive and determination continues.

“I got into the field because I wanted to be an actor,” she said. “I realized the news industry was more realistic and I can still be on TV.”

While attending the University of the Incarnate Word, in San Antonio, Maya co-founded the university's first television station, UIW-TV. Maya’s ultimate career goal is to work for “Dateline News” as a hard-news reporter.

Based on her years in the industry, the anchor offered the following tips for aspiring journalists:

·         Create a fantastic newsreel that will capture the attention of potential employers.

·         Create a one-page resume that highlights your strong points.

·         Be yourself during interviews. You do not want to sign a contract, and then count down the months until your job ends.

·         Do not be overly pushy. Wait two weeks before you call back. More than likely, they are not going to call you back. Do not get offended if you do not get a job.

·         Have someone knowledgeable look over your contract before you sign it.

·         Keep up with current events. You must read a lot to get ideas.

·         Be innovative and think outside the box.

·         Develop your sources. Check Facebook and other outlets to find out as much as you can about a person. Do not be afraid to call and ask to shadow them.

·         Utilize your internships.  Your first stories will be heavily edited, but you will learn from your mistakes. It is very important to practice your craft.

·         Teamwork is also important. It takes many people to do a job.

·         Go for it. It is an amazing business. Dive in if it is the right thing for you.