Power in Humor Journalism

Kayla Hanley, Reporter

On Monday, October 17^th, the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism honored the late, memorable Ohio University humor writing professor Mel Heltzer with a donation lecture given by comedian and commentator Lee Camp.

Camp, in addition to being a stand-up comedian, has written for The Huffington Post and contributed to The Onion.

Ohio University was the first university where Camp performed his stand-up. This is one of the reasons Camp said he wanted to come back and honor Mel Heltzer, a man he never met.

Camp said he grew up surrounded by humor and preformed his first stand up routine at age 14. He also attended the University of Virginia, where he wrote a weekly humor column.

As he continued to grow as a comedian and humor writer, Camp said his comedic influences evolved as well.

Camp said he began to look up to Chris Rock, Bill Hicks, and other comedians that he thought were honest about the trials and tribulations facing society.

Camp stressed to lecture attendees that “comedy is powerful”.  With his humor, Camp said he not only wants people to laugh, but he wants to make them think as well.

This was one of his major motivations when he began his work with political campaigns, he said.

Camp was highly involved in the 2008 political campaign, “Who is John McCain?”

“The greatest highlight of the 2008 election was when Saturday Night Live’s Tina Fey did her Sarah Palin portrayal,” said Camp.  “Not only was it hysterical, but it made people see who was running for Vice President and think, ‘Do I really want to vote for the person who can see Russia from her house?’”

In addition to his political commentary, Camp is a strong activist who strongly believes against the death penalty and was able to appear on Fox News as a commentator regarding the subject.

“I was really inspired [about] how he got his opinion on issues that were true to his beliefs out to the world through his comedy,” Freshman Taylor Petras said.

While providing humorous commentary for serious issues can often present a difficult task for a commentator, Camp said the angle a commentator takes is key.

“It depends on the angle you come at when facing a topic that may seem ‘off limits’. There are some angles that are safe and some that are dangerous.” Camp said.

Camp also said that whatever the issue the humor writer may be offering commentary for, the issue must be important to the humor writer in order for the commentary to be effective.

 

Smartphone app of the week

Lauren Nolan, Contributing Writer

As technology continues to shape journalism, offering new and innovative ways to gather information, report, and reach out, smartphones have proven to be the all-in-one tool for journalists on the go.

For the next few weeks INC would like to provide readers with recommendations for smartphone applications. Up first, QuickVoice, an application for iPhone developed by nFinity Inc.

    What QuickVoice has to offer:

QuickVoice is a free application used to capture voice memos, to do lists,      class lectures, meetings and seminars, interviews and other dictation. It      is incredibly user friendly with a format similar to the iPhone visual              voicemail utility.

Just as visual voicemail allows users to view and scroll through all voice     messages, selecting which ones you want to listen to, with the ability to skip to the middle or end of the time stamp, QuickVoice offers similar features.

Furthermore, QuickVoice allows for pausing and resuming mid-recording. Each recording can be labeled, making it even easier to locate the sound byte needed. QuickVoice is also equipped with an audio level meter, ensuring the recording will be able to be played back audibly. Recordings can also be synced to the computer, allowing for long-term storage and each recording displays the file size and time stamp.

Benefits of QuickVoice for journalists:

For journalists on the go, the one tool they are sure to have with them is their smartphone. Also, most smartphone users are always armed with a charger, so as not to let their phone battery wither to zero power. Without a charged recorder, journalists must rely on either memory or pen and paper notation of an interview. If an unexpected encounter with a news source should arise, journalists will be prepared to interview that source with the QuickVoice app.

While QuickVoice is a free application, QuickVoice Pro, or formally known as QuickVoice2Text Email (PRO Recorder) has an added benefit: turning recorded speech into text. Originally designed so users can dictate voice messages and memos to emails, it can also be used to transcribe interviews, saving valuable time.

QuickVoice Pro can be purchased for $2.99 in the app store. SpinVox, the partnering software company, handles all voice to text conversions, up to 20 MB, or approximately 22 minutes of recording, providing journalists with the option to transcribe their messages into to text, and then send the text to their email accounts.

How to: Determine effectual sources

James Roller, Reporter

One of the first questions every journalist may ask himself or herself before beginning any story is, “How can I be effective with my sources?”

To answer this, one must consider what is an effective source, where to find effective sources, and once one finds these sources, how does one approach them?

Assistant professor Edgar Simpson can help those who may be asking these questions. Simpson is in his third year doctorate, working on his dissertation regarding the future of journalism in the public sphere, and has been working at Scripps for the last four years.

Simpson explained that there are three different types of sources one should look for: the authoritative source, the perspective source, and the reactionary source.

1) The authoritative source

“The authoritative source is the source that has the ability to speak for the organization you are working on,” Simpson said.

Simpson used the example of a murder case to illustrate this type of source. In a murder case, the authoritative source would be the police chief or the Sheriff who has  the ability to speak directly about the investigation at hand.

Simpson said that when dealing with authoritative sources there are a few important things to keep in mind.  These sources are used to dealing with the media, so it is important to ask them hard questions and they are the best source for delivering accurate factual information, so it’s best to keep your questions direct.

2) The perspective source

Perspective sources are sources that can provide one with the perspective of those involved in the story. For example, if one was covering a murder story, they would want to talk with the family members of the victim, and if possible, a family member of the murderer.

When dealing with perspective sources, Simpson said it is important to remember to be sensitive; one can easily turn off a perspective source if he or she is not careful. Also, one must ask wide open questions because perspective sources usually aren’t used to dealing with the media.

3) The reactionary source

Reactionary sources are normally common people who may not have any direct involvement in ones story. Using the murder story example once again, Simpson said reactionary sources could include members of the neighborhood or community in which the murder took place. One might ask a question such as, “Do you feel this murder shows a growing trend within the community?”

Simpson said one of his biggest pet peeves is when journalists ask a reactionary source, “How do you feel about this disaster?”

Simpson explained that this source could only really give a journalist one answer, “I feel terrible about it.” Therefore, a journalist should make sure that the questions asked to these types of sources should have a direction, while trying to illicit an honest response.

Along with the knowledge of the different type of sources to look for, one must also know how to find them.

First, one must identify who has the necessary information. The best place to go to begin to answer these questions is online. “I can’t think of any non-profit, government agency, or university that doesn’t have a website,” Simpson said.

Also, one shouldn’t forget to look at past stories. A journalist working for any newspaper should be able to look through the paper’s archives and find out who the last person to speak on the type of story he or she is covering was.

At first, determining and finding effective sources may seem intimidating, but once a journalist gains confidence and understanding of the story at hand and the information involved, they can become more comfortable with the process.

 

INC columnist reflects on time as a busy Scripps student

Column // Nicole Spears, Reporter

English paper, history reading, French grammar, journalism articles and the occasional job or scholarship application — that’s quite a mountain to climb on a drowsy Monday night. Yet, this is only the beginning of the weekly to-do list many journalism students face.

After hours of rushing from class to class, it’s hard to find a second of stability before the stress of the week to come washes over you, no matter how you may resist. Everyone can concur that this cycle gets old. So, before you let the current take you, enter this storm well-equipped. Amidst the sea of over-stressed, under- rested college students, remember: it’s all about perspective.

If college has taught me anything, it’s been the true value of self-determination. With the temptation of an episode of my favorite show always lingering in the back of my mind, I once had a rough time finding the determination to focus on my priorities. But now, when it’s time to get things done, I’ve learned a few tricks to fall back on that are sure to change wandering mind-set.

Putting your mind in the right place is the first step to a more productive and organized lifestyle, but that’s exactly all it is—the first step. If you know what you want, one way or another, you’re going to have to put yourself out there to get it. The right perspective is the foundation for success, but only after personal commitment and, most likely, some hard work. The first approach I’ve found to be effective is taking homework personally. Not to say that you should be offended when your professor hits you with an unexpected assignment (although I’ve done that, too). Rather, take each task as a trial. Take the challenge upon yourself to do something, and to do it well. After all, who are you here for? Most of us are working toward a higher education to better ourselves and to provide for our futures. Seeing tasks as challenges brings this to the forefront of your mind. And let’s be honest, you are usually your top priority.

Another method that I’ve turned to is something I’ve adopted from the speech “Everybody’s Free (to wear sunscreen)” written by Mary Schmich, a columnist for The Chicago Tribune. “Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.”

Delineate the challenges that you face throughout your continuing education as a competition with yourself. “The race” is the reason you’re here; it’s the reason you sacrifice hours of sleep and nights out with friends. But in a competition, you keep your eyes on the prize. Bringing this philosophy to academics will not only keep you motivated to do your work, but to do your best work.

Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of your long-term goals. And while slacking should really be avoided, there’s a lesson to be learned in rolling with the punches. In the end, you want a solid GPA, and you want a great and unforgettable college experience. Getting discouraged by a rough day only puts these goals off track. So, while the “being behind” part is hard to face, keep in mind how exhilarating it is to get ahead.

Everyone can be tough on him or herself and get behind in the work to be accomplished. But, next time you’re feeling the urge to slack, remember that it’s all about attitude. As the pressures of finals week pile up, try out these tactics that offer a change of pace.

Letter from Kellie

Kellie Rizer, Co-Editor

Two short months ago, I was entering my new position as INC co-editor and, to be quite honest, I was slightly freaked out about the responsibilities set before me.  

Given the opportunity to contribute to the publication in such a significant way left me feeling a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. At first, I relied heavily on my co-editor, Sarah, to provide guidance in order to complete each task expected of me. Her helpful tips and never-ending patience was invaluable to me, as her second-in-command, and I have learned a great deal from her leadership.

Though I still look to Sarah for advice, I am gradually beginning to trust my own instincts and have completely eliminated my initial hesitation. Going into the final quarter of my freshman year, I think about how much has changed since the beginning of September, when I attended my first Society of Professional Journalists meeting.

I find that one of the best qualities of INC is its availability to freshmen and new journalists. If a student has any interest in collecting clips for their portfolio, or simply wants to get involved with a publication, all they need to do is attend an INC meeting and volunteer to write a story.

This isn’t to say that contributing to INC isn’t hard work. Every issue is carefully compiled, edited, advertised and designed by a group of dedicated writers, photographers, designers, PR students and editors who have transformed the online newsletter into an informative and aesthetically pleasing tool for journalism students and individuals interested in learning more about the field.

As co-editor, I am very proud of the team that has contributed their time and abilities to INC in order to produce an impressive product. My expectations upon entering spring quarter are to further develop and expand INC as a newsletter and blog in order to continue to reach a larger and more diverse audience.        

Less than a year ago, I was a freshman with no college writing experience and an enthusiasm to get my voice heard. I was fortunate enough to discover INC and the unlimited possibilities it holds for young people to sharpen their journalism skills.   

I continue to look back at my initial INC meeting and breathe a sigh of relief; I am relieved that I found the right publication to get my feet wet and optimistic about what lies ahead.

Letter from Sarah

Sarah Grothjan, Co-Editor

As INC caps off another quarter as the weekly voice of Scripps news and industry-related commentary, I find myself excited to see what the upcoming quarter will bring.  You see, no two quarters are the same for INC.  In fact, no two days are quite alike.

Driven by a diverse crew of hardworking reporters, a diligent copy chief, faithful designers, a crafty PR guru, a savvy photo chief and an overly devoted co-editor, it is no surprise that each day working with INC takes a bit of a different turn.  These personalities have collaborated to manifest a weekly publication that writers can be proud to boast several bylines in.

And while we have not strayed from continuing to deliver up-to-date industry news, it is no secret that INC is continually undergoing a myriad of alterations to both its appearance and how it is promoted. Next quarter will be the time to finalize the hard work that was contributed this quarter and to solidify the progress that has been made.

While many aspects of INC will remain the same, I hope that under the collaborative direction of Co-editor Kellie Rizer and myself, the weekly newsletter will continue to grow throughout the next quarter. 

We hope to pleasantly surprise readers with a few new additions to the INC agenda, and, if nothing else, we hope to continually deliver the best of journalism news to Scripps students and faculty.

Columnist’s oversight leads to disregard of honest work

Column // Matt Rancourt, Contributing Writer

I am nothing if not original.

For whatever reason, my brain doesn’t seem to function on the same wavelength as everyone else’s.

I’ve come to terms with this fact. The questioning looks I receive from others whenever I do or say something do not come as a surprise anymore.

Like that look I get whenever I scratch my nose with my knuckles.

Or the one I got when I put hot sauce on ice cream in the dining hall, just so I could find out what hot and cold tasted like together. (I wouldn’t recommend that flavor combo to anyone else, by the way.)

And when it comes to my columns, I always try to be as unique as possible. Usually, I accomplish this by just writing down whatever nonsense pops into my head.

For example, Dane Cook is on Comedy Central right now. He’s overrated: lots of profanity and adult material, very little in the way of being actually funny. And, oh yeah, his movies were garbage.

See?

I had an opinion, so I wrote it down. Column writing is really a lot easier than you might think.

This is why I always take notice when someone finds a way to screw it up.

Today, that someone is nationally syndicated columnist Cal Thomas.

Now before I begin, let me preface this by saying that Thomas has been writing columns since before I was born. He is obviously very, very good at what he does – hence the “nationally syndicated columnist” title. But recently, a newspaper editor in Texas decided not to publish one of his columns, citing a problem with it.

The problem she cited was, well, failure to cite.

Apparently, a portion of Thomas’ column was rather similar to a story that ran in The New York Times eight days prior. According to the editor, Carroll Wilson of the Temple Daily Telegram, it was “essentially plagiarized.” Here are the sections in question, courtesy of Jim Romenesko and Poynter:

New York Times, Feb. 16
“The Environmental Protection Agency set the value of a life at $9.1 million last year in proposing tighter restrictions on air pollution. The agency used numbers as low as $6.8 million during the George W. Bush administration.

The Food and Drug Administration declared that life was worth $7.9 million last year, up from $5 million in 2008, in proposing warning labels on cigarette packages featuring images of cancer victims.

The Transportation Department has used values of around $6 million to justify recent decisions to impose regulations that the Bush administration had rejected as too expensive, like requiring stronger roofs on cars.”

Cal Thomas, Feb. 24
“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the value of a human life at $9.1 million. It reached this determination while proposing tighter restrictions on air pollution. During the Bush administration, EPA calculated our value at $6.8 million. Was the difference in price caused by inflation? The EPA didn’t say.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) arrived at its own figure for the value of an American life. It says each life is worth $7.9 million. That, too, is an increase from the $5 million value FDA had assigned each human American life in 2008. The agency calculated our value while proposing new and tougher warning labels on cigarettes that include pictures of cancer victims.

The Transportation Department — yes, Transportation — put our worth at $6 million while seeking to justify recent decisions to impose regulations the Bush administration had rejected as too costly, such as stronger roofs on cars.”

Yeah, there might be a few similarities there.

Tribune Media Services later released a statement, which said that Thomas “did not feel that a citation was necessary given that the passages largely contained government figures that are available elsewhere.” However, he later would acknowledge that “The New York Times story should have been cited as the source for a column conveying his own opinions on the issue.”

Personally, I think that if you’re using the same “government figures” as a preexisting story, then they had better not be presented in the exact same order and with very similar supporting details.

Regardless of whether it occurred in this instance, plagiarism is the one thing you absolutely cannot do as a columnist, journalist or writer.

While you are supposed to give an opinion, it has to belong to you. In other words, it has to be your own intellectual property.

If your employer wanted to know what Bob in Cleveland thinks about an issue, then they’d pay him to write the column and you’d be sitting at home eating Doritos.

Sure, occasionally what you write may be kind of similar to what someone else wrote – it’s called accidental plagiarism. But for the most part, plagiarism only occurs when the writer means for it to occur, especially in regard to column writing.

So my advice to aspiring columnists is to write whatever pops into your head. It’s fine to look to the work of others for topics to write about (which is what I did here — thanks again, Poynter), but when it comes time to actually write, everything you need is located in your own head.

I’m sure you will have your own beliefs, feelings and opinions on whatever it is you choose to write about.

Just don’t expect everyone else to agree with them.

Blog domains tailor to fulfill variety of needs

Story // April Jaynes, Reporter

The blogosphere offers a platform for journalists to showcase work, to establish an online presence and to share thoughts with the rest of the world. The more consideration in choosing a blog domain, the more effectively a blog can serve its purpose.

Erich Hiner, editor-in-chief of College Green, Ohio University’s online environmental magazine, said that the magazine uses WordPress.org instead of the free blog platform offered by WordPress.com because it is accessible and cheap.

“It costs little to nothing, and we decided to upgrade to make the site more of our own. We wanted it to look like a professionally coded website,” he said.

WordPress.org allows the user to own the domain name. Hiner said that with WordPress.org, the magazine staff is also able to alter the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) and change dimensions and placement of different objects.

“It gives you greater flexibility, but only if you know what you’re doing,” Hiner said.

An advantage of WordPress.com, aside from not having to pay a monthly hosting fee, is the ready-made tools that are not available for use with WordPress.org, Hiner said. These widgets range from slideshow tools handy for displaying video and photos to a built-in contact page.

The Essay, OU’s online feature magazine, also uses WordPress.org to display its content. The perks include a “user-friendly interface and its ability to sort and distribute a lot of data,” Director Mylan Cannon said in an e-mail.

Editor-in-chief of The Essay, Jennifer Strickland, said the magazine originally used Squarespace, another blogging website. It allowed the magazine to alter the format of the site but with a more complicated procedure, Strickland said.

“I can actually operate WordPress now,” Strickland said.

Strickland added that WordPress.org was not much different than her personal blog on WordPress.com, which she created for a class assignment.

Other blog platforms such as Tumblr, BlogSpot and Xanga, are targeted more for personal use.

“I use Tumblr for a photography blog,” said Kelly Doran, a freshman majoring in journalism. “It’s really easy. It’s not something that you have to watch a video so you can figure out how to work it. Anyone can work it.”

Doran said she is content in utilizing Tumblr for her photography blog and that posting pictures on the site is very convenient. After uploading the photo, the user simply adds a description with tags and the entry is complete.

Xanga is another personal blog platform that allows for more room for customized design. Nicole Reikowski, a freshman majoring in music therapy, said a friend with web experience designed her Xanga layout.

“I really like that you can customize the layout so much with Xanga, and I use it primarily as an online journal,” Reikowski said.

Though blogs are often utilized as forums for personal content, many students also opt to display them as résumé -worth content.

Hiner said in the past he has used WordPress.com to make a personal résumé that included a homepage, multiple drop-down menus, slideshows and embedded videos.

“It’s very easy and anyone can do it. If a student is looking to create a blog or website to impress potential employers, then I would recommend WordPress.com,” Hiner said.

TheCelebrityCafe.com Executive Editor and Publisher, Dominick Miserandino, said that when the company is searching for a web-oriented or reporting intern, the company does not prefer experience with a specific blog platform.

“There aren’t many blog platforms that aren’t commonly used,” Miserandino said. “There are very few contenders that take the majority of the market and they usually have very similar attributes. If you’re familiar with one, you can, generally speaking, improvise the other pretty well.”

Miserandino said 10 years ago it was a very different situation, and the company– in operation since 1996– has seen personal web experience change rapidly since inception. He added that the company doesn’t look for advanced web skills from its interns.

“The blog platforms usually accommodate for that,” he said. “It’s not so much their technical knowledge of the blogs anymore, but what they’ve done with blogs.”

What does your blog say about you?

April Jaynes & Nicole Spears, Reporters

Beginner Blogger — BlogSpot
If a motto like “push-button publishing” isn’t enough of a hint, Blogspot’s user-friendly design and capabilities are perfect for the amateur blogger. It’s even non-committal, allowing the novice blogger to log in under a Gmail account. An easy-to-use template designer allows customization of some aspects of the blog, while more advanced features offer more complex alterations for the more design-savvy users. Among simple photo uploading, mobile, and connectivity options, BlogSpot is a great first stop in the blogging endeavor.

Visual Diva — Photocrati
You need a domain that offers broader diversity and customizable content to show off your style and photographer’s eye. With these needs, it’s hard to come across such a domain that is free. You find Photocrati, the photographer’s version of WordPress, to be worth the price. This site is not only well equipped for photographers, but it’s also in tune with the industry through philanthropic involvement and collaborations. Along with a variety of template options, Photocrati can spice up a photo blog by adding music. This advanced and evolving blog is a great option for photographers.

Physically fit, virtually challenged — Tumblr
Often on-the-go and always finding stress-relief in your workouts, you use your blog to share your spontaneous thoughts about what’s going on around you. Since you’re active and ready for anything, you need a blog that will be ready when you are. Unfamiliar with in-depth Web tools and computer jargon, and too energetic to spend  time sitting at a computer to learn all the kinks of a blog, you find what you’re looking for in the simplicity of Tumblr. The easy access of Tumblr allows you to share the on-the-spot video you took of your friend perfectly landing that back dive or what you thought about the victory your home team pulled out yesterday at the last second.  Efficiency for spontaneity makes Tumblr the blog for you.

Artsy — Xanga
Constantly searching for outlets to express your thoughts and creative genes, you turn to Xanga as the platform to display your art of blogging. Even if you’re not theorizing the meaning of life, you’re still influencing the blogosphere with your extensive views and showing the world a piece of you. Whether you feel like taking a photo to do the speaking for you, or you are elaborating on your newly found independence within your college experience thus far, your contemplations about life are published on Xanga for all to be inspired by. (Not to mention your computer graphic experience soars with the freedom that Xanga provides to customize your blog’s appearance.) You know what you’re doing with your blog— it’s up to the rest of us to interpret your web-based art exhibit.

Overachiever — WordPress
You care about your goals, tasks and image more than the average person. You need a blog that is simple to operate because of your busy schedule, but it needs to reflect the professional persona you’re known for. Ring a bell?  WordPress is your blog and a significant facet to your online presence.

After browsing the themes, you choose the perfect fit to match your style and to appeal to your future employer. Your textual entries, pictures and videos showcasing your multi-media experience can be easily organized. Your built-in contact page is just one of the many widgets of WordPress that keeps you sane when you need your information ASAP and your iPhone is buried deep in your messenger bag.  And of course, when you’re ready to take it up a notch, WordPress has the upgrading capabilities you need to truly dominate the blog platform and to make it your own.

How To: Reap the Benefits of LinkedIn

Story // Nicole Spears, Reporter

By now, many have learned the hard way that the personal content posted on social networking websites needs to be safeguard­ed. But, while people are busy switching Facebook or Twitter accounts to “private,” one of the more beneficial of the social me­dia sites often goes overlooked — LinkedIn.

The professional voice of the social networking paradigm boasts features that allow users to reconnect with past col­leagues, to find connections in a current or prospective career, and to exchange advice with others in the industry.

Step 1: Join Now
When you’re ready to build a free Linke­dIn account, sit down with an address book inclusive of a few professional contacts and allow about 15 minutes to get through the initial steps of creating an account. Regis­tration is similar to that of any other social networking site, requiring basic personal and contact information.

It’s recommended to use a professional or school e-mail address as a login to secure the LinkedIn requests are sent to the most often check e-mail. Registering as a student allows users to indicate fields of interest as well as year of graduation from his or her respective college.

Step 2: Build Your Profile
If you’re going to put your name in cy­berspace for professionals to find, you will want your LinkedIn profile to be a strong reflection of your personality as well as your capabilities. Uploading a photo will add a personal touch to the profile, but it should be confined to a professional looking shot. A simple headshot is recommended.

The next steps include uploading a résumé, listing references and linking the account to a personal website or to a Twit­ter account. As you continue to personalize your profile, LinkedIn tracks your prog­ress by providing a “profile completeness” percentage and offers further tips along the way.

Step 3: Make Connections
Networking is the main benefit of build­ing a LinkedIn account. You can make connections through your e-mail contacts if you use Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail or select other domains. By entering company names and titles, you can also search for former or current co-workers directly on the site. One of the most relevant features to students is the ability to search for class­mates by name of college and year of graduation.

As you accumulate connections, Linke­dIn will suggest other people you may know. Want to add a past boss or prospective employer? Simply en­ter his or her e-mail address, and LinkedIn will search for the respective account.

Connections on LinkedIn offer a way to maintain communication with past em­ployers for the sake of requesting referrals or future job opportunities. Additionally, connections made within your respec­tive industry demonstrate to prospective employers that you have made the effort connect with industry professionals.

Step 4: Get Recommended
Every connection you make offers an opportunity to gain an endorsement. You can recommend or gain recommendations from colleagues, service providers, business partners or classmates. These recommenda­tions are designed to speak for your talents and accomplishments by getting your name and brand noticed by employers and customers.

More connections lead to more recom­mendations, strengthening your profile. For this reason, it’s important to start early and have a well-rounded LinkedIn account by the time you are in the job or internship market.

While Facebook and Myspace serve personal needs, LinkedIn caters more to the profes­sional. It wouldn’t be a farfetched predic­tion to say that the majority of graduates looking for jobs in coming years will be promoting their per­sonal brand via LinkedIn. Jumpstarting an account sooner rather than later will place you ahead of the game and allow you to utilize this tool to its fullest potential.