Marketing Communications Today Blog

Jai-Leen James is a journalist. She is an ethical, objective and effective storyteller who can craft a beautiful headline followed by a poignant lede. But her most recent role on the digital production team for the USA TODAY Network exposed her to the business side of journalism and opened her eyes to the wealth of information found in multi-channel analytics.

“Page views, audience engagement and subscribership are factors that determine a publication’s ultimate survival,” James said. “But the question many newsrooms struggle with is, ‘What is the best method to accomplish this goal?’ I'm helping answer that question by offering insight into reader segmentation, social media strategy and metrics analysis.”

James joined the USA TODAY Network in September 2019 and was admitted to the WVU Reed College of Media’s Digital Marketing Communications online master’s program the following year.

In PR agency life, creativity, strategic direction and the skilled execution of communications campaigns receive the bulk of attention from clients, employees and judges in award competitions.

But we cannot forget the finance team and the chief financial officer who keep the lights on cut our paychecks, match our 401(k) contributions, and process company invoices and expenses every month..

At my first agency job in the 1990s I learned how important every dollar is to the bottom line. I learned why we need to spend our time wisely and the value of employees meeting deadlines to enter their billable hours and expenses. I learned it’s necessary to execute letters of agreement with clients before starting our work.

Omnicom Health Group is the largest healthcare marketing and communications network in the world, with more than a dozen companies and over 4,000 talented people specializing in every area of health. Our people come from every corner of science, medicine, marketing, and communications, partnering with clients—and connecting with each other— to achieve meaningful change through better, more innovative communications. We hope this session can help students pick up skills that can help them land a job!

Susan K. Jones: What are your best tips for designing a resume and also what should not be on there?

Joe Golden: I'm not a big fan of fancy resumes. We deal with creatives a lot and they sometimes get a little too creative. Simple is best—your name, your education, your experience, your hobbies, your skillset. Make it clear. It has to be easily readable, easily navigable and just has to look good to the eye.

Each semester the WVU Marketing Communications online programs is excited to welcome a new group of individuals into the MCNetwork. The WVU Marketing Communications graduate student population consistently varies in their levels of experience and expertise, with some just completing their undergraduate studies to those holding senior-leadership positions at the worlds most elite agencies and brands. Each students brings unique style and perspective to the program.

Meet some of the students who will be joining the WVU Marketing Communications Network in the early spring semester:

M.S. Digital Marketing Communications
Grad Assistant for WVU Football in the creative department and WVU MAC as a creative film/photo

Everyone has a story to tell, what’s yours? As the post-pandemic job market slowly opens up, that story could be the key to landing your next opportunity and inspire your personal brand. Our lives are impacted by our online presence, both personally and professionally. Before you look for that next step in your career, consider how you are presented.

The WVU Marketing Communications Online programs recently brought together Dr. Dawn Edmiston, Clinical Professor of Marketing in the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary, Brianne Fleming, marketing consultant, blogger, podcast host, and instructor at the University of Florida, and Tod Meisner, Associate Brand Manager — Social Media for Aflac, for an Integrate Online panel to discuss how to define your personal brand to succeed in your career.

What is a personal brand and how would each of you describe your personal brand to someone else?

Our lives are impacted by our online presence, both personally and professionally. Before you look for that next step in your career, consider how you are presented. On January 11, the WVU Marketing Communications Graduate Programs hosted a Twitter Chat for faculty, staff, students and professions to discuss tips and challenges to understand personal branding.

If you missed the Twitter Chat, please view the recap below or visit the @wvuimc Twitter page.

1. What's your biggest challenge when it comes to personal branding?

Did your career and professional development take a back seat to the many demands and evolving priorities in 2020? What does the future of work look like for marcom professionals, and how can you adapt – and thrive – in this new environment? Whether you’re trying to land your next gig, expand your network or get serious about professional development in the New Year – join industry veteran and career enthusiast, Bridgette Borst Ombres for a discussion on personal branding and how to get refocused on your career goals.

Amy Alyson Teller: Could start by addressing some of the key differences in job searching pre-versus-post pandemic.

Bridgette Borst Ombres: We're working differently, we're collaborating differently, and we're prioritizing differently. How we approach career development and, more specifically, the way we job search, that's changed. I was reading an article this morning that for many workers, the nine to five will become the three, two, two. If you're not familiar with that it's three days in the office, two days remote and then two days off and some employers might even cut down to a four-day workweek all together. Change is the name of the game right now. I'm really interested to see how that plays out, but in terms of the differences that we're seeing pre-pandemic, we actually attended industry conferences in person, believe it or not, and now I sit behind my computer screen. I'll add that it's important to get comfortable in front of the camera. If you're someone who typically shies away from the camera or you don't always think that you present yourself in the best way on camera, now is the time to practice because I don't see that going away anytime soon. Another big change that we are seeing on the job front is that the competition has increased, because employers are more open to remote work arrangements now. And that means that there is suddenly a wider net of candidates that they can consider. I think that location has become less of a factor for many employees over the past few years, but that became even more so the case since the pandemic.

A brand ambassador is typically thought of as a "spokesperson" for brand, product or organization. The insight that the individual might be paid implies their recommendations and reviews are inauthentic and untrustworthy. However — that is not the case of all brand ambassadors.

Brand ambassadors can be individuals who authentically promote a brand, product or organization because of their genuine passion, admiration or desire to share their opinions on it. The individual will share recommendations or products, goods or services, share events hosted by brands and receive exclusive perks and recognition in return.

WVU Marketing Marketing Communications has officially selected its second group of brand ambassadors for the 2020/2021 academic year! This group includes highly engaged alumni and current students who have exceptional achievements in their academic and professional career.