The Sydney Show

Twenty. Senior. Ravens Fanatic. Journalist. Future Lawyer.

[thesydneyshow]

They say iont never smile.. Well never say never, though I admit that it's been a while. #hofstrapride #orwhatever #ilookhappy

[thesydneyshow]

You don't meet people by accident. @wale #GoDownloadFestivus #Seriously #Festivus #OutNow #MyFavIsTonightSuite331 #OrMaybeTheDeepEnd #WhatsYours #TAAN #ComingSoon #ILoveHim #HeLovesMeToo (at Lyons Wier Gallery)

[thesydneyshow]

#HappyFestivus #ExhibitionAboutNothing Just a few pieces. Sooo dope.

[thesydneyshow]

Over 60,000 people walked 80 blocks, interrupted holiday shoppers, and shut down 5th ave show that #BLACKLIVESMATTER... I'm honored to be able to say I was there. My revolution starts with me. #MillionsMarchNYC #ericgarner #mikebrown #tamirrice #endpolicebrutality #ferguson #nyc #handsupdontshoot (at 1 Police Plaza)

[thesydneyshow]

Throwback to last week's Die-In that I tried to execute. Even though there wasn't a large crowd, it still got people talking and that's all that matters. Thank you to everyone who came out with me to make a stand. #hofstra #handsup #nojusticenopeace #solidarity (at Hofstra University Student Center)

[thesydneyshow]

Do you need a Twitter to stay up to date with news?

Photo Credit: Stuart Miles, Free Digital Images

In a room full of college-aged students, you would think that we would have similar interest, right? The Social Elements team at Hofstra University decided to conduct a small experiment when the Eric Garner decision was made.

We remembered that when Ferguson broke, there were complaints like this one, that the people who solely use Facebook did not get the news until days later. Why? Because the people at Facebook think they know you. Let me explain…

Facebook uses an algorithm that aims to predict what type of content users will most want to click on, so it can surface those stories more frequently in a user’s News Feed. This algorithm favors listicles, quizzes, and other clickbait, as well as pat inspirational stories with little substance behind them. According to PandoDaily, Facebook wants to keep the user happy. Ferguson does not pass that happy test I suppose.

So when the Eric Garner decision was released and Social Elements being based out of in New York, we assumed that it would be top news for all of us. Oh boy, we were wrong. All of us logged onto our personal Facebook’s and each of us had a different list of trending topics. Many did not even mention the Eric Garner decision in the top 10.

11 students. 11 different results.

Whereas compared to Twitter, Eric Garner was almost our entire group’s number one trending topic (minus the promoted hashtags in red).

Facebook is for friends. Twitter is for news.

But, there are ways to counteract the Facebook algorithm. I personally feel that it is a lot of work to want to find breaking news on a site that should automatically provide it.

In a study by the people at Pew Research, they found out that Facebook’s most popular topic is entertainment news, along with politics, government, and sports. Facebook has yet to become a platform for learning about news events as they happen. If the algorithm for Facebook is not fixed, I guarantee Twitter will be needed for staying current.

So, you have to ask yourself, what are your Social Media profiles hiding from you?

[thesydneyshow]

Tomorrow Hofstra Students for Justice will be holding a die-in & March during common hour. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD GUYS. All the info is in the post above. #hofstra #blacklivesmatter #alllivesmatter

[thesydneyshow]

Seven Ways to Stand Out for Jobs!

Wouldn't you want a upper hand when looking for a job after graduation? Four media professionals gave Hofstra journalism students plenty of tips of how to stand out.

The event was hosted by the Herbert School of Communications at Hofstra University as well as the Society of Professional Journalists – Hofstra Chapter held the panel entitled “Digital Newsroom.” 

Studio B is PACKED for #DiGiNews! @HofstraU #SocialMedia pic.twitter.com/q2COZ8cVUZ

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

Follow us tonight as we provide coverage of "The Digital Newsroom" starting at 7 PM! pic.twitter.com/dcr5y045PB

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 10, 2014

The Social Elements team at Hofstra provided a live tweet of the important things for the night.

We'll be live tweeting a panel featuring @broderick @lfmccullough @Matt_Silverman and @HeyVeronica #DigiNews @HofstraU #SocialMedia

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

We have professionals from Mashable, BuzzFeed, Digg, and Facebook all here ready to help students! #DigiNews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

The panelists have taken the stage! #DigiNews pic.twitter.com/xfNAm9vUjx

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

Here are seven ways to stand out on your job search.

1. NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK

"My jobs came from relationships" @lfmccullough #DigiNews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

Relationships are so important when trying to move up in this communications world. After you get your foot in the door, it really is all about whom you know. Keep a good relationship with professors, internship coordinators and any other media professionals, they could help you get a job after graduation!

"We don't poste jobs, we want people who are going to get recommendations and referrals" #DigiNews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

2. Don’t be afraid to take risks

If there is a startup website or magazine offering jobs, don’t be afraid to take it. It could turn into a huge company.

"I applied for a little blog that posted cute things online- it ended up being @Buzzfeed" @broderick #DigiNews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

3. Use New Apps

Vine, Snapchat, Instagram, etc...You hear about it all the time… Someone posts a funny video or a singing video and boom; they’re famous. You can use these platforms for your own fame in journalism.

"Instagram is dead (for video), vine is the way to go!" Says @broderick #DigiNews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

A quick tip can go a long way when using Vine too.

The amount of text on posts all depend on the type of post. @broderick #diginews #buzzfeed https://t.co/yufnaCWYdJ

— Sydney Colbert (@SydneyVColbert)

November 11, 2014

Six seconds can be a lot of time. Check out NowThisNews on Vine, they do a great job condensing stories.

4. Have Samples

You can’t apply for a job and not show them what you can do for them. Your degree won’t guarantee you a job, your skills will.

The things that interest me are what have you made, not what school you went to - @Matt_Silverman #diginews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

"I don't care what your major is." @Matt_Silverman on hiring future employees. #DigiNews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

5. Be a techie

Okay not really. But taking a basic computer science class or learning basic HTML will put you above your competitor.

"Take more than one computer science class. Also take a Photoshop class and know basic HTML" @HeyVeronica

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

I should definitely try and sign up for a computer science class! @SocialElements_ @HeyVeronica #DigiNews

— Lauren Platt (@laurenplatt26)

November 11, 2014

"It's good to use photoshop...even if it's for your own personal use like putting animal heads on people." @HeyVeronica #DigiNews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

6. Have an active social media presence

Don’t tweet like a robot; use your Twitter as yourself. Check out these tips on how to be professional and personal with social media.

What do employers look for on your Twitter accounts? They want you to tweet like a human being! #DigiNews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

7. Fake it ‘til you make it

If you want a job there, act like you already work there. Understand what your supervisors ask you and do everything at 100%.

"Be as awesome as you can for free, until you arrive there [a paying job]." - @Matt_Silverman #DigiNews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

Some great advice on not only interning, but freelancing, is given by @broderick! #DigiNews

— Social Elements (@SocialElements_)

November 11, 2014

Thank you @lfmccullough @Matt_Silverman @broderick & @HeyVeronica (all Twitter verified btw!) for fab event @HerbertSchoolHU #diginews

— Kelly Fincham (@kellyfincham)

November 11, 2014

[thesydneyshow]

A few flicks from College Fashion Week at Santos.. Soo much fun. #nyc #cfw #hercampus #bareminerals #bareaffair #boohoo #latergram #modeling #catwalk

[thesydneyshow]

HOW SOCIAL MEDIA CAN TELL A LIVE STORY

The following shows how social media and Storify can be great tools to tell a story about an event. I personally used twitter for each aspect of my story (my video function on my phone was acting up!)

You can use Vine or Instagram to record reactions from audience members at your event. Videos are always better than pictures when trying to tell a story but anything will help when trying to get interaction from followers.

Having a feed of live tweets are a great way to show your followers that you're actually at the event and you can share what you're learning for those that couldn't attend.

If you're doing a lot of tweets in a short amount of time, you might want to consider warning your followers that you're about to flood their feed.

The most rewarding thing from live tweeting and telling a story is the interaction you get from followers. But you'll see when you do your first live tweeting event.

Check out my example below!

[thesydneyshow]

Shorty love the way that I floss out... #isuckatcaptions (at Santos Party House)

[thesydneyshow]

Twitter is the Mecca for all news? Think Again!

Twitter is most often described as the hub for all news but this article from Pew Research Center has shown otherwise. Check the main points below.

1. Facebook is the Place for Political News   

Facebook surpasses other social media sites as a source for news about politics and government. Only 9% say they got political news from Twitter.

2. TV News and Facebook are Even

Nearly half of panelists say they accessed news about politics and government on Facebook. This is nearly the same amount of people who received this type of news from local TV.

3. Group-Think Syndrome

All users get a mix of views from their feed but are more likely to follow or “surround” themselves with like-minded opinions.

4. See What You Want

Most users of social media sites have a feed catered to them but the research shows that “only about a quarter say the posts they see are nearly always or mostly in line with their own political views.”

5. The Block Button Isn't Hard To Find

More than 2/5 of liberal users and 1/5 conservative users say that they have blocked someone because of a political post.

6. "Like" Pages are Influential

Even if a user only pays attention to “some” political news, 3/10 admit to “liking” political parties, candidates or elected officials on Facebook.

7. People Care About Issues or Causes

Users are likely to follow “issue-based organizations” that fall in line with their ideals, liberals more often than conservatives.

 In other words, political news has another hub, Facebook! Check out the rest of Pew’s findings. Click the link!

[kushandwisdom]

[kushandwisdom]

[kushandwizdom]

More picture quotes here

[thesydneyshow]

Laughter is the fireworks of the soul...

[thesydneyshow]

NY State of Mind 🗽🌉 (at Brooklyn Bridge)

[thesydneyshow]

Check out this photo from CFW NYC!