Week 4 Project: MultiMedia Video Resume

The purpose of this activity was to create a visual piece that not only highlights my potential but provides future employers with the visuals to back up the claims.

Multimedia Video Resume

Week 4 Reflection: RISE Peer Review

The purpose of this activity is to provide positive and constructive feedback to Amy Killgore to ensure future success any endeavor she pursues. Interaction with peers covering assignments is vital to the growth of ones academic pursuit.

Amy, first of all let me congratulate you on coming to the end of our bachelor degree pursuit! I have enjoyed being your classmate all these months. I liked the overall feel of your video. You seemed to enjoy playing the interviewer just as much as the interviewed. This made me revisit my video to see if I appeared to have as much fun as you did! I really enjoyed how you used completely different clothing articles as well as it seemed as if you changed your hair as well. Well done!

As you were listing your strengths I noticed you said "I enjoy working hard". Although we all can relate to this statement as we come to the end of our degree program what you did you actually mean by this? Does this mean you enjoy difficult intellectual challenges? Does this mean you enjoy physical labor?

Have you considered using a different background? This really is a small issue and a bit of nitpicking by me but I found myself looking at your wooden blinds in the background. Also you might consider not mentioning that you struggle with spelling. I feel like in our industry that's something pretty important so if I were you I don't think I would mention that. I also saw in your self critique you mentioned needing to work on the eye contact issue. I would agree with that. I do not think it was a major issue and honesty I might not have even wrote about it had you not mentioned it in your brief summary.

Perhaps you could add more insight as to how you could grow in your industry. Tell the interviewer what your dream job is and make it known you are very much willing to accept any position that would allow you to work your way up the ladder. I thought overall your interview video was good. Like I said above you really seemed to have fun in the video and it made it very watchable in that sense. I have no doubt that in the near future you will be able to apply your interview skills in your pursuit of your dream job. Fantastic job Amy, as we wrap up your collegiate tenure I want to congratulate you on all the hard work and dedication we both know it has taken throughout these past two years. Please keep in contact as I look forward to keeping you in my network of colleagues!

Week 3 Project: Mock Interview

The purpose of this activity was to acclimate myself with being confident in the interviewing process. Now that I am set to graduate and enter the field of job searching it is vital that once I am granted an interview I knock it out of the park!

My top 3 strengths were as follows.

• Professionally dressed. It is important to present myself in the most professional as possible.
• Eye to eye contact. I believe all employers want you to create eye to eye contact as a form of honesty and integrity. 
• Being comfortable. I believe my speech as well as body posture conveyed a level of comfortability.

The two areas I could improve on is saying the word "ugh". It is a bad habit of mine that I am very much trying to change. I also believe that sometimes I talk to fast. This is not out of nervousness but just the way my whole family talks. 

Mock Interview

Week 3 Analysis: Company Questions

The purpose of this activity is to become acquainted with the idea of asking questions during the interview process. This practice relays the message to the employer that you are interested and care about the job and not just looking for a paycheck.

How many people will I directly report to?

• It is important for me to know this So I understand who I am working under and have a clear vision of who my superiors are. 
• I am looking to gain the full name(s) of any and all of my superiors as well as a possible meet & greet during the interview process.
• First impressions are very important to me and I would like to know that I am going to be working with upbeat and kind spirited people. 

What outreach if any does the company have with the local communities. 

• It is important for me to understand how involved the company is locally. This is something that I take very serious.
• I am looking to gain knowledge of any or all non-profits we will directly work with and or help.
• I do not wish to work for a company that does not help out the local community.

How long does the hiring process take?

• It is important for me to understand the time frame of the hiring process. This will help ease in anxiousness I may feel during the call back phase.
• I am looking to gain insight on how long they will be interviewing people before they decide on the next employee to hire.
• If I am in need of a job fast it will help me gauge how long to wait before accpeting any other potential job offers.

What social media sites are currently being utilized?

• It is important for me to know what social media sites are being used so I can evaluate how to maximize the usage and exposure if i was selected to be hired.
• Exact social media sites.
• This will not help me decide how much of a task I would being taking on if I accepted the job.

What is the average length of work tenure per employee?

• It is important for me to understand If I will be dealing with a revolving door of new employees. An issue like this can affect productivity. 
• I am looking to gain an idea of the working culture based off of how long people have been employed.
• This will help me decide how beneficial it would be to either be or not be surrounded by new employees all the time. 

Practice: Virtual Interview Preparation

The purpose of this activity was to further my communication skills as well as confidence in public speaking. This will be vital in my pursuit of employment in the media communications industry.

Practice: Virtual Interview Preparation

Week 3 Exploration: Company Research

The purpose of this assignment was to get acclimated with the history and mission values of a potential employer. The better I understand their history, services and competitors will help me land employment through knowledge I can convey in my tailored resume and interview.

Week 3 Exploration: Company Research

Week 2 Project: Reaching Out to Target Employers

The purpose of this activity is to understand what it takes to contact potential employers without having an "in". Creating a professional toned e-mail while introducing myself for the first time is vital to a successful job seeking campaign. It is also vital to know how to leave a professional sounding voice mail, both of which are provided below.

Megan Beck - Events Coordinator of The Dillon House

Direct email address provided by website, phone number on website.

Subject Line
"The history of The Dillon House intrigues me!"

EMAIL

Ms. Megan Beck,

My name is Daryl Coffman. After visiting your amazing establishment I was very much intrigued on the whole history of The Dillon House! As I was browsing your website I noticed you will be hosting a Christmas fundraiser for the Topeka Public Library that is open to the public. I wanted to let you know I will be attending this event and look forward very much to talking with you eye to eye about the growth of The Dillon House's online presence in social media and online advertising. If possible I would like to treat you to lunch sometime as well and pick your brain on what you do day to day to make The Dillon House such a landmark in our city!

Thank You,

Daryl Coffman
Digital Marketing Specialist/Project Manager
785-969-4029

VOICEMAIL
The Dillon House Voicemail

My Media Story

MY MEDIA STORY

Daryl Coffman "My Media Story"

Elevator Pitch

Daryl Coffman Elevator Pitch

Analysis: Building A Professional Network

Below is the provided link to building my professional network.

Daryl Coffman Building A Professional Network

Practice: Networking Events & Organizations

The purpose of this assignment is to get me more acclimated with my respected industry. This conference will give me the insight to promote and execute good social marketing practices. This conference is also beneficial to me for the simple fact that it is attended by world wide leaders in the social media industry. This is an invaluable opportunity to further expand my professional network! I also was very pleased to find "Social Media Association". I found it interesting that there is a way for the company to fund my membership. The mission of this association is to connect forward thinking people in the social media industry who want to connect and create a network of reliable work relationships.

World Social Marketing Conference

Organization to join "Social Media Association"

Project: A Tailored Resumé

Daryl Coffman Resume

Position Apply For. "Events Coordinator for The Dillon House"

Job Scan Results

Re-Scan Results

After scanning my resume initially I took notice to the need of using more keywords. I did so under a section I titled "Attributes". This took my percentage from the lower 20s to 30%. While I was pleased I increased my percentage it is not remotely where it would need to be. I tried to use a very simple design resume as I noticed in the lynda.com tutorial that the instructor discouraged using crazy graphics for the background page. Hopefully throughout the month I will improve on this resume.

My Media Story Script

Below is a link to my Media Story Script document. I really enjoyed thinking about the message I wanted to convey and picturing what video and images I would be using!

Daryl Coffman "My Media Story Script"

Week 1 Practice: A Tailored Cover Letter

The purpose of this activity was to gain insight on what a professional cover letter needs to be like. This was instrumental for me in my understanding of the industry job pursuit. I am very excited to use this knowledge going forward!

Daryl Coffman Cover Letter

Dillon House Events Coordinator Posting

Week 1 Analysis Discussions: My LinkedIn Profile

I did not have a Linkedin profile prior to this activity so this was enlightening to say the least. The purpose of this assignment was to acclimate myself with the Linkedin community. I have fully realized how necessary the use of this site is pertaining to my professional goals. Here is my newly created profile.

Exploration: Identifying Industry Jobs and Keywords

The purpose of this activity was to identify the keywords and/or phrases used by potential employers when advertising a job opening. It is beneficial to recognize frequently used words or phrases and include these in your cover letter, resume and application.

North Korea Flyer

Working on this project was nothing short of enlightening. I was slightly aware of the challenges North Korea citizens face. After reviewing all of the materials given to me, I was very much inspired to create a flyer that did not sugar coat the message the people of North Korea need to hear!

Instead of just using pictures to try and convey a message, I decided to use the Korean language on the flyer. Now I will be the first to tell you I do not speak one bit of Korean but I used Google translator to help me convey my message. I felt this was necessary to really be able to convey the exact phrasing I intended from the beginning.

You will notice on the “front” of the flyer it is a faded black background with no graphics. I chose to use only words to get the viewers attention. On the top of the flyer it states in Korean “Wake Up”. The middle phrase states, “Your government wants you to stay poor, uninformed and then die”. The bottom states “Free Yourself”. I chose to use text only after watching “Secret State of North Korea”. I got the sense that the people of North Korea are not amused by nonsense and appear to be very straightforward. While my initial message on the front could appear harsh It is my belief these statements will strike curiosity and fear. Curiosity and fear by nature encourages one to research and educate them about any supposed danger mentioned.

On the “back of the flyer” you will notice the use of images as well as text. I chose to incorporate the American flag as a corner border with the sole intention to help the reader and/or viewer of the flyer make no mistake of where this message was coming from. The text on the flyer states as follows “You Deserve Peace, Love, Wealth and Good Health”. That text is then followed by “We are your friends, not foes”.  I wanted to incorporate some symbols in case the flyer reached any of the uneducated people of North Korea. The documentary “Secret State of North Korea” shows orphans that appear to be in hiding. One would assume they might not have access to the education they should be therefore using widely recognized symbols could help still convey the message. While the choice of colors for my flyer might appear to be a bit brash, I firmly believe serious manner in which it presents itself will help get our point across quickly.

Final Edit Blog Post

1st Annual Kansas BBQ Competition

First and foremost I really enjoyed working on this video this month. For my final edit I took heed to what my professor suggested that would liven up the commercial. To start I replaced the background still image of a fire with a video clip of an actual grill on fire. I then slightly turned up the volume of the background music. Lastly I added the sound effect of charcoal burning. I thought doing this really added a dimension that made the commercial a better experience! If I had more time I would have tried to capture film of people eating plates from the mentioned competitors. Overall I am very pleased with the outcome. I hope you enjoy!

Refined Cut

For my refined cut, I added the commercial dialogue. I wanted to make it sound as fun as possible so I practiced using what I call my "radio voice". I had a great time writing and recording the dialogue. I then also turned down the background instrumental to a more suitable volume to compliment my voice. I shortened the overall video as well to fit my written and recorded dialogue.

Media Project Part 2 - Rough Draft

Initially I wanted to take on the task of creating a short documentary about the history of barbecue in Kansas. However, due to time constraints as well as equipment constraints I realized this was going to be a tall task. After careful consideration I decided to transition to the construction of a commercial for my BBQ competition event. The rough cut below does not include the narration vocals or sound effects I plan to include but is an overall main view of what the commercial should look like. I have also included below a screenshot of my final cut pro work station.

Reflection: Rise Self Evaluation

Brand Journalism Showdown : Journalist vs Marketers

Upon educating myself about brand journalism it was apparent that such a mundane topic has quite the aura of controversy surrounding it. To understand the conflict between journalists and marketers within brand journalism we must first review what brand journalism is.

Brand journalism is reporting of a brand or product with the insight and detail from a reporters approach. This is where the line gets blurred and the controversy and conflict begin. Journalists who are active in brand journalism do not take kindly to being labeled or compared to a marketer. Columnist Ann Friedman wrote an article published online for the Columbian Journalism Review entitled "Branded but 'independent' media". It is a detailed interview with journalist Jessica Bennett. Bennett has worked for various publications such as The Boston Globe and Newsweek. After becoming bored with traditional journalism she decided to take a position with Storyboard.  This involved creating content for Tumblr in blog form. In the article she cites her worries about initially taking the position and being pigeonholed into writings that were not from a journalistic standpoint. “From the start, I worried that a company like Tumblr wouldn’t have the same commitment to journalism as a place like Newsweek, but the idea of being part of something new, in a field that’s changing faster than we can keep up, outweighed any doubts. I didn’t want to end up doing a bunch of bullshit PR, and I think that’s the risk of doing ‘branded’ content at a lot of companies. But there are ways around that, and I think we found them” (Friedman, 2013).

In light of the negative feedback from so-called “professional journalist” companies today are using brand journalism as their bread and butter, or secret weapon if you will. The digital age has forced the entire advertising and/or marketing game to change and evaluate how to properly tackle the new age head on. When referring to brand journalism Forbes journalist Lewis DVorkin says “It’s one of the most quietly talked about areas in the media industry today, ultimately destined to shake up one hundred years of journalism” (DVorkin, 2012). It seems as if corporations and marketers alike have embraced the new wave while journalist are having trouble giving credit to or recognizing this form of journalism. “Those of us with long careers in journalism have moved in and out of the gray zone between journalism and advertising” (DVorkin, 2012). With a quote like that, one has to wonder why then would journalist battle so much with the acceptance of brand journalism? On the flip side of that very same idea one must also wonder why marketers do not put to the forefront how important the “real” journalist is in brand journalism.

“It was through social that I learned thinking has evolved regarding the terms of brand journalism and content marketing, I’m now sharing pertinent information” (Gombita, 2013). Embracing how to get these two sides to cooperate together in a way that is not only beneficial for the company the journalist as well as the marketer is working for is extremely beneficial for all involved. The question then becomes what happens when a company decides it needs neither from outside sources and develops its own team. “There are ethical challenges in being your own corporate media publisher, with a need to "step up your game" in regard to honesty, openness and transparency” (Gombita, 2013). The worry is that when a company has a team of writers and marketers working together in house at what point does bending the line of truth start to happen when releasing public statements or documents. “With direct publishing power comes great responsibility; remember that stereotypes about public relations developed for a reason” (Gombita, 2013). This statement in Judy Gombita's article Goodbye brand journalism and content marketing…hello DIY corporate media! really hits the nail on the head when referring to the battle between traditional journalist and marketer. It is the theory of journalist that marketers are very dishonest in their advertising with no fact checking or truth behind many of the claims. Journalist by nature are fact checkers that seek the truth or should before writing for publication.

Journalist writing articles online now have an even tougher challenge at hand on top of being truthful at all times. The days of writing an article and it either going in a newspaper or magazine and the rest “being history” is over. A web journalist has many responsibilities they must accomplish faster than ever. “Reporters often find themselves in increasingly competitive situations where a few minutes or even a few seconds will mean the difference between having an audiences and not having one” (Stovall, 2013). Pressure from rapid deadlines like what is mentioned in the previous statement could lead a brand journalist to overlook the fact checking in their respective reports. This is not to say that overlooking how true an article or statement is, is the norm because quite frankly it is not. The only argument is that one false statement in an article of brand journalism where there are many claims about a product or brand could misinform the readers alike.

Let us now try to understand how brand journalism has changed and is changing the way marketers approach consumers. “Social media has changed the equation. We no longer live in a world where the rich and powerful control the means of mass communication. Now, anyone can publish his or her news, views, comment and analysis” (Bull, 2013). The statement previously mentioned really hits home when understanding why companies have employed brand journalism as an important area of attack on consumers. Companies no longer have to rely on national newspapers or popular magazine publications to convey the messages and stories behind their brands.  Now they can use their respective websites as well as social media outlets to publish any amount of stories about their products instantly. This also allows the consumer to interact one on one with the brand through sites like Twitter and Facebook. When a consumer feels like they are a part of a brand rather than a spectator they are more willing to spend more of their precious dollars.

Lastly, let’s ask ourselves how does brand journalism threaten or in some cases coincide with true investigative journalism? “Brand journalism doesn’t threaten pure investigative journalism, and it doesn’t replace it. It is quite separate to this noble, challenged tradition. The question of how investigative journalism will be funded in future is an open one. Will it be state funded? Will it be financed through a charge on the general public as with the BBC?  Will wealthy individuals, trusts or others – who are prepared to guarantee they will have no influence on the journalists they fund – ride to the rescue of pure journalism? We don’t know the answer to that question yet. What we do know is that brand journalism is a reality. The question is not how we prevent brand journalism from subverting pure journalism. I think the question is – or should be – how can we learn to do brand journalism well” (Bull, 2013).  The main point I am trying to convey within this review is the fact that marketers and journalist can co-exist with each other. “Consistently good content will mean that audiences will come back again and again and they will endorse the content producers, this case the brand. Frequent use will lead to loyalty and to trust and in order to be a credible publisher, to provide credible brand journalism, trust from your readers is an essential ingredient” (Lewis PR, 2012).

To understand the importance of brand journalism, companies have now invested an extraordinary amount of time and money into this new age reporting and advertising. There seems to be an increasing amount of acceptance now with journalist when it comes to being employed with the responsibility of brand journalism. There is no shame now today in creating a truly investigative report based on a brand or product and writing in detail the same way a journalist would with any other topic. Marketers have also taken into account how serious it is journalistically to remain truthful to its readers and consumers.

It is time for journalist and marketers alike to embrace fully how vital it is for brand journalism to continue to grow. “Like journalists, marketers are learning it’s work to attract news consumers and a following in the digital age. What’s a Facebook Like really worth? How often do Twitter followers actually read one hundred and forty characters?” (DVorkin, 2012). Social media and its loyal users are just begging to be advertised to. The key is to understand exactly how to do it in a way that does not remind them of the old advertisements like corny commercials or ugly billboards. Today calls for intellectual articles that enhance the way consumers connect with brands. Social media is a “I want now” info lifestyle that brand journalism can feed ten fold. The only thing to ask is can marketers and journalist work together to achieve this. I believe so.