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/

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.

Jay Hicks' Take on the New Media Revolution

New media is a revolution that has changed the news industry and the way people communicate, said Jay Hicks Thursday during a presentation at Baylor University.

Hicks, who is the Director of New Media at KWTX-TV, said the media industry is all about sharing, transparency, collaboration and building trust with peers. He shared new media trends with reporting and writing students in Dr. Mia Moody Ramirez's class.


“In the 1970s and 80s journalists reported a story and audiences read it," he said. "Now, people share their own thoughts using social media.”

Illustrating the importance of social media, he pointed out that Facebook has around 800 million followers, Twitter has more than 10 billion tweets – and people upload more than 
8,600 full-length movies a week.

Hicks, who oversees KWTX’s social media efforts, 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.

For instance, the importance of confirming information was illustrated when the story about Gadhafi’s death broke. Hicks said he waited until he could verify it using reliable sources. Then he posted information about the leader’s death on KWTX’s website and Twitter page.

He also noted that while traditional sources such as. Reuters, AP Style and CNN, are important for today’s communicators; bloggers, friends and relatives also serve as an important resource.

“In the news industry, we usually try to take big stories and figure out how they affect Central Texans,” he said. “We localize them by talking to our viewers on Twitter, Facebook and our Web site. Some of them end up in our on-air stories.”

Finally, Hicks emphasized the importance of staying ahead of the curve

“Companies that didn’t get on the digital bandwagon are out of business,” he said. “Companies that are hanging on, such as Amazon and Netflix, made the shift.”

Jay Hicks' Take on How to Compete in Today's Rapidly Changing Journalism Industry

To compete in today’s competitive job market, journalism students must separate themselves from the crowd, said Jay Hicks, Director of New Media at KWTX-TV, during a presentation at Baylor University Thursday.

Journalism graduates must be able to write, network and most of all tell stories, said Hicks who spoke to Dr. Mia Moody Ramirez's reporting and writing class. Hicks owns Raffinitē Interactive Web, a company focused on building online brands and communities. In addition, he is founder and director of a day camp dedicated to teaching at-risk and economically disadvantaged teenagers the basics of web development and design.

“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.

 “It is no different from cataloguing at a library. Once you have information, you must be able to promote it using key words, hashtags, etc.” 

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.