As I mentioned in a previous post, Twitter serves as a news force in real time. But Twitter's greatest power may be in grassroots mobilization. David Lee King, in Face2Face: Using Facebook, Twitter, and Other Social Media Tools to Create Great Customer Connections, referred to the example of Berkeley journalism grad student James Karl Buck, who was jailed in Egypt for taking photos of a demonstration. After his arrest, Buck quickly Tweeted "Arrested." Buck's followers then called the United States Embassy and his college, with the latter hiring an attorney for Buck, who was then swiftly released (see Mallory Simon's "Student Twitters His Way Out of Egyptian Jail" at http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/04/25/twitter.buck/index.html?eref=onion).
What's also interesting about this is that Simon's article from April 2008 had to explain what Twitter was. Twitter came out in 2006, so it was still a new phenomenon in 2008, and arrested student Buck had only learned how to Tweet the week before his arrest. Of course, since then, millions of Tweets have been sent, using Twitter for organizing protests and demonstrations, most notably during the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions in early 2011 (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/september-11/twitters-influence-on-the-arab-spring/article2135272/).
People have Tweeted breaking news and events. Tweets arrive asking for help and giving information during disasters and riots. Web-ranking service Alexa cites Twitter as the #9 site on the web. All this, and yet I have stayed away from Twitter. As an English nerd, I find 140 characters slightly restrictive, as I can go on and on about a topic (case in point: this blog). I've never really felt the need to Tweet. With the Burkean concept of an already ongoing conversation and me just joining the room, what could I have to say that would be important that hasn't already been said or will be said? I've had some trouble finding that voice.
I resisted Facebook at first, too. In college in 2006, many were joining the growing social network, but I resisted, cautious of my online presence. Finally, in Fall 2007, a classmate convinced me, and there was no turning back. I believe it will be the same with Twitter, as I have finally joined the conversation. Follow me at @alexasandbakken as I begin to find my voice and contribute to the ongoing global discussion.
May 21, 2014
Re-intro
Consider this a quickie to get you up-to-date on my education and career. In May 2010, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communication Studies. I attended St. Cloud State University from August 2010 to May 2012 and then received my Master of Arts in English - Rhetoric and Writing with a Professional Communication emphasis. Two days after commencement, I had an interview for a new position as a Web Content Editor, and two days later, they offered me the job. For my full resume and samples of my work, please visit http://alexasandbakken.com.
In April 2014, I separated from that employer about six weeks short of two years, and have been back in the job hunt. Since then, I have worked a four-hour temp job as a Receptionist, and am now halfway through a four-week temp job in a newly created position as a Receptionist in the Service department of a car dealership. During these six-hour shifts, I answer between 35-65 calls, leaving me with time to do a little reading on some of my favorite topics - social media and marketing.
Since this is a blog about life after college (and then after college again), I hope my experience will help others. Whether you're in school, looking for work, looking for a career change, or settled into a job, it's important to understand that job changes occur frequently. After all, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average number of jobs held between the ages of 18-46 is 11.3, at least for baby boomers, anyway (http://www.bls.gov/nls/nlsfaqs.htm#anch41). I may not be a baby boomer, but so far, since age 18, I've had 12 jobs in 12 years, with several overlapping during my 6 years of college. What I'm looking for at this point is not just a job, but a career, hopefully with a values-based organization making a difference not only in the lives of its employees, but in the community and central Minnesota as well. I believe that if you can find an employee with the values that match your company's, and who has the education and experience, you will both succeed. If your company has not taken a public stance on social, political, or environmental action, perhaps now is the time to consider how your company can make the world a better place just by changing or becoming aware of the social and/or environmental impacts of the things you already do, purchase, or produce. Small changes can make a big difference.
Over the next few posts, I'll be giving my thoughts on several Internet/social media/marketing and business books I've read recently. The Internet has proven itself as the medium for change, and for news. Just yesterday, I discovered through friends' postings on Facebook from 2:46 p.m. and on that Minneapolis will be hosting the 2018 Super Bowl. Traditional news just can't keep up, as the brief radio news tidbit I heard at 7:20 a.m. this morning announcing the same thing was about 16 1/2 hours behind. If I'd been on Twitter, I'm sure I would have seen it about the same time as I did on Facebook, probably even sooner. As Kate Bussman showed in her book, A Twitter Year: 365 days in 140 characters, Twitter is the quickest news force on the Internet today. Join me next time as I finally join the Twitterverse.
In April 2014, I separated from that employer about six weeks short of two years, and have been back in the job hunt. Since then, I have worked a four-hour temp job as a Receptionist, and am now halfway through a four-week temp job in a newly created position as a Receptionist in the Service department of a car dealership. During these six-hour shifts, I answer between 35-65 calls, leaving me with time to do a little reading on some of my favorite topics - social media and marketing.
Since this is a blog about life after college (and then after college again), I hope my experience will help others. Whether you're in school, looking for work, looking for a career change, or settled into a job, it's important to understand that job changes occur frequently. After all, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average number of jobs held between the ages of 18-46 is 11.3, at least for baby boomers, anyway (http://www.bls.gov/nls/nlsfaqs.htm#anch41). I may not be a baby boomer, but so far, since age 18, I've had 12 jobs in 12 years, with several overlapping during my 6 years of college. What I'm looking for at this point is not just a job, but a career, hopefully with a values-based organization making a difference not only in the lives of its employees, but in the community and central Minnesota as well. I believe that if you can find an employee with the values that match your company's, and who has the education and experience, you will both succeed. If your company has not taken a public stance on social, political, or environmental action, perhaps now is the time to consider how your company can make the world a better place just by changing or becoming aware of the social and/or environmental impacts of the things you already do, purchase, or produce. Small changes can make a big difference.
Over the next few posts, I'll be giving my thoughts on several Internet/social media/marketing and business books I've read recently. The Internet has proven itself as the medium for change, and for news. Just yesterday, I discovered through friends' postings on Facebook from 2:46 p.m. and on that Minneapolis will be hosting the 2018 Super Bowl. Traditional news just can't keep up, as the brief radio news tidbit I heard at 7:20 a.m. this morning announcing the same thing was about 16 1/2 hours behind. If I'd been on Twitter, I'm sure I would have seen it about the same time as I did on Facebook, probably even sooner. As Kate Bussman showed in her book, A Twitter Year: 365 days in 140 characters, Twitter is the quickest news force on the Internet today. Join me next time as I finally join the Twitterverse.
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