My Social Media class at the University of Georgia has been underway for a week now & we are really starting to have a good time. If you are interested in following the class, read the class blog at http://socialmediaUGA.blogspot.com. The students and I will all blog throughout the semester and hope to start up some interesting conversations as we survey the ever-changing world of social media.
Classes start on Thursday & that is the day my syllabus for my new class on social media goes public. I’ve spent the summer reading tons (including the 2 text books Cluetrain Manifesto and Naked Conversations) & think I’m just about ready.
But wait! Blogs are conversations, right? So give me your 2 cents.
Here are the general topics I have in mind:
I’m breaking the class into two parts: tools then content.
Anything big you think I’m leaving out? Deadline approaches …
A small collaboration I did with LSU doctoral student Emily Metzgar was recently published in Public Relations Review in their special issue on social theory:
Sweetser, K.D., & Metzgar, E. “Communicating during crisis: Use of blogs as a relationship management tool.” Public Relations Review, 33 (3), 340-342.
Abstract
Using a post-test only experimental design with control group, this study investigated the impact of blogs on relationship management during a crisis. Participants (N = 109) were exposed to a personal blog (n = 45), organizational blog (n = 46), or control (n = 18). Results indicate blogs impact the perception of the level of crisis an organization experiences. Additionally, relationships created through blogs impact the perception of crisis. Use and credibility were also investigated.
keywords: relationship management; crisis communication; blog
If you are interested in this topic, you should also check out some recent work by Tom Kelleher and Trent Seltzer - both UF alums, I might add.
I did an internship as an undergrad. It wasn’t a real internship. At least by my standards today as a professor. But an organization needed a Web site, I had time & I needed the credits. So viola! Instant internship.
In order to get the credit for it, I had to write a 2 page paper at the end. All reflective etc.
Ahhh. But these days interns can blog!
And blog they do.
I found a few interesting intern blogs through an easy google search. Yes, there is Ross the intern - but I wouldn’t consider his experience the norm. I like the Bravo blog because it really does what I would want in an intern blog - tells me what the intern is doing & walks me through the experience. The TeenVouge blog, not so much.
Aside from the organizational perspective, there are blogs that the interns keep on their own. It is a good way to look back on the experience & reflect. Or vent. Little free advice: don’t let your intern blog get your fired.
From a college perspective, it looks like KU’s journalism folks have it all figured out: they have a college blog where their students post their cross-country intern experiences. Now if only they would update it! This seems like a great way to get next semester’s interns ready for their first work experiences & promote the students to the industry. (Are you listening Grady College?)
I can’t wait to get back on campus & hear about all my students’ intern experiences. From Lindsay in LA to Bonnie in the UK - I want to hear all the details!