Qualifications: Social Media Expert. Is That Even Possible?

With graduation sneakily approaching, college seniors wonder, ‘What’s next?’ Up until now, every step of our lives has been decided for us, elementary school, middle school, high school, and lastly, college. Now, it is our turn to decide what to do with the rest of our life? In a recent Huffington Post Article, “Social Media Experts With 5-7 Years of Experience?,” Craig Agranoff discusses the vital role that social media plays, in regards to big businesses, as well as the importance of a company hiring a ‘social media expert.’ To find an individual with seven years’ experience in social media is difficult, seeing as social media wasn’t popular until 2009.  Agranoff’s article is trying to persuade companies from putting an allotted amount of time on job titles, and as a soon-to-be college graduate, looking for a job, this would crack open new jobs and networks for my fellow graduates and myself. Instead, Agranoff suggests that companies examine a potential employee’s accuracy with regards to forecasting future social media, not just how many years they can put down on a resume.

With all of the changes that social media has endured, years of experience doesn’t matter, since the field itself is so young. What is important is one’s capacity to learn, understand and utilize social media, whether they have been using social media for ten years or ten months. Companies need to realize that social media is constantly developing; therefore, a business searching for an ‘expert’ doesn’t suffice, while looking for an individual who is well informed, is able to research the area and find a strategy are three principle business needs to examine.  We are about to embark on our hunt for the perfect job, in a field relatively young in age, and my hope is that we are not discouraged from jobs that are labeled ‘expert’ because that word is unrealistic. 

Advice from "old-timer" Tim Sullivan

Last night, the Undergraduate Communication Society of UCSD hosted a panel event for college students, “Print Journalism in a Digital Age.” On the panel sat four very esteemed guests, all with different experiences and success stories in the media industry. It consisted of Tim Sullivan, one of the Sports Columnists for the Union Tribune, along with Lauren Steussy, Chris Cantore, and Jessica Kline, all of them respected in various sectors of the media industry. Sitting side by side up there, the expressions of the four ranged on a spectrum from pleasantly enthusiastic to jaded, which would also be an adequate summary of their attitudes toward the future of print journalism. It was a touchy subject, as it involved critically analyzing their own work in a field which many predict will be rendered obsolete in the next few years. Tim, the eldest of the bunch, made his cynical disposition for himself and his niche clear, yet ultimately voiced a hopeful vision for the next generation’s take on his beloved trade.

Image source: Union Tribune

            During the panel, Tim gave a testimonial of his fantastic run with print journalism as well as his deeply fond affinity toward the traditional roots of reporting. He had taken a very old-school approach to his career, attending an established and highly esteemed journalism program at the University of Missouri. From there, he worked for 25 years as a sports news reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer, until finally landing his current columnist position in San Diego through a friend’s connection. Throughout his career, he had received numerous accolades in his field, and his passion for it was undoubtedly voiced throughout the panel. However, he made sure to constantly mention how he was from a completely “different era,” even beginning his spiel with a joke about his personal ties to the Gutenberg printing press. Tim’s account took a notably dramatic shift when he began talking about the present state of journalism, revealing that funding and circulation of the Union Tribune had moved to “where the eyeballs are moving.”

            “Radio was killed by TV, and the internet completely smothered that,” Sullivan stated indignantly, “Pretty soon the internet will kill all media.”

            Joined by another considered journalistic old-timer on the panel, Chris Cantore, he too had been embittered by what he called the “destruction of an industry.”  Tim’s resentment for how the internet had swooped in and completely changed what he was accustomed to was undeniable, yet both had ultimately realized that there was little to nothing they could do to stop it.

            “I’m trying to hang on for a few more years until retirement,” said Sullivan, “It’s either adapt, or get out. And I’m at an age where I am too old to adapt, so I’m hoping to get out when I can.”

            However, just because Sullivan accepted his situation, did not mean that he did not understand the language current times and how to use it. In our generation, where social media trafficking is the new forefront to news circulation, he would be the first to acknowledge the usefulness of platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and popular blog sites. In fact, it was he who encouraged and advised his own daughter a way to gain revenue from her rather specific Tumblr blog consisting of reblogged “pictures of cute babies.” By finding a way to monetize her influence in a small niche market on the internet, he was able to earn her $100 dollars in ten days, and gain her over 320 Twitter followers practically over night, proving his savvyness still remains in a technological age.

            Not only this, but Sullivan still had hopes that the roots of journalism, from the creative process to the public’s wish to stay connected, will always have a place in society. He referenced how the 24-year old reporter, Sarah Ganim, just recently won a Pulitzer Prize using classic investigative reporting techniques, and considered it as evidence that there is still room for those who have the same passion that he did so many years ago. He understood that his job, as well as others in his position, will not be safe from the internet-takeover and is just a matter of time before the web will push everything out. But he does not see this as the end of journalism itself, simply an old way of thinking about it.

            “I know that everyone is forecasting that the sky is falling, but there is still a need for good reporting and good storytelling,” Tim advised in his final words to the student audience, “You may have to create things yourself now, but don’t be discouraged.”

AP-Google Scholarship Program for Journalism Students

When you're a college student sometimes choosing a major is based on how much money you're going to make outside of college, not on what kind of difference you can make in the world. Student Journalists are disappearing along with print media. Digital Journalism is the new form of media consumers are reaching out to for the latest and greatest. But how are students suppose to survive as digital journalists?

The outlook for surviving as a digital journalist is a bit discouraging, according to the Daily Beast, Journalism is one of the most useless majors. The pay rate sucks,there is no job security and who knows if there's any benefits; however, there is hope for students who are eager to begin a career as a digital journalist with AP-Google's Journalism and Technology Scholarship Program, students are pushed to contribute new methods to digital journalism. Scholarship winners receive $20,000  towards the following academic year.

This years winners come from all over the U.S with some unique ideas on ways to change how digital media is presented.

 Graduate student, John Osborn, is proposing a news game aiming to simulate Political candidates in order to inform players about how the political system works.

We spoke about news games in class, this student example may be a successful tool for generating interest for gamers who may not be updated on all the political news stories.

Another student, undergraduate Kate Zhu, proposed an application, LedeHub.


"LedeHub pushes the trends of digital journalism forward by fostering collaborative, continuous and open journalism while incorporating elements of crowdsourcing to allow readers, reporters and new organizations to come together in unprecedented ways. " 


The student stories are motivating and great examples on how we can take digital journalism to the next level. The website also provides the winners video proposals which may be helpful with our individual video projects.  


The AP-Google scholarship program is accepting applications for next year and is open to undergraduate students as well as Graduate students. Who knows maybe this film project can lead to bigger things... 

The Digital World: Moving from Society into the Classroom

In Vineet Monahan’s article “The Digital Transformation of Education: A 21st Century Imperative,” Monahan discusses Apple’s partnership with McGraw-Hill, one of the major suppliers of educational material, to introduce textbooks especially designed for the iPad. There are many pros and cons to this notion and whether it will help students in grades K-12 to learn material. Critics to the collaboration examine the monetary problems affecting many school districts across the United States, as well as how this new technology will change students learning habits and whether students will take learning seriously if they are being taught through this new medium. On the other hand, supporters of this new partnership recognize that today’s children have been introduced to technology from a very young age; therefore, bringing technology into the classroom only reflects this exposure.

Monahan is in support for bringing technology into the classroom, and I agree. Over the past fifty years, society has made a dramatic transformation, yet our school systems continue to rely on outdated teaching strategies. If we want our younger generations to develop and society to expand, it is important that our nation changes the classroom dynamics by introducing aspects of modern day life. Monahan states that “One thing I’ve learned throughout my career in education is that students thirst for connections between what they’re learning in the classroom (and how) and what they see happening in the real world. Bringing technology into the classroom helps them draw these parallels and keeps them interested in what they’re learning.”

If the future of our country is in the hands of the youth, the cost for integrating new technological advances in the classrooms shouldn’t be an issue. As a society, we need to exhaust every possible solution to the dwindling education system that is failing our country. 

Mike Wallace dies at 93

Although this is some what old news, it is important to note the face of 60 minutes, Mike Wallace had deceased earlier this month.  He was notorious for his relentless lust for the truth, especially in revealing controversies and scandals. He was also famous for his work in Vietnam during the 1960's as a war correspondent.
The advent of Wallace's career reminded me of our guest speaker James Kotecki where his initial career path was not necessarily a straight journalist. He worked as a radio news writer which has some similarities with his late career, but nonetheless began his career without a traditional journalist background. His popularity came with his ability to "speak for the people" when interviewing individuals (CNN.Com). The foundations of democracy and our right as citizens of the United States is somewhat voiced vicariously through Wallace. Wallace's work is able to stand the test of time even with the large shift to digital journalism and his legacy in investigative journalism stands as a stepping stone for many other aspiring journalists.

CNN's Article on Mike Wallace

Skype guests

It was interesting to notice the difference between the two special guests we had this past week, David Folkenflik and James Kotecki. Both are polar opposites when it comes to digital journalism. Folkenflik had to adjust to new digital technology during his career. He established himself as a journalist with his career at NPR and his groundbreaking stories. Kotecki made a name for himself through his online vlog. He grew up using this digital technology to his advantage and has turned his vlogging into a career. Folkenflik is more of the traditional form of journalism and news reporting, very straightforward that focuses on important corporate, international, and economic affairs. Kotecki is able to use more of his personality within his vlog, even making fun of the subjects he’s talking about. He is able to use satire in his work to attract a different kind of audience; a youthful fan following that is internet-savvy. These men take different approaches in their reporting, but coming from my generation, I think that Kotecki’s style of reporting is not only more interesting but will also soon replace other forms of journalism and breaking news. It’s not as simple now to just report the facts. Journalists and reporters have now merged together. There is no hiding behind the printed page anymore because these news reporters need to put in extra effort to keep their audience engaged and interested in the information, whether they agree with it or not. Along with this engagement, there is a relationship that is formed between the reporter and the audience, each side is now able to give their own opinion, which creates a more dynamic form of journalism.