Lynda tutorials give us the opportunity to learn about learning. On Tuesday, Croom talked to us about the planning stage that goes behind any video project. After watching videos he has made, we were able to watch the Lynda tutorials in a new light and see the background thoughts behind the video. We also found out that our video project is going to be a branded story about one of our classmates. This branded story will require planning and strategy, along with video, audio and B-roll. This video project will require us to plan strategically the way we want to construct our video. Using the freedom of any interview questions we want, we will make a branded story. I'm excited to get to know whomever I'm interviewing, but I'm even more excited to see if myself putting together an edited video using Premiere Pro! I have never constructed my own video project, so I'm very interested to see how it will go. After learning about the shortcuts for Premiere Pro (I, O & J, K, L), I feel like I will be able to catch on to the editing process pretty quickly. I guess what I'm most concerned about is making sure I have enough video and B-roll to create a 2.5 minute video that captures my partner in the best way possible. I have a Canon DSLR camera already, though, so I'm excited to use it for a video project.
Wish me luck!
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This week, we began watching Lynda tutorials over Adobe Premiere Pro. As of now, I can honestly say the Premiere Pro interface looks extremely concerning. After watching some Lynda videos, I understand the general use of the application. However, I'm worried about how talented I will be in trying to shoot, import my own content and go through the editing process. Organization looks like it will be key in using this application. The name of files, and the folder they are in, can be complicated if they're not correctly placed. After watching my friends use Premiere Pro as creative media production majors, I will be very impressed with myself if I'm able to create my own video. I'm excited to see how we get started and what this video will be about next week!
Excuses, ExcusesIn unit 3.5, we learned how to write a feature story. Before beginning the planning process for my feature story, I had to pick one of the 15 prompts given for the feature story. After considering which prompt I thought I could cover thoroughly in a few interviews, I finally chose the question: What are the best excuses faculty members hear most often from students who miss classes, assignments and tests? In the past week, I have come up with interview questions for both students and faculty. The questions I created will help me get the information I need to create a correct tone and stance for my feature story. My interview questions are: Interview Questionnaire – Students
After writing these interview questions, I chose which kind of lead I was going to use and started receive and organize my interview answers. In this process, I am picking up how to write a feature story from the outside looking in. As a student, it has been hard to keep my opinion out of my story. However, this is necessary in a feature story. Knowing how to structure an interesting and inverted pyramid-style story is important for a PR professional, because this kind of writing is used time and time again. I like this assignment because it is an opportunity to be creative while still being newsworthy. I'd love to know how professionals make feature stories credible and interesting, even in situations where they cannot as easily use interviews or other peoples' opinions!
This week, we have switched from Adobe Programs to Canva. When I looked ahead at this week's module, I wondered what a "social media" design entails. The social media assignment requires making three designs for the same company or organization. After some thinking, I found it easiest to choose an event to promote in the graphics. The organization I chose is my sorority, Pi Beta Phi, because its 150th birthday is coming up this April. Random Pi Phi members create designs for events such as this celebration, and we are given the graphics to either post or to set as our profile picture or cover photo. Below are a few examples of graphics other girls have made that I have posted on my own account. I have used Canva before to make a resume for class. From the start I have LOVED using canva. Making a design using the program is so simple, but can look so complex. For this assignment, I have decided to make two square graphics (that could be used as profile pictures), and one cover photo-sized graphic. While making these designs, I am making sure to use Pi Phi's colors, wine and silver blue. I am also focusing on the "less is more" idea, because as Croom said, social media posts are quickly seen and can be quickly forgotten. Being a PR major, I love social media and all things digital. I really enjoy this assignment, because it challenges me to think concisely. At the end of this week, I know that if I sent my designs to Pi Beta Phi's Facebook group, other girls would save the graphics and post them when Pi Phi's 150th celebration comes around. Maybe I will! Canva vs. Adobe
Although Adobe products are much more difficult to use, more frustrating and more time consuming, I still believe Adobe is better than Canva.
This week, we had to write a position paper. Our goal: to promote the Tipton Children's Home over the DHS program in Oklahoma. In completing this assignment, I found it absolutely necessary to find research. I spent a lot of time collecting information for and about the Tipton Home, the DHS and statistics about foster homes in Oklahoma. I found several surprising statistics in the process, which made writing my position paper interesting. I enjoy arguing why one thing is better than the other, because as a psychology minor, I feel that I know how to counter argue and "mildly attack" positions enough to make my position stronger. Knowing how to use counterarguments to your benefit is essential in the PR industry, because audiences should never be left with unanswered questions. I pick up now that researching is essential and fact-checking even more so; information should support your claim only if it is true information. I'm excited to use these positioning tactics in my career, and I'd love to know more about tips and tricks to make position papers even stronger.
This week, we completed two direct mailers. After listening and conducting our own marketing research on student living options at OU, it was our chance to promote the OU Residential Colleges to two target audiences. When beginning to design my direct mailers, I realized I'm really going to have to tailor each one to the audience I'm choosing. The first persona I target is freshmen students currently living in the dorms. These students are not in Greek life, but have Greek friends and are worried they will get forgotten when all of their friends move into their fraternity and sorority houses. That being said, the freshmen want to get involved and create relationships with many other people on campus. That's why the OU Residential Colleges are perfect for them. My second target audience are the parents of a freshman student at OU. Both of these parents would have raised their child to be "Sooner born and Sooner bred," and love everything about the University of Oklahoma. These parents will be the ones paying for their child to go to college, as well as funding their child's living arrangements. I see their child as a first born; they want them to succeed, feel comfortable, get good grades and have some limitations on the "fun" in the college life. That's why the OU Residential Colleges are the perfect option. My freshman-directed direct mailer uses pathos. By saying their home "awaits," and explaining the "intimate relationships" they will have with those around them on the back, college freshmen will feel much more comfortable and persuaded to look into the OU Residential Colleges. I included a call to action (filling out an application and following OU Residential Colleges on social media) on the back, so they could see that OU wants people like them in their colleges. The design is meant to be thought-provoking and make the freshman feel wanted. My parent-directed mailer pulls at the "legacy" heartstrings. By showing parents that their child will be taken care of and have additional help socially and educationally, parents will love the idea of the OU Residential Colleges. I included several pictures of the colleges on this direct mailer, because when I chose my living arrangements this year, my mother wanted to see several pictures of the apartment I chose to live in. It was easy to make this mailer for me, as I know the things my parents would like to know. This direct mailer is very visual, but it also explains to parents why the OU Residential Colleges are the best bet for their children. Although these designs were extremely frustrating to make, the process was worth it. Putting in time after class will help me finalize my product on Thursday in class. I'm excited to see the final product!
I will say, though, I prefer Adobe InDesign over Photoshop. On Tuesday, we got to hear from a representative of the OU Residential Colleges. The speaker told us all about the ideas behind the colleges, what they offer, how they're structured and more. After this presentation, it's safe to say I had numerous questions floating in my head. I hadn't realized the colleges would be open in the fall, let alone finished building in the next year (based on OU's past construction projects). To compare the Residential College's marketing strategies, we each had to visit a student housing residence and pay attention to their marketing style. I toured Crimson Park on Classen Blvd. Upon walking in, the first question they asked me determined how they strategically marketed to me. One question that determined my entire touring experience: "Where do you currently live?" Within two minutes of being in the building, I was asked this question. After I let my tour guide know I currently live in a sorority house, I was showered with incentives on why I should live in Crimson Park next fall. The marketing strategy Crimson Park has in place for "groups" (i.e. sororities, fraternities, band, social organizations) appealed to me, a member of a sorority. The deals are as follows: Groups of 10-24 Active Members:
I liked the way Crimson Park's message felt tailored to me. The man that explained these group deals to me also seemed extremely enthusiastic, which made it that much more exciting to visit. I left the tour with a Crimson Park pen and a bottle opener (bc college kids, am I right). In addition to the group deals, Crimson Park has a pool, exercise room and numerous floor plans for an affordable price. Overall, I give their marketing team an A+ for knowing how to make the touring experience feel personal. If college kids are trying to save money and/or give money to their organization, Crimson Park is definitely the answer!
This week, we completed a backgrounder and a fact sheet. Backgrounders and fact sheets are two types of public relations writing that rely solely on research. These forms of writing provide facts, accurately and concisely. We were asked to research the Tipton Children's Home for information for these two assignments, in addition to using the information we were previously given for the news release assignments. In doing so, I found writing the backgrounder extremely interesting. It was a task to add and cite information to the information I've already been given without including opinions. As Pritch says, backgrounders are "painstakingly accurate," which means they rely on fact and fact only (with the exception of experts' opinions). I can now pick up on how to keep statements such as "We do ___ well," or "We are successful in doing ____," out of my informational writing, as I practiced doing so in both of these assignments. The hard part about the fact sheet, for me, was keeping it to a one page limit. I know that PR professionals live by the acronym RPIE, which begins with "Research," so these assignments jive with my previous knowledge of what PR professionals should be able to do well. I see these skill sets helping me in the future when I'm asked to write a factual writing piece. Although people don't often jump up and down at the thought of doing research, writing a successful factual piece, such as a fact sheet or backgrounder, can be satisfying!
First, the media advisory. Like any written form of communication, I knew already that the media advisory would be focused on newsworthy information. After reading about how to form a media advisory, I particularly liked the precise format: one page total with the 5-W’s in bullet point form. Each media advisory document I made looked extremely organized, which I liked. I also enjoyed the challenge of getting the most important information in less than three sentences, as well as having to keep within a one page maximum. I always appreciate writing that has limits, because it’s good practice for social media, pitches, etc. Next, the media pitch. I have always heard that PR professionals must be able to “pitch” ideas. Pitching ideas is much more than just throwing out an idea; it takes being creative, and also requires conveying that creativity in a way that will make a reporter want to cover the news that you are suggesting. Pitches must be crafted for each individual reporter based on their beliefs, likings, etc., so it's interesting to think about different strategies to craft pitches for different people. Like the media advisory, I like that the media pitch is also one page and clean cut with the most newsworthy information. Writing with the attempt to interest another person to care about something is a task in itself. PR professionals should be able to intrigue reporters, but this can only be done if they have done their research. Because we live in a digital age where news can either be remembered or forgotten, I know that mastering these two forms of PR communication are essential in getting information out to others. I’d love to know tips that can make media advisory and pitches more memorable, so that in the future I can be assured my information will get noticed and covered.
This week, we have switched gears and have begun learning Adobe Photoshop. I have always thought of Photoshop, like Croom said, in a negative connotation. The word "photoshopped" has been used in this generation as a verb to describe something fake. However, when it comes to design, manipulating and "faking" things out can be extremely useful, so I'm excited to start using this new program. After looking at my planner for the upcoming week, I noticed we do not have an assignment due for a couple of weeks in PR Publications. That is because we are first educating ourselves on Photoshop before beginning to design. In doing so, we used Lynda on Tuesday to watch a series of videos about the basics of Photoshop. Three pages of notes and 11 videos later, I feel like I will be able to manage using the basics of the tools, layers and masks. It seems to me like Photoshop will seem complicated at first, but I know with practice and memorizing shortcuts, it will get easier. I'm interested to see exactly how much more I will be able to do using both InDesign and Photoshop simultaneously. Our next assignment in this course is to complete a direct mailer using Adobe Photoshop. After using Google and Pinterest to find some examples of direct mailers, it looks like this assignment may be a time consuming task. But, like they say, good things never come easy!
I'm excited to dive in and get started expanding my design skills with Adobe Programs. |