Class Notes

Week 1 - Beginnings

·         I didn’t take good notes for this week, but it was an overview of I-Comm and why it’s a good idea, as well as an overview of what this class is about and what we’ll be doing.

Week 2 – JOIN I-COMM

·         We need jobs!

·         We need experience!

·         Cm 397R – not practice, doing! REAL LIFE

·         I’m starting to feel like this class is just recruitment of I-Comm. Hopefully that changes. This’ll get old after a while. (Note: After the half-hour we spent talking about this on day 1, I felt this was very redundant and actually turned me off a little to I-Comm. Fortunately the first day had convinced me that it was a good idea.)

·         Research and writing skills will help us stand out.

·         I-Comm is the solution for everything (Note: Okay, I know they were trying to sell us on I-Comm, but again, I felt it was too much – like they were trying way too hard to sell me something. I honestly felt like they were trying to tell me that I-Comm would magically solve all my problems, including relationship stress and cancer.)

Week 3 – Journalism

·         What do journalists do?

·         Convey info

·         Move us to be better people

·         Changes the way we see things

·         Connects us

·         News consumption is going up

·         Journalism is everywhere

·         Journalists worldwide pay prices – in USA we are more protected.

·         I felt this presentation was very effective – it showed us what journalism is about and what kinds of things we can expect to do, using real-life examples

Week  4- Video Production and Broadcast Journalism

·         These intros are really long. (Note: The introductions for these speakers were very very long. I got bored, and not everything seemed to be relevant to their topic.)

·         Behind the camera vs. in front

·         I thought last week’s presentation was more effective – general facts and what journalists do, rather than boring detailed facts and money info. (Note: knowing about salaries is nice, but I don’t recall coming away with a very good idea of what all these people actually do.)

·         Broadcasters make lots of money?

·         If I wanted scheduling help I’d see a counselor. Aren’t course descriptions available online? (Note: They deviated into an extended explanation about all the different classes – I can look all this up online or go to the counseling center. I would have preferred hearing about what these people actually do – then I might have been motivated to actually pursue that career and take these classes.)

Week 5 – PR

·         [6 weeks from Saturday – portfolio due]

·         Less control=more credibility

·         Big business, politics

·         Manage what happens – ethical, transparent, open

·         Publics relations – relates to all the different publics (audiences)

·         RACE – research, action, communication, evaluation

·         Writing is super-mega-uber key

·         PR is like stew (Note: I didn’t really get this analogy. It didn’t seem very well-planned.)

Week 6 – Advertising

·         How we find out about products

·         Creativity is everywhere

·         Humor (memorable)

·         Promoting a product

·         Accept criticism and use it to improve

·         DEADLINES (they must be met)

Week 7 – Visual Communication

·         Interesting lead that applies (Note: This is more of a public speaking comment than on the actual presentation. Not sure where it came from…)

·         Communication with pictures

·         Right message, right way

·         Vital vs. Vanity

Week 8 – Ethics, plagiarism, copyright

·         Ethic = study of right and wrong

·         Is not religion

·         Engine = values

·         Plagiarism – stealing the words of another to use as your own

·         Copyright does not apply to processes (patent), names (trademark), facts, or ideas

·         Automatic copyright = original work of authorship in tangible form

·         Exception – you pay them, or you use in in a classroom

·         Before 1923 – it’s in the public domain

·         Six exclusive rights: reproduction, distribution, public performance, public display, derivative work, moral rights

·         Your lifetime + 70 years  à public domain

·         Exclusive rights but not total rights

·         Exemption: fair use

o   Limited amounts

o   4 factors: purpose, nature, amount, market effect

Week 9 – Internships and stuff

·         Qualifications and hunting skills are equally important

·         BYUI grads will become LEGENDARY

·         Internships boost your qualifications and help you market yourself

·         Trying on a job

·         We look for our won internships

·         Start (a lot) early

·         Expeditions = exposure, maybe opportunities

·         Go somewhere else!

Week 10 – Advising

·         Comm is the 3^rd largest major

·         Bachelor degree is good enough to start with

·         Experience, portfolio, and networking are all important

·         Questions? Advising office! M-F 8-5

Resume

Josh Arnett

322 Biddulph Hall 525 S Center St.

Rexburg, ID 83460

Cell phone: (360) 553-6361

Email: tenrahsoj@hotmail.com;

Educational Experience

• Sophomore at BYU-Idaho studying journalism
• Graduated from Evergreen High School (2008) with a cumulative GPA of 3.762
• Taken Advance Placement (AP) classes in Biology, World History, United States History, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Compositions, and Government and Politics.  Scored two fives and four fours on the corresponding tests, earning a year’s worth of college credit.
• Fluent in Spanish

Work Experience

• Jan 2009 – Jan 2011 – full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Veracruz and Tabasco, Mexico
• Summer 2008 – Ice Cream vendor in Esther Short Park, Vancouver, WA
• 2007- Private piano instructor
• 2006-2007- Volunteer tutor at Burton Elementary School in math, reading, and writing
• 2005-2006- Yard work for neighbors to pay for summer camp
• Summers 2003-2007- Camp staff for Vancouver Stake 11-year-old Boy Scout day camp

Activities

• Eagle Rank, Boy Scouts of America
• Project- trail maintenance
• Writer’s Workshop at BYU-Idaho
• Writer and editor for high school newspaper

Websites of the Week

Websites of the week

Week 1 – Career Builder

• -          I noticed they will help you with your resume but they charge you around $200 dollars to do it. Don’t they have generic, free tips on how to make your own resume? I’ll have to keep looking.
• -          They have a job search tool. This is useful for finding jobs but obviously limited to the jobs people happen to post on their website. I think it’s necessary to search on a variety of websites as well as other offline sources to find all the options.
• -          I like how on the first page they have a list of recent job postings in your area.
• -          The job searching tool is a powerful resource. I can search for jobs within my selected industry and find a job near where I want to live.
• -          The career tests are also useful for finding out about different careers you might not have thought of before.

Week 2 – Microsoft Office

• -          Looks like they have most of the basic software (Word, Excel,  etc.) that you need to be familiar with.
• -          They have a large selection of images. That could be helpful in creating visual media stuff so long as it’s not copyrighted.
• -          The resume templates look especially helpful for us young college students who haven’t done one before.
• -          They also have templates for ‘Help Wanted’ signs of all forms. I’ll have to keep that in mind if I’m ever a boss in the future.
• -          Also, they have a direct link to Monster. Great for job searches.

Week 3 – Time and Date

• -          The time zone calculator would be really helpful for those of us who have to travel. We’d be able to see local time and time at home/work to make communication easier.
• -          On that same thread, the travel tools would be useful so that you can get where you’re going.
• -          The calendar tool is helpful for scheduling and time management.
• -          Sun and moon might be useful for outdoorsmen or people who get horribly lost.
• -          Being able to count down to a specific date and time would be helpful to stay on top of due dates and whatnot.

Week 4 – Monster.com

• -          Similar to Career Builder in that it helps you find a job. I find it interesting that they have a ‘Jobs in Emerging Countries’ section. Is there a big demand for that or is it more of a ‘gimmick’ to stand out?
• -          The ‘Post a Resume’ option could be handy, since it will increase the chances of an employer finding you, even if it is by chance.
• -          One thing I like more about Monster is that it gives you free, general resume-building tips that in some cases debunk common myths (for example, one-page limit isn’t as important as including all and only relevant information to the job).
• -          Like Career Builder, you can search jobs by title, skills, and/or location.
• -          I like how they have a section for recent grads, since I’ll probably be using it in the near future.

Week 5 – PRSSA

• -          The internship center is extremely helpful for those going into PR.
• -          They have scholarships! And I qualify for some of them! And they’re big scholarships! I already missed the due date but I will definitely have to keep my eye on this one.
• -          The conferences they do look like they’d be a really good opportunity to meet and hear PR professionals and get a leg-up on PR.
• -          They have a lot of tips for people just graduating, as well as resources to help them get started on their career.
• -          They have another section with resume tips and tips for other stuff like resumes.

Week 6 – AAF

• -          I find it interesting that they hold an advertising competition. I think that’s a good way to help people get their names out there as well as see what other people are doing in advertising.
• -          Like the PRSSA, AAF offers internship and scholarship opportunities, among other things, to help people go to college and enter the advertising career.
• -          I like how they keep track of legislation regarding advertising. It helps the rest of us stay afloat of political trends and avoid getting involved in legal issues.
• -          Interesting that they have a multicultural center. Is this the result of affirmative action legislation, a desire to help minorities advance, or something else? Or is it more about being able to advertise to different cultures? I wasn’t entirely sure from what I read.
• -          They even have a Hall of Achievement and of Fame. This also helps advertisers get their names out there.

Week 7 – Job Interview Questions

• -          The description of interview question types is helpful because it lets you know what kinds of questions to expect and how to best answer them.
• -          I like how they have specific examples for different professions. Clearly not all jobs are the same, and the questions asked are bound to vary.
• -          The after-interview tips are helpful in reminding us that an interview is hardly the end of the hiring process, and that there are more things to do that can score us ‘points’ with an employer.
• -          I’ve never thought much about salary negotiation and less how I might handle it. This list of tips is very helpful.
• -          Almost every page I’ve visited mentions researching the organization. If you do that, you’ll have an edge in that you’ll know what the company’s about and what its goals are and you can show how you can fill those goals.

Week 8 – Cheating in Schools

• -          I’m not surprised to hear about cheating, even at BYUI. While I’m sure we’re not as bad as others, I’ve seen a fair amount of dishonest and unethical conduct and attitudes towards education.
• -          The section on why kids cheat is interesting. While I certainly don’t accept the ‘negative role model’ excuse as valid (so what if grown-ups are dishonest?) I have to admit that I understand concerns about having to compete against cheaters.
• -          This seems like a really good resource to teach students about ethics. I find it interesting that it covers topics like critical thinking and logic since I am currently taking a class that emphasizes these points.
• -          I think it’s cool that a journalist was instrumental in putting this together. I think he faces these ethical issues all the time and so it would be an important topic for him.
• -          I don’t really know what else to say. Don’t cheat.

Week 9 – OWL

• -          The writing tips on resumes and whatnot are helpful.
• -          Audience is key. Knowing how to analyze them is critical. This site offers help to do that.
• -          I like the action verb section. In my 111 class we talk about using strong action verbs all the time.
• -          They have a lot of stuff about cover letters.  I don’t even know what those are, so it will be extremely helpful.
• -          Knowing how to write business letters is important.

Letter of Recommendation

Gary Haskett

Director of Sales

Nippon Paper Industries, USA

15701 NE 25^th St.

Vancouver, WA 98684

June 19, 2011

To Whom It May Concern:

It is a pleasure to write a letter of recommendation for an individual as capable and deserving as Josh Arnett.  Having personally managed employees, I know how important it is to select individuals who are qualified, dedicated, and loyal to the organization for which they work.  Having worked with youth in scouting and church settings, it becomes readily apparent which individuals are the achievers, the leaders, and the hard workers.  Josh displays these traits and would always be welcome on my team.

I became acquainted with the Arnett family about seven years ago through our church.  I have known Josh since before high school, but got to know him personally when working on his Eagle Scout project, participation in the church choir, and as his Sunday school teacher.  He has demonstrated great organizational skills, dedication and follow-through to his commitments, a love of study and knowledge, and motivation for achieving his goals.  His high academic achievements, his development of musical talent, his willingness to get up early and attend religious classes at 5:30 and 6:00 am, his commitment to learn a language and work hard as a missionary in a foreign country attest to his character and capacity.

Josh is not an outspoken person, but he has good interpersonal skills, listens well, and thinks deeply.  When he does speak it means something.  He loves to write and has participated in a writer’s workshop in college.  I understand he has already written short stories and a novel - pretty impressive for someone his age.  His goal orientation and tenacity will serve him well as he pursues his dream of journalism.

Josh is not afraid of working.  While achieving A+ grades in high school, participating in the marching band, and being active in his church and scouting activities, he worked odd jobs, like vending ice cream, landscaping, and playing in pit orchestra for school plays to earn money for his mission.  He is an amazing young man, whom I am happy to recommend to you.

Sincerely,

Gary Haskett