Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia has been chosen as the inaugural host site for Digital Bootcamp, a basic training program to teach public relations students and educators about social media. The bootcamp will be held March 1 from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. in the Student Learning Center on the University of Georgia campus.
Edelman, an independent public relations firm, and the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, will organize and conduct the event, which is open to colleges and universities through out the Southeast.
The bootcamp will be an opportunity for public relations students and educators to learn about the use of social media in the professional practice to better prepare students for their future careers. It also will raise awareness of social media skills in professors to help them integrate social media into traditional teaching plans.
Sessions will include intensive hands-on training and the opportunity to work one-on-one with Edelman facilitators to research and design social media solutions for the simulated client.
Edelman practitioners will break student groups into small teams and guide them through a mock public relations campaign using digital media, allowing the students to gain experience with interactive media.
For educators, the sessions will focus on sharing ideas and encouraging the adoption of new media in more communication curriculums throughout the Southeast. Educators will have the opportunity to discuss the practicalities of teaching new media, share lesson plans and more.
Edelman intends to expand its Digital Bootcamp to other college campuses across the nation in what they hope will become an annual event. Additional information, including registration information, is available online at http://www.edelmandigitalbootcamp.com/.
Media Opportunities:
8 a.m.
Interview opportunities available with students from across the Southeast, leading social media educators in the Southeast and Edelman executives and practitioners. Formal interviews and photograph opportunities will be available.
8:15 a.m.
Tour of Edelman Digital Bootcamp facilities for all media. Media will get a brief summary of the event, have the opportunity to ask any questions and be escorted on a tour with opportunities for candid pictures.
Interview Opportunities:
Educators:
Kaye Sweetser, Ph.D., from the University of Georgia has more than a decade of military public affairs experience. She is now an assistant professor in UGA’s Grady College, a research fellow with the Society for New Communications Research and specializes in public relations.
Karen Russell, Ph.D., is an associate professor in UGA’s Grady College. She specializes in media history, especially public relations and is now teaching a “Word of Mouth” class as an Advertising/Public Relations seminar for undergraduates.
Mihaela Vorvoreanu, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Clemson University. She teaches in the department of communication studies and specializes in public relations and new media technologies.
Robert French, Ph.D., is a professor in the department of communication and journalism at Auburn University. He has created a template for students to practice creating social media releases and has a blog, infOpinions?, that he and his students use to share information about social media.
Edelman Practitioners:
Mike Krempasky, a senior vice president at Edelman, is the group head for the online team, formally known as “Edelman Digital Public Affairs.” He works out of the Washington, D.C. office.
Phil Gomes, a vice president at Edelman, focuses on educating PR professionals on a global basis. He focuses his educational efforts on helping others understand online ethics and become more digitally savvy.
Erin Caldwell, senior account executive at Edelman, specializes in social media and its practical use in public relations.