M-I-Z, Net-work-ing!

Image courtesy Mizzou Alumni Association

It's Homecoming here at Mizzou - meaning skits, philanthropy and tailgating are on everyone's mind. But, with this year's centennial anniversary, don't forget about one of the biggest perks of the season: alumni networking. 

While it seems nearly every event held at the Missouri School of Journalism is an effort to rub elbows and make contacts, Homecoming week offers a few unique opportunities:

Career Fair - Thursday, Oct. 13

Stotler Ballroom, Memorial Union

9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

You've probably seen the announcements about the journalism job fair happening today, but if not, grab your résumé and head over (in business attire, of course). At least 12 journalism-related organizations will be there, including:

• Fleishman-Hillard
• k-Cura
• American Junior Golf Association
• CGX Consolidated Graphics

Welcome to the age of #TfN

By Addison Walton

It’s been quite the last few weeks for social media. First, Facebook+Journalists has become a great way for journalists to connect on the world’s leading social networking site. Then Google launched Google+ into its beta phase and people around the world are “hanging out” and learning of the benefits of this new tool.

Of course, Twitter got in on the action as well. It has developed tools and guides to make newsrooms run more smoothly and information flow more accurately. It’s called Twitter for Newsrooms or #TfN for short.

Twisting in the flashbulb

By Addison Walton

“Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes” sang David Bowie on his famous 1972 song. In Bowie’s context, he uses the song to refer to the reinvention of his artistic self. Yet, this changing of medium is currently happening in the journalism community.

I was reminded of this again after examining Bob Shullman and Stephen Kraus’ blog post for AdAge on how affluent households learned of Osama bin Laden’s death. What draws this piece together is the references to bin Laden’s death as a “flashbulb moment” and drawing comparisons to other moments. Some examples of past flashbulb moments include 9/11, Michael Jackson’s death, and the O.J. Simpson car chase. Ask anyone where they were when these events occurred and chances are they will give you a more precise location than Google Maps.

According to the study, 57 percent of households with an annual income of more than $100,000 learned of the bin Laden breaking news through television. Granted, the announcement of bin Laden’s death occurred late on a Sunday night, but this number seems rather low to me.