The Real World: Social networking beyond witty Facebook statuses
Writing this column for The
Interrobang is truly a sign that my
33-year career in professional communications
has come full circle. I
am, after all, a former Fanshawe
College student (Broadcast
Journalism 1983), and former editor
of this newspaper. I'm a professor
with Fanshawe's Corporate
Communication and Public
Relations post-graduate program,
and an instructor with the college's
Continuing Education department.
Even before I entered the college's highly-regarded Broadcast Journalism program, I was freelancing part-time with local publications and volunteering with local radio and television stations. In fact, there is no better way to set the tone for this new column, The Real World. Networking, thinking outside the box, establishing a strong work ethic and — as the current college motto has picked up on — doing what you love will be the topics of this weekly Interrobang rambling.
I'll strive to write this column in an entertaining and informative fashion in order to present you, a Fanshawe College student, with tips on setting and achieving goals in the real world. Rest assured there will be no holds barred: I'll include the good, the bad and the ugly of following a career path. I'll include mistakes that I have made over the past three decades, and (hopefully) include many more success stories from my career in print, broadcast and new media, and in media and public relations.
If you are a first-year student, welcome. Times have changed since my freshman year in 1981. Back then, facial hair, graphic Tshirts and a few pints at the pub were the order of the day ... maybe times haven't changed that much after all. Then again, CB radios (ask your parents) — not smartphones — were the coolest gadgets for socializing.
Social Networking 101
Raise your hand if someone has bumped into you in the halls while they were texting. I see near misses and collisions every time I enter the main campus. In fact, walking the halls while attempting to avoid those who wander aimlessly while conversing via text messages should be an Olympic sport. I once saw two texting students collide while carrying pizza slices — they both wore pepperoni and mushrooms to their next class. At least they didn't order anchovies.
A larger negative aspect of social networking is connecting with others without a purpose or goal. When you blog, tweet and post on Facebook simply in order to converse without purpose, you might as well wander aimlessly through the campus halls while covered in pizza: you're not achieving anything but procrastination. Two hours of posting witty lines on Facebook does not equal two hours of work.
In reality, a few hours of social networking — not including e-mailing meatier messages (sorry for the pizza pun) — accomplishes little more than letting others know you are alive and well and living in London. In the business world, from time to time it is important to simply keep in touch with colleagues and clients — congratulating them for accomplishments, wishing them well with new endeavours and even wishing them a happy birthday.
Here's how I accomplish a lot with social networking in very little time. In addition to my corporate website, Jeffrey Reed Reporting (jeffreyreedreporting.com), I publish and edit London Ontario Golf (londonontariogolf.com), in its eighth year and boasting two consecutive Best Website Feature Column awards from the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.
Whenever I have something newsworthy to tell the word — for example, the publishing of a website, newspaper or magazine column, air dates for my golf show on Rogers TV, or a confirmed date for an upcoming speaking engagement — I quickly post that information on Twitter, Facebook and my two websites. This effort takes only minutes, yet it accomplishes a number of things: it acts as a productive marketing tool with no cost attached other than my time; it draws visitors, viewers and readers to my work; and it's part of a living curriculum vitae.
As a post-secondary student, it's never too early to start marketing your skills and letting others know of your career aspirations. Create a business card — Jane Smith, Photography Student, with a contact phone number and email address — to help brand yourself as serious about your career goals. LinkedIn is another great online networking venue. And if you don't have a professional- looking blog as of yet, establish one today. It's free, takes just minutes of your time to publish and opens up a world of opportunities.
Now go socialize. But beware of the pizza-carrying text-message addict.
Award-winning journalist Jeffrey Reed is a Fanshawe College professor with the Corporate Communication and Public Relations post-graduate program and an instructor with Fanshawe's Continuing Education department. E-mail him at jreed@fanshawec.ca.
Even before I entered the college's highly-regarded Broadcast Journalism program, I was freelancing part-time with local publications and volunteering with local radio and television stations. In fact, there is no better way to set the tone for this new column, The Real World. Networking, thinking outside the box, establishing a strong work ethic and — as the current college motto has picked up on — doing what you love will be the topics of this weekly Interrobang rambling.
I'll strive to write this column in an entertaining and informative fashion in order to present you, a Fanshawe College student, with tips on setting and achieving goals in the real world. Rest assured there will be no holds barred: I'll include the good, the bad and the ugly of following a career path. I'll include mistakes that I have made over the past three decades, and (hopefully) include many more success stories from my career in print, broadcast and new media, and in media and public relations.
If you are a first-year student, welcome. Times have changed since my freshman year in 1981. Back then, facial hair, graphic Tshirts and a few pints at the pub were the order of the day ... maybe times haven't changed that much after all. Then again, CB radios (ask your parents) — not smartphones — were the coolest gadgets for socializing.
Social Networking 101
Raise your hand if someone has bumped into you in the halls while they were texting. I see near misses and collisions every time I enter the main campus. In fact, walking the halls while attempting to avoid those who wander aimlessly while conversing via text messages should be an Olympic sport. I once saw two texting students collide while carrying pizza slices — they both wore pepperoni and mushrooms to their next class. At least they didn't order anchovies.
A larger negative aspect of social networking is connecting with others without a purpose or goal. When you blog, tweet and post on Facebook simply in order to converse without purpose, you might as well wander aimlessly through the campus halls while covered in pizza: you're not achieving anything but procrastination. Two hours of posting witty lines on Facebook does not equal two hours of work.
In reality, a few hours of social networking — not including e-mailing meatier messages (sorry for the pizza pun) — accomplishes little more than letting others know you are alive and well and living in London. In the business world, from time to time it is important to simply keep in touch with colleagues and clients — congratulating them for accomplishments, wishing them well with new endeavours and even wishing them a happy birthday.
Here's how I accomplish a lot with social networking in very little time. In addition to my corporate website, Jeffrey Reed Reporting (jeffreyreedreporting.com), I publish and edit London Ontario Golf (londonontariogolf.com), in its eighth year and boasting two consecutive Best Website Feature Column awards from the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.
Whenever I have something newsworthy to tell the word — for example, the publishing of a website, newspaper or magazine column, air dates for my golf show on Rogers TV, or a confirmed date for an upcoming speaking engagement — I quickly post that information on Twitter, Facebook and my two websites. This effort takes only minutes, yet it accomplishes a number of things: it acts as a productive marketing tool with no cost attached other than my time; it draws visitors, viewers and readers to my work; and it's part of a living curriculum vitae.
As a post-secondary student, it's never too early to start marketing your skills and letting others know of your career aspirations. Create a business card — Jane Smith, Photography Student, with a contact phone number and email address — to help brand yourself as serious about your career goals. LinkedIn is another great online networking venue. And if you don't have a professional- looking blog as of yet, establish one today. It's free, takes just minutes of your time to publish and opens up a world of opportunities.
Now go socialize. But beware of the pizza-carrying text-message addict.
Award-winning journalist Jeffrey Reed is a Fanshawe College professor with the Corporate Communication and Public Relations post-graduate program and an instructor with Fanshawe's Continuing Education department. E-mail him at jreed@fanshawec.ca.
