Contact: Robbie S. Ward
Photo by: Megan Bean
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State senior Daniel Smith's career plans involve opening a business, and he knows social media will help him reach potential customers.
With more than 500 million active Facebook users and entrepreneurs from more than 190 countries using the social networking site, Smith also has a Facebook application on his smart phone. Typically, he checks his profile at least five times a day.
While a number of the university's courses in areas from wildlife and fisheries to engineering to business incorporate social media as a part of their curricula, only one this semester in the communication department is examining the subject in some detail.
A communication/broadcasting major from Laurel, Smith is among about a dozen students in the class. Having at least a working knowledge of social media, he and the others are exploring such issues as copyright, public relations, privacy, law, and business as they relate to the medium.
Communication instructor Cheryl Chambers, a self-described Facebook "addict," developed "Communications and Social Media" to help students advance their personal and career goals while avoiding some of the blunders. After all, mistakes on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube may be viewed by thousands, even millions, of people.
"For businesses, a good social media strategy can increase sales and enhance a company's image, but mistakes can be costly," Chambers observed.
"This course provides hands-on experience for students interested in public relations, marketing and other topics that are beginning to rely on social media as a core component of communication plans," she added.
Expanding beyond the classroom, her students also are affiliating with various Golden Triangle businesses and organizations that currently do not use social media to help them develop a presence on Facebook and Twitter.
While half a billion people use Facebook each day, Chambers has a firm policy against viewing it or other sites during her class. She acknowledged that, given the course's focus, the policy may sound a little ironic, but she is adamant about it.
"In class, we discuss it," she said, nodding. "They can check their profiles some other time."
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For additional information, contact Chambers at 662-325-3320 or cchambers@comm.msstate.edu.