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Are you the next new media specialist intern?

November 13, 2017 by Amanda Isaacs

Web and New Media intern Amanda Isaacs.

Apply for the job

I was the first new media specialist intern for the office of web and new media, so my time here has been like a test drive for them.

And I like to think I was at least a Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

My experience

During my internship, I have been able to experience Missouri State like never before.

I was very surprised to see that I was given a lot of creative freedom. Whenever I spoke, they not only heard what I had to say, but really listened. So much so that whenever I had an idea for something, instead of turning it down or just nodding their head, they found ways to help me bring my projects to life.

Some of those projects included: Every Bear from Everywhere, which highlighted students and faculty about why they chose Missouri State, new segments for Missouri State Snapchat and creating social media calendars and campaigns for homecoming, to just name a few.

And now after all that, they are trying to replace me.

But no worries, it’s only because my time at Missouri State is coming to an end after 4.5 years. Yes, I took a victory lap because I just love this place so much.

Intern Amanda Isaacs working on computer

So, what do you need to be?

Yourself.

Bring your personality to this position and put your touch on all things Missouri State. Besides that, you need to love social media and engaging with others, like enjoy using social media so much that you’re interested in pursuing a career in social media marketing.

As the new media specialist intern, you will get the chance to contribute to a variety of university projects.

  • You’ll be writing blogs, using Snapchat to engage with MSU students, and even developing social media campaigns for university platforms including Missouri State Facebook and Twitter.
  • They are also looking for versatile storytellers, so you’ll be able to write content for university blogs, edit photos and interview newsmakers.
  • You’ll also receive the keys to MissouriState.edu. You’ll update photos, videos and text as needed on university websites.
Web and New Media social media student Amanda Isaacs.

What you will gain

A really great resume.

Besides that, you will gain valuable experience in real-world settings and walk away with several benefits:

  • A professional portfolio that includes at least two social media campaigns, four blog posts and two visuals
  • An insider’s access to best practices about social media, writing and website content development
  • An opportunity to display skills in a professional setting, which will place the intern’s resume above their peers’

What are the qualifications?

A jacket.

No seriously, when it’s warm outside it’s like visiting the North Pole in here. No worries though, because in the winter, just leave that jacket at home because it gets nice and toasty and you won’t be needing it.

But really, here’s a list of the desired skills and experience they are looking for:

Education

Well first off, you have to actually go here, like be a student. If you’re pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism or related areas, that’s ideal.

Skills

You’re going to writing…like a lot, so it needs to be your biggest strength. That also means you should have demonstrated knowledge of AP style. Another thing is WordPress. Everything that is published is written on WordPress, so knowing your way around it is ideal.  We’d also love to have someone who is interested in social media marketing, photography and videography. It would be really beneficial to have some photo editing skills and basic knowledge of Web best practices.

Other

The internship requires some evening and weekend work, but don’t let this turn you away. The events you will have to go are exciting and you’ll get to experience Missouri State from behind the scenes. You must be able to work at computer workstations for extended periods of time, but they provide a big comfy chair so don’t fret. Additionally, applicants must have visual and audio acuity within normal ranges.

You must also be committed to working with our diverse student and community populations.

Applying for the job

It may seem like a lot, but it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve had at Missouri State. Week after week, this internship confirmed that Missouri State is home and that I made the right/best decision to attend college here. I’m not sure I would have gained the same experience and advice I received here at any other internship.

If you’re in, fill out an application and email these things to web@missouristate.edu. We’re accepting submissions until Nov. 30.

  • Resume
  • Cover letter
  • Two writing samples

Good luck and go Bears!

Filed Under: Social media, web strategy and development Tagged With: internship, jobs, Social Media, Web, web and new media

Social Media Kit: Public Affairs Convocation 2017

October 24, 2017 by Amanda Isaacs

Will Allen in community garden

Grow foods, grow minds, grow communitiesThe Good Food Revolution book cover

As if being a professional basketball player and corporate sales leader wasn’t impressive enough, Will Allen can now add MacArthur “Genius” Grant winner, author and CEO to his resume. Allen not only founded Growing Power Inc., he is also known as one of the preeminent agriculture and food policy thinkers of our time.

Allen wrote “The Good Food Revolution” to share his story and discuss how his grassroots movement is changing the way the country eats. Allen believes that we must have healthy food systems in order to have healthy communities.

He will address the Missouri State University and Springfield communities at the 2017 Fall Convocation.

Key detail

  • What: Public Affairs Convocation
  • When: 7 p.m., Nov. 2, 2017
  • Where: Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts
  • Who: Will Allen
  • Tickets: Free and open to the public; no ticket required
  • Sponsor: Missouri State Public Affairs

Share the story

Help us spread the word about this event to the Missouri State and local communities by sharing it on social media. If you are at the event, we want to hear about your experience!

We encourage you to join the conversation during the Public Affairs Convocation by posting about it on social media. Tag your posts with the official Missouri State Public Affairs hashtag: #CitizenBear

Make your post social media savvy

  • Tag post with the official Public Affairs hashtag: #CitizenBear
  • Whenever possible, tag:
    • Missouri State University or @missouristate
    • Public Affairs or @mostatepa
    • Growing Power or @GrowingPower
  • If applicable, tag the post with the Springfield, Missouri hashtag: #SGF
  • If you would like to provide a link for more information on the event, please link to Public Affairs Convocation
  • When appropriate, boost your post by including a photo

Photos

The following photos are available for your use. Please be sure to credit the photographers in your post.

Facebook

Will setting by garden
Photo credit: Joe Picciolo
Photo credit: Jennifer Picciolo

Twitter

Will setting by garden
Photo credit: Joe Picciolo
Will Allen in community garden
Photo credit: Jennifer Picciolo

Instagram

Will sets by plants in garden
Photo credit: Joe Picciolo
Will holding worms
Photo credit: Jennifer Picciolo

Video

The following video is available for your use:

Sample tweets

  • Urban farming pioneer @GrowingPower CEO Will Allen discusses how healthy foods create healthy communities at free event @HammonsHall, Nov. 2
  • Nov. 2 – join @GrowingPower CEO as he discusses “The Good Food Revolution,” the @MissouriState common reader: bit.ly/1Pb9WBK

Sample Facebook posts

Example 1

  • Post: Missouri State freshmen are reading “The Good Food Revolution,” the story of Will Allen’s journey of changing the way our nation eats. Allen will speak to our community on Nov. 2.
  • URL: bit.ly/1GEF5FT

Example 2

  • Post: Urban farming pioneer and MacArthur “Genius” Grant winner Will Allen will join us for a free, public event about his book, “The Good Food Revolution.”
  • URL:  bit.ly/1GEF5FT

Filed Under: Social media, Social media kit, web strategy and development Tagged With: citizen bear, hammons hall, Public Affairs, Public Affairs Convocation, The Good Food Revolution, will allen

Social Media Kit: Public Affairs Week 2017

August 22, 2017 by Amanda Isaacs

Avenue of flags

Public Affairs Week is an annual, week-long event that is designed for students and consists of a series of presentations and special events that relate to the year’s public affairs theme – Sustainability in Practice: Consensus and Consequences.

Key details

  • What: Public Affairs Week
  • When: September 9-15, 2017
  • Where: Various locations on campus
  • Who: Various presenters including featured speaker Dr. Eboo Patel
  • Free and open to the public

Share your story

Help us discuss Public Affairs Week with the Missouri State and local communities by sharing it on social media. If you attend the event, we want to hear about your experience, so we encourage you to join the online conversation during the week. In addition to posting about it on Facebook or Twitter, tag your posts with the official hashtag: #CitizenBear. Posts with the #CitizenBear hashtag will be pulled to the #CitizenBear Tagboard.

Make your post social media savvy

  • Tag your posts with the official Public Affairs Week hashtag, #CitizenBear
  • Provide a link for more information on the event at http://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/paw/
  • Tag your posts with the Springfield, Missouri hashtag: #SGF
  • When you post to Facebook and Twitter, boost your status update by including a photo or video.
  • Tag Missouri State University on Facebook or @missouristate or @MoStatePA on Twitter
  • Nothing beats a first-hand perspective. If you attend Public Affairs Week, share a memorable photo from or quote about your experience.

Visual assets

Video

Facebook Cover Photos

Facebook cover photo students register to vote Facebook cover photo bear statue

Twitter Cover Photos

Twitter cover photo students in PSU Theater Twitter cover photo flags

GIFs

Choose from various Missouri State GIFs on GIPHY to add to your posts.

We also have how-to instructions about GIPHY to make it easier to understand how to use them.

Sample social media posts

The tweets listed below provide shortened links that direct to pages appropriate for each individual post. They are intended to be paired with any of the images above. Facebook posts allow for more flexibility in length.

  • Become a #CitizenBear at the @MoStatePA Week. http://bit.ly/1Ul6Kaf
  • Learn how to get involved in the #SGF community at the @MoStatePA Week Civic Engagement Fair. http://bit.ly/2c600d9 #CitizenBear
  • Learn how you can help solve hunger at the @MoStatePA Week Hunger Banquet. http://bit.ly/2bTxj4F #CitizenBear
  • If you haven’t registered to vote, you can during @MoStatePA Week. http://bit.ly/1Ul7xbe #CitizenBear
  • As part of @MoStatePA Week, join the engaging and social MSU Talks session. http://bit.ly/2bzALmP #CitizenBear
  • Make sure you’re following @EbooPatel, this year’s featured speaker for @MoStatePA Week. http://bit.ly/2uGCIaM #CitizenBear 
  • Be sure to stop by the PSU Theater on Monday at 7:30 p.m. to listen to this year’s @MoStatePA Week featured speaker @EbooPatel. #CitizenBear

Filed Under: Social media, Social media kit, web strategy and development Tagged With: Public Affairs, public affairs week, Social Media, Social Media Kit, web and new media

Creating points and shaded areas on the map

December 2, 2010 by Amanda Isaacs

University units can use the campus map to mark out event sites, specific locations, or to visualize information that pertains to a certain place.  And doing this isn’t as hard as it sounds.

To make your points appear on the map, you’ll have to create a KML file that contains all the information about those points. I’ll show you how to do that.

First, you’ll need to open up Google Earth.  Google Earth is a pretty nice program that may remind you of Google Maps, but it has more powerful features and is somewhat different to navigate. The biggest difference is that everything is in 3D – before the introduction of the Earth feature in Google Maps, this was the only way users could experience this sort of real-world texturing with 3D models and terrain. You’ll have to navigate to wherever you want to place your points; presumably this will be in Springfield or near Missouri State’s campus.

Making Points

Once you’re looking at the area you want to add your point to, you’ll need to press the Add Placemark button. Located just above the viewer window, it looks like a yellow thumbtack. This will put a placemark in the center of your viewer, which you can drag to exactly the correct location. You can also edit the name of what you’re marking and write a short description in the New Placemark window that appears. Once you click the OK button, the placemark will be added to your “Places” in the sidebar. If you’re going to create more than once placemark, it’s a good idea to make a single folder that you can put all of them in. You can do that by pressing Ctrl+Shift+N or clicking “Add Folder” under the Add menu.

Once you’ve created all your placemarks, highlight the folder that contains ONLY them and copy it by pressing Ctrl+C. This will put the code that describes the placemarks in your clipboard. If you open up a text editor like Notepad on Windows, you can paste it there. At first it will contain a lot of excess information, but you’ll need to edit it and remove everything inside the <Style> and <LookAt> tags. After some trimming, your file should look something like this by the time you’re done with it:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2"
    xmlns:gx="http://www.google.com/kml/ext/2.2"
    xmlns:kml="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2"
    xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <Document>
    <name>Missouri State University Designated Smoking Areas</name>
    <Placemark>
      <name>Power House Smoking Area</name>
      <description><![CDATA[Designated smoking area. For more information, see
        Missouri State's <a href="http://www.missouristate.edu/policy/tobaccouse.htm">
        Tobacco Use/Smoking Policy</a>.]]></description>
      <Point>
        <coordinates>-93.27892451338917,37.19760625199317,0</coordinates>
      </Point>
    </Placemark>
  </Document>
</kml>

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:gx="http://www.google.com/kml/ext/2.2" xmlns:kml="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"> <Document> <name>Missouri State University Designated Smoking Areas</name> <Placemark> <name>Power House Smoking Area</name> <description><![CDATA[Designated smoking area. For more information, see Missouri State's <a href="http://www.missouristate.edu/policy/tobaccouse.htm"> Tobacco Use/Smoking Policy</a>.]]></description> <Point> <coordinates>-93.27892451338917,37.19760625199317,0</coordinates> </Point> </Placemark> </Document> </kml>

That’s just for one point. If you have multiple points, they’ll appear as additional items inside a <Placemark> tag. Remember, if you copy a single placemark from Google Earth, you’ll only get that placemark pasted to your code. Putting everything in the same folder makes sure you have it all copied over.

Once you’ve cleaned up the file, you can save it; be sure to type in the .kml extension after your filename so that it works correctly. So long as you upload that file to a working URL it will work with the map.

Shaded Areas

If you want to show a shaded area in your KML file, there’s  just a little more legwork involved. When in Google Earth, next to the “yellow thumbtack” Add Placemark button, there’s an “Add Polygon” tool (with a little hexagon in it). Clicking it will let you start drawing a shape on the map, and open a window letting you edit the information of that shape. Just type in a name and a description; we won’t use the rest of those features. Don’t click OK yet – once you do that, Google Earth will think you’re finished making your polygon.

Click on the map where you’d like the first point or edge to the shape you’re drawing. After clicking at least 2 additional points at other angles, you’ll see a white area appear where your polygon currently covers. Keep clicking the points at the corners of the area you’re creating; if you accidentally click somewhere you didn’t intend to, you can press delete to eliminate preceding points.  If you click and drag, you’ll create a curved line by laying down multiple points very close together. Most of the time you shouldn’t need to do this.

After you’ve laid down your last point, you can always fine tune your polygon by clicking and dragging the points you’ve already made to where you want them to be. This will also let you see where exactly the line between points falls. When you’re done, click OK on the New Polygon window. You can also go back and edit where your points are later by right-clicking the polygon (which shows up in the “Places” partition of the sidebar) and clicking Properties. This will take you back to the drawing and editing process.

After the polygon has been created, copy it with Ctrl-C, just like you would a placemark, and paste it into Notepad or Textpad. If you copy just that polygon,  you’ll wind up with the extra KML you wouldn’t get if you copied a folder with the rest of the points or even other polygons you may want to include. This time, you’ll need to include a little extra code. Beneath the <name>*Your document’s name*</name> tags, put this:

<Style id="my_styles">
  <LineStyle>
    <color>ffadaaa2</color>
  </LineStyle>
  <PolyStyle>
    <color>bce0bc54</color>
  </PolyStyle>
</Style>

<Style id="my_styles"> <LineStyle> <color>ffadaaa2</color> </LineStyle> <PolyStyle> <color>bce0bc54</color> </PolyStyle> </Style>

And then put this inside your polygon’s <Placemark> tags, beneath the name of the area.

<styleUrl>#my_styles</styleUrl>

<styleUrl>#my_styles</styleUrl>

Just put your own name for the style instead of “#my_styles”. You’ll need to pick a color to use though – KML code for colors is a bit strange, so I used KML Color Converter to get it right. This will let you pick a color already on your screen and set a transparency level you feel is good. Just replace the color code inside the <PolyStyle> tags to get it to look how you’d like.

Once all that is done, you can save your file and upload it somewhere live that works for you.

Using your KML with the map

 

Go to the map. Click the map button, then in the text box where it says “Search map,” enter the url of your KML. The KML I made for IDEA Commons is here : http://www.missouristate.edu/assets/ideacommons/IDEAoutlinenbuild.kml. So copy that address, and paste it in the text box. You’ll see what my overlay and points looks like. Using the URL for your kml will display what you’ve created. Once you’re looking at it on the map, click the “Link to this Page” link above the map buttons, below the Missouri State Search box at the top right of the page. You’ll see a small window open with a direct link to that map, and some html code that will embed it in your web page. Either of these will be useful to lead users straight to this page, rather than having them copy/paste the long url for your file.

Filed Under: Technical Tagged With: map

Missouri State Featured in iTunes U

December 3, 2009 by Amanda Isaacs

Lora Hobbs in iTunes UOver the past year, Apple has featured Missouri State courses from many professors, including Joe Hughes, Karl Kunkel, Todd Daniels, Tom Wyrick, Daniel Kaufman, Sam Dyer, and Robert Bradley.

Right before Thanksgiving, Apple began running a large feature on Lora Hobbs’ Introduction to Religion course; this was the first large feature for Missouri State.

National Impact

iTunes U promotes Missouri State on an broad scale. Several professors have commented how they receive frequent praise, comments and questions about their courses on iTunes U, from across the U.S. and beyond.

Learn More

To learn more about iTunes U, including how to become a contributor, please visit the Missouri State on iTunes U web site.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: audio, iTunes U, media, mobile, Video

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