Skylarlitton's Weblog

Network

skylarlitton — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:00:35 +0000

Currently, I am taking a Wednesday night class that’s called “Professional Sales.” It’s an interesting class and gives you insight on what goes on in sales. I am a Public Relations, Sports Media senior, so I have never had a class like this, but it has definitely opened up my eyes.

In the class my professor, Josh Lakey, talks about sales (obviously) but he also gives tips on interviews and helps us know what’s important to get that job you want. He has guest speakers come and talk the class that are real recruiters for jobs or those who give tips on interviews and what not.

Last night, we had a guest speaker named Peter Biadasz who has numerous books, including www.getmoreleads.net

Biadasz is one of the most well-known networker’s there is, but he earned his way. He is over 43 networking groups. I understand the value of networking and I know that in today’s society it is necessary. However, I think the majority of people do not understand the importance of networking.

He said that being a networker is a lifestyle and your network is your marketing department. Your networking group is your foundation and if you do it right, you will be successful.

My point of this blog is to realize how important networking is. Networking can score you the job you want all because everyone is giving each other leads that are helpful.

Most importantly, networking is easy. With today’s technology, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and any other networking Web sites all make it so simple. There’s really no excuse not to network.

So if you aren’t networking, start. Why not do something so simple and beneficial for you? Not to mention, you meet some really cool people who you might not have otherwise the chance to meet!

…Now it’s back to studying for the GRE.

Nine Years Later…

skylarlitton — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:53:45 +0000

It’s been awhile since I have been on WordPress and the weird thing is that the last time I wrote it was about “Remember the 10,” and now tonight that’s what’s on my mind.

On Wednesday (Jan. 27), it was the nine year anniversary of the horrible plane wreck that changed the lives of Oklahoma State University, forever. On January 27, 2001 10 lives were taken way too soon from the OSU family. Lately, it’s really been on my mind, probably just because of the anniversary being a few days ago.

I work in OSU Athletic Media Relations as a student intern, which happens to be the same office that Will Hancock, one of the lives taken in the plane wreck, was an SID (sports information director) in. I never personally knew Will; I only know the great legacy he left with many of my bosses and the OSU family.

I walk by the memorial placed inside Gallagher-Iba Arena every day when I go up to the office and when I’m in my bosses offices, I can look at their window and see the memorial. Every day I walk into the office I see the signed football that was given by the football team after the accident. When I walk into the media work room during games, the picture of Will is hanging on the wall because there is now a scholarship in remembrance of him. Everywhere you go inside Gallagher-Iba is a piece of the 10 lives that were lost.

When I walk by the memorial I always say a little prayer to myself, a prayer that something as tragic as January 27, 2001 will never happen again, a prayer for the families that lost their loved ones and a prayer for the OSU family. Every time one of our athletic team travels, especially on a plane, I am reminded of what could potentially happen. Especially last night when our basketball team traveled in a snow storm to Missouri on a plane, which happens to be the same team who first played the 2001 basketball team after the plane wreck.

The purpose of this blog is to remind those that life can be taken far too soon, especially in a tragedy like on January 27, 2001. Never forget to the 10 “Fallen Cowboys,” they will be at every OSU men’s basketball game in spirit.

Most of all, never forget life is short, live it to the fullest.

Remember the 10

skylarlitton — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:59:02 +0000

This weekend was the “Remember the 10,” run. This hits close to home for a lot of people, especially those who are part of the OSU community. As a student at OSU, this really got me thinking about things. Not to mention, I work for the OSU Athletic Media Relations as an intern and eight years ago one of the media relations coordinators, Will Hancock, died in the plane wreck that took the lives of ten OSU family members. When I read the article in the Daily O’Colly about Will Hancock’s wife, Karen Hancock, who at the time was the coach of the OSU soccer team, it brought a tear to my eye. If you haven’t read the article, check it out. http://tinyurl.com/d7mpzo

Also, 14 years ago was the OKC bombing, keep in your thoughts those who were lost, those who survived and those who lost loved ones.

Is Anyone Else Nervous?

skylarlitton — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:10:13 +0000

We decided in class to take over the Web site, PRopenMic for a week. I don’t know about anyone else, but this scares me. I think there’s a lot to do and it makes me nervous with so many people involved, hopefully it will go how it’s supposed to. I’m still a little confused on the whole thing, but I hope I figure everything out tomorrow in class. I think once we get everything put together, it will be great. I think it’s normal to have worries about stuff like this, this is a huge deal in the social media world! I feel honored that our class was asked to host it for a week, how many people can say that they were asked to host PRopenMic for a week? I want to do the writing part, which is where we blog about certain topics, it should be interesting/fun. My goal is to have more people join PRopenMic, right now there are about 4000 members, hopefully this number will go up! I encourage everyone to join if they havent already!

In class yesterday, there were many great ideas going up on the board, but I just want to know if anyone else is nervous about putting this all together??

#PSATuesday

skylarlitton — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:22:26 +0000

Yesterday I partcipated in #PSATuesday on Twitter. If you aren’t sure what this is, let me explain. Bill Handy came up with this idea after noticing a lot of the times Twitter has pointless tweets, which is true. Handy decided every Tuesday will be #PSATuesday, anyone can particpate. On Tuesdays, start twitting what’s important to you with a hashtage of #PSATuesday and then your followers would know what is important to you. If there is a certain organization you are talking about, for example if breast cancer is important to you, put the Web site of a brest cancer organization. It doesn’t matter if it’s local, national, or international it just has to benefit our society. If you want to know more, check out Handy’s Web site, http://tinyurl.com/dgms8q.
Yesterday I posted my #PSATuesday tweet involving cancer and I put the hospital’s Web site that is known for helping with cancer, it’s a hospital located in Tulsa, which is also the same hospital my Grandad had been going to for the past five years, trying to cure his cancer, but unfortunatley passed away in a couple of months ago. St Francis Hospital is a great hospital and over the years has helped my family in many ways.

Get involved with #PSATuesday and let people know what organization is close in your heart.

#PSATuesday

skylarlitton — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:22:15 +0000

Get involved with #PSATuesday and let people know what organization is close in your heart.

“If every newsroom closed its doors for good tomorrow morning, what would you do? “

skylarlitton — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:17:34 +0000

If every newsroom closed its doors for good tomorrow morning, what would you do?

That is one of the questions Scott Hepburn posted in his article, 25 Big Questions for the Future of Journalism and PR (http://tinyurl.com/dbvf29).

He asked 25 excellent questions, but the one I feel the strongest on would be: “If every newsroom closed its door for good tomorrow morning, what would you do?” I am twenty two, so I have pretty much been raised without reading the newspaper. My generation isn’t big with newspapers, I will pick up a newspaper if one is by me, but I never go out of my way to get one. Why do all of that when I can go online? I can now go to Twitter and look at what the news stations are saying and read the articles that sound appealing to me with a click of a button. Not to mention, I can always go to news stations Web sites and read it there. It’s much faster and to me, it’s easier.

I’m still not sure how I feel about getting rid of newspapers all together. I know my parents would be lost without their daily newspaper. They are familiar with the internet, but it would take them much longer to try to figure out how to find the articles online, even though it’s simple. My parents aren’t the only ones, I feel most of the older generation would agree. Think about your grandparents, would they know what to do without the newspaper? Yes, my grandma could just turn the TV on to catch the latest news, but to tell you the truth I don’t even think my grandma knows how to work the TV, but she does know how to read a newspaper.

What do you think? I would love to hear your comments..

If every newsroom closed its door for good tomorrow, I would be fine, but what would everyone else do?

New blog assignment for class!

skylarlitton — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:33:39 +0000

My next blogs will contain blogs about the OSU School of Journalism & Broadcasting. Each week I will talk about something new that is happening, my social media class, I could talk about the students and professors that make up the school or whatever I feel like talking about.

I think OSU has one of the best programs for journalism & broadcasting and i’m really glad I decided to be a part of the school. I am a strong believer that because I made my choice to get a degree from OSU, it will take me far in life after college.

There are many organizations to join and get involved in with journalism & broadcasting, PRSSA, Women in communication and JB Ambassadors are just a few organizations to joined.

GET INVOLVED

PARTY!

skylarlitton — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:24:05 +0000

I feel like i’m back in grade school and we’re having a class party! This is great way to kick off spring break, I just now realized we were actually going to do it..so i’m not able to bring anything..bummer. I enjoy my class and I think Bill is a great teacher, too bad all professors aren’t like him!
This class is already a carefree environment, so i’m even more excited to have food in it today!
For future students, take this class. It is a great class where you learn a lot. I think it’ll give us a great advantage after college.

off to party!

Mike Koehler

skylarlitton — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:42:32 +0000

On Tuesday in social media we had a guest speaker. Mike Koehler, from The Oklahoman came and talked to our class. He gave us tips for twitter and other social media Web site’s, along with how his group handled the Oklahoma ice storms and tornadoes. On Twitter, he came up with the hashtage of #okice, which helped people around Oklahoma know what was going on. It helped with school closes, what roads were the worst, what places were closed, etc.

It was really helpful and interesting, it showed how fast the social media world is changing. Bill Handy was able to video tape him on the internet while a live audience watched and able to ask questions, just like they were there in the classroom with us.

It was a good speaker and I know I will be hearing more about Mike Koehler in the future with social media.