#UDcomm318 – Students Take Social Media By Storm

By: Julie Solomon, a junior Interpersonal Communication major

As a class member of #UDcomm318, I have gotten to experience University of Delaware’s very first Social Media Management course. Two of the university’s finest social media experts, Carolyn White Bartoo and Meredith Chapman, lead the class. According to Professor Bartoo, this course was created by a “random impulsive moment that was actually a culmination of many years of thinking.”

When Professor Bartoo and Professor Chapman met, they found there was a natural relationship created due to their similar expertise. Professor Bartoo describes this as a magical coincidence or kismet. This excitement between the two sparked interest in creating #UDcomm318, and through several correspondences, they pitched the idea of a Social Media-focused class. The dynamic duo alternate for the weekly class, in which one is the “captain” for the night and the other plays the support role.

Many aspects of #UDcomm318 have been a success, including hosting a Google Hangout with international students about the use of social media. While we are busy talking about Insomnia or the latest fashion statement, their reality is war versus peace. Professor Bartoo noticed a “peace on earth moment,” seeing her students’ light bulbs go off in their minds and eyes while becoming personally enlightened about other cultures. In addition, students love creating digital stories in #UDcomm318. From a professor’s point of view, Professor Bartoo was having a blast running up and down the halls and seeing that “a silly activity was actually the culmination of 9 hours of the class so far.”

As a student within this course, Allison Lane, a junior communications major, spoke further about the digital story activity. During the digital story, we broke up into groups and created either a Vine or Instagram video. Before this class, many students had no idea how these types of digital media could actually be used to send effective messages, but the activity truly put what we had learned into action. Allison Lane states, “My favorite aspect is how interactive it [#UDcomm318] is that we are in class for three hours, but it doesn’t feel like that because we have a lot of hands-on activities.” This class always has us as students on our feet and engaging in conversation on several different social media platforms.

#UDcomm318 provides a learning environment to master new skills. One new skill that we have gained is “live-tweeting as well as deep dive-tweeting,” says Lane. This means live-tweeting an event, such as the several National Agenda speakers, while pulling outside sources into the conversation in order to create higher-level thinking and to increase engagement. We have also learned to use tools like TweetDeck and Hootsuite, which will be beneficial if (and when) we work with social media platforms in our careers.

Social Media Management is an extremely stimulating and advantageous course for any student at the University of Delaware to enroll in in future semesters. Allison Lane articulates it best when she says, “All companies need social media. It’s important to know how to effectively use today’s technology and engage with others on multiple platforms.” No matter the major or career aspirations, these skills are exceedingly critical to succeed in the so-called “real world” that students will be entering shortly.

Tell Your Story: Keri Betters, senior communication major, runs for Homecoming Queen

Keri Betters, a senior interpersonal communication major, has been named a member of the University of Delaware Homecoming Court 2014.

Betters, who minors in interactive media and advertising and concentrates in public relations, is the second communication student in the past 2 years to represent the Department of Communication on Homecoming Court.

“I’m thrilled to represent the Department on Court,” Betters states. “Being a communication major has opened so many doors and given me many opportunities. It’s helped me find my passions in public relations and social media strategy. The classes and extra-curriculars have helped me develop into a professional and I’m eager to take my skills into the workforce after graduation.” BzIMNm-IIAEHlXS

As a 3-year member of PRSSA-UD, Betters has served as its program director, winning a YouDee Leadership Award for the Night With the Pros event she executed in Fall 2013. Now, she currently serves as PRSSA-UD’s public relations director, managing their 5 social media platforms, overseeing the Communications Committee, and mentoring four underclassmen via the Mentor-Mentee program.

Betters is also a Lambda Pi Eta Honors Society member, a sports sideline reporter for STN49 TV, a social media ambassador leader for UD’s Office of Communications and Marketing, a social media/marketing intern for UD Career Services Center, a social media independent study student with Professor Carolyn W. Bartoo, and content creator for the Department of Communication’s Facebook page and blog.

Throughout her campaign for Homecoming Queen, Betters has used a variety of communication skills she’s learned through COMM classes. She executed a social media campaign complete with a hashtag (#Keri4Queen) and Facebook event, created advertisements to pass out around campus, and filmed a video (with the help of STN49TV).

The video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ila8Quc2QdY

UD undergraduates can vote all day on Friday, October 17, via the Homecoming website (www.udel.edu/UDHCvote/). The Homecoming King and Queen will be announced at halftime at the football game on Saturday, October 18.

Congratulations, Keri! The Department of Communication wishes you the best!

KATG1

#UDCommFUN: Internship with Seventeen Magazine

Calling all interns! Seventeen is looking for Winter Marketing Interns in New York City.

See below for details and how to apply!

SEVENTEEN – MARKETING INTERNSHIP 
(Winter 2014 Term, For Credit / Unpaid) seventeen

Details:
-Will train with the Creative Services Managers and marketing staff at Seventeen on project-based advertiser proposals and program executions (e.g., creating custom blog posts, sweepstakes, videos, photo shoots, etc. for advertisers)
-May attend informational “Lunch and Learns” with the Seventeen Editor in Chief, Ann Shoket, Seventeen Publisher, Jayne Jamison, and members of the Seventeen Marketing and Advertising teams
-Assist with organizing and executing promotional events (e.g., casting models, stylists, photographers, etc. for advertiser, mall and campus events)
-Assist with organizing promotional event collateral (cover blow ups, gift bags, counter signage, etc.)
-Assist with Seventeen’s contest and sweepstakes execution (e.g., contacting winners and organizing prizing)
-Help manage Seventeen’s online promotional listings with staff
-Assisting with the upkeep of the Seventeen’s promotional social media sites, including our Style Pro Facebook page and promotional YouTube channel
-Help research and brainstorm with the Marketing team for upcoming promotional programs

NOTE: All intern applicants must be enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college and be able to receive college credit for the internship. The Seventeen Marketing internship is an unpaid internship opportunity.

-If interested, please forward your resume, cover letter, and dates of availability in the winter to simparato@hearst.com.

 Please include answers to following questions in the body of your email (NOTE: there is no minimum or maximum word limit to your responses).
-Have you ever read Seventeen? If so, what is your favorite thing about the magazine? If not, why not?
-Articulate your interest in marketing and advertising.
-What ad campaign/promotion has stuck in your head recently and made you think about and/or purchase a product? Why?
-What challenges do you believe face the magazine publishing industry today, and in what ways do you think these challenges can be conquered?
-Why do you feel like you would be an ideal candidate for a Seventeen Marketing Internship?