This week, Robert French, founder of PR Open Mic and faculty member of Auburn University, interviewed University of Oregon’s Kelli Matthews and Lisa Poplawski. You can listen to the podcast here.
Robert wrote, “The University of Oregon is yet another school that is embracing emerging digital media in their classrooms. The good aspect? They do it well. Their faculty and students are great. So, that’s the reason for this podcast.” (Thanks, Robert!)
Robert is doing a lot with social media in his class as well. In fact, instead of having a textbook, his students purchase a $100 flipcam for their course.
For student readers of this blog, what do you think about the idea of purchasing a $100 flipcam in place of our course packet and “Made to Stick” book? Is this an idea for me to consider for fall quarter? Students would get elementary experience with creating video podcasts.
For practitioner and faculty readers of this blog, what do students need to know about video for public relations?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Tiffany, I’m so glad you raised the subject of video. In both my classes this semester, and in at least several other sections of PR classes here at UGA, we ended up using at least some video, but there’s no class in our curriculum that teaches it. Obviously that is going to have to change. First of all, it’s another skill set I’m going to have to acquire. And second, it’s going to have to find a place in the PR curriculum everywhere. Luckily I think the techonology is getting more user-friendly.
Karen, thank you for your comment. The video world is new to me too, so we can enter it together, share tips and troubleshoot. I think
Kaye’s approach looks like a good way to start. Purchase a flip cam and do basic editing in iMovie. Then move forward from there? Do your students check out video cameras from the Grady College or do your students purchase cameras? Any recommendations?
I took the Video Boot Camp course for all journalism majors last term and it was highly beneficial. I think maybe an ideal solution would be to require PR students to attend a weekend workshop on video as part of their Advanced Writing course, but still have Made to Stick and the course packet. I really like having hard copies of books that I can carry with me to my future jobs. I’m sure I’ll continue to refer to my course packet after I graduate, especially for punctuation rules.
Hey, Tiffany. Thank you for the post and link. It was fun chatting with Kelli and Lisa. Um, you’re next. ;o)
The idea of video came to me in two ways. First, our previous course on Electronic Field Production has gone through some changes. So, I opted to offer the video option. Now, I make it a part of the Style & Design course. Starting in the summer, we will be engaged in building a local social network as a class project in both Style & Design and Campaigns at theloveliestvillage.org.
As we all know, online video creation and sharing has increased. The Pew Internet: Online Video report from late June, 2007, certainly sparked my interest. “57% of internet users have watched videos online and most of them share what they find with others”
So, I thought of a video blog first, back in late summer 2006. We’ve posted almost 2,000 times there with lots of video and audio. Now, off to the social network. We’ll see how it goes.
Beth, I like your suggestion. What did you learn how to do from the Video Boot Camp?
I’m glad to hear that you like the course packet and “Made to Stick”! Kelli, Tom and I work hard to put together the most updated, helpful course packet that we can each quarter.
Robert,
The work on your video blog site is exciting. Thank you for sharing the link with me. The statistic you shared from the Pew Internet Online Video report is evidence that online video is an important area for public relations students to explore. What do you think our students should know about online video before they graduate?
Tiffany
Hey Tiffany,
Because I like buying new gadgets, I would be all for foregoing textbooks in favor of a flipcam… except that now that I’ve read through some of “Made to Stick,” I can never see myself parting with my copy!
I think video podcasting is an excellent tool for bloggers because it gives a human image and voice to the readers. Darren Rowse from ProBlogger.com says that video podcasting “gives you a voice and personality in a way that text cannot.”
In addition to that, video podcasting is something I see taking off in the near future with more internet bandwidth becoming available and improvement in digital video recording technology.
Hey Tiffany,
Oh, gosh. I taught video production for quite awhile, so to me … a lot. ;o) But, the key points about video for PR students I’m focusing on are:
1) Elements of style/design for video production. Framing, lighting, audio, graphics/CG. (big part of it all, really)
2) Interview vs. Monologue vs. Cinéma vérité
3) How to place videos & stories
4) Growth of citizen journalism sites like:
- iReport / CNN :: http://www.cnn.com/ireport
- MSNBC :: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6639760/
- OurMedia :: http://www.ourmedia.org/learning-center/topic/citizen-journalism
- NowPublic :: http://www.nowpublic.com/
- a local example: Montgomery Advertiser
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage (hope that link works)
5) tools: Start with TubeMogul, as it allows you to hit many video sharing sites. Not suggesting you post to all of them, but it will reveal many you may not be aware of out on the Web.
Think of what Phil Gomes is doing in PROpenMic. See David Brain’s sixtysecondview.com
Now, think of how this may be used for promoting an organization. Auburn has a YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AuburnUniversity
As you’ll see, it is no longer just the slick produced packages. They let university professors try their hand at videos. The results? Your mileage may vary. ;o) I’ve found that with my students and their projects, too.
So, that’s a brief (believe it or not) look at what I’m thinking about.
P.S. I’d still do the course packet, too. Just because I say we don’t have a book, doesn’t mean the students don’t have reading material. ;o) I don’t think there is “a” book I could use for this course.
Bryan,
I’m thrilled to hear that you are enjoying “Made to Stick”! I agree with your assessment that video podcasting is approaching a tipping point. Getting to watch videos on PR Open Mic helped me realize how powerful the medium is. Dr. Karen Miller Russell recently posted
this video, which her students at the University of Georgia created. The video medium lends itself to messages that establish a sense of community and connection. Thank you for your insight.
Tiffany
Robert,
Thank you for sharing with me what you believe students should know before graduating. I greatly appreciate the details you included and the resources to which you linked. Thank you so much for your encouragement, support and assistance.
I see that your Auburn YouTube Channel has attracted 11,335 visitors! Wow!
Tiffany
Hello Tiffany. I am taking Advanced PR Writing from Tom Hagley. It’s been great learning about social media. But, I would hate to see you do away with the textbook. I’m finding your writing sessions in the textbook very helpful. And, although it is important for students to use social media, students still need help learning how to write clearly and concisely. Technology changes overnight and the day will come when the way we are using social media—blogs, twitter, podcasts— will change. But having good writing skills will never go out of style. Maybe the PR program needs to think about adding a visual/audio media class. Under a quarter system it’s hard to pack everything together, and what often happens is more time gets spent on the multimedia aspect than on learning how to write. Ten weeks is a short time to learn it all.
Thanks, Kristina. I will keep our book, “Made to Stick,” and our course packet. I’m glad that you have found the writing sessions to be helpful.