One of Konpay's many sustainable projects. Photo via Konpay's official Facebook page and Jeff Abbott.

Mandy Boyle
Advertising Sales Manager

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit approximately 25 km outside of the Haitian capital of Port au Prince. By Haitian government estimates, three million people were affected by the quake: 316,000 people had died, 300,000 had been injured and more than 1,000,000 made homeless. Now, a year later, Haiti tries to rebuild – but there’s a familiar face amongst those providing assistance to the distressed country: Amy Fotta.

During her time at Marywood, Fotta served as the Assistant Director of Campus Ministry.

“Working with [Fotta] is like working with an ‘energizer bunny’,” Sr. John Michele, I.H.M., M.A., and the current Associate Director of Campus Ministry said. “She is smart; she knows what needs to be done and knows how to get it done.  Amy would do anything to get the word out about the situation in Haiti, and wasn’t happy until she thought that people understood it.  She was an absolute joy to work with.”

Today, Fotta is the Co-Director of Programs and Development for Konpay, a grassroots, community-based organization that focuses on working with Haitian-led environmental renewal and sustainable agricultural projects.

According to the organization’s official website, its mission is to “strengthen Haitian solutions to environmental, social and economic problems by building collaborative networks, sharing technology and expertise, mobilizing resources and supporting innovative Haitian-led initiatives.”

“Konpay is about empowering and supporting Haitian innovation to solve the most pressing problems associated with poverty,” Fotta said.

There are currently four core programs within the organization’s mission: Youth for the Development of Cyvadier (JDS), Food & Fuels Alternative (FFA) Center, Farmer to Farmer program, and the Haitian National Coalition for the Environment (KNAA).

A typical day within Konpay could involve preparing seedlings, tree planting or distribution, managing the community compost at the JDS tree nursery, training youth participants of JDS, overseeing egg collection and distribution at the aviary (at the FFA), meeting with local community representatives to discuss potential partnerships, coordinating a local farmers’ association meeting or communicating with environmental grassroots groups in other parts of Haiti as part of KNAA planning.

While most of the operations are currently located in Cyvadier, southeastern Haiti, Fotta spends time stateside, providing additional assistance through communication.

“[My] day involves Skype calls, emails, and phone calls with Haiti staff to get updates and progress reports, which I then communicate to funders and supporters of our programs via reports, emails, appeals, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, and our Konpay website,” Fotta said. “So, basically, I do a lot of reading, listening, asking questions and writing!”

Fotta’s connections to Haiti are not new. More than a decade ago, Fotta spent time working on various projects and programs within Port au Prince.

“During that time, I met Melinda Miles, one of Konpay’s co-founders,” Fotta said. “Since then, we have been friends and I stayed connected with Haiti over the years through her regular updates.”

“Ever since Amy Fotta came home from Haiti, she left part of her heart there.  That is the best way I can say it,” Sr. John Michele, I.H.M., M.A said. “She loves the people, the culture, everything about it.  She wants to help them, and right now with a family, the best way she sees is to help from an advocacy standpoint.”

When the earthquake hit in January 2010, Fotta began volunteering to support the stateside efforts of Konpay’s emergency relief, which led to Miles offering Fotta a position with Konpay.

“I chose to accept because I believe in the mission and approach to Konpay’s work in Haiti. It is not about charity and going into communities with a mindset of ‘we are here to save you and tell you what you need.’”, Fotta said. “Instead, Konpay is about empowering and supporting Haitian innovation to solve the most pressing problems associated with poverty.”

Konpay, and Fotta, have come a long way since the earthquake. In the summer of 2010, Fotta began working with a team to establish an aviary at the Food and Fuels Alternative Center. That vision became a reality.

“In August 2010, our first 500 chickens arrived at the FFA. Soon after that, we added another 500 chickens. The chickens produce an average of 12 cartons of eggs daily, and these eggs help contribute to improved nutrition and food security in our local community,” Fotta said. “With last year in Haiti being so wrought with destruction, tragedy and suffering, I feel like the success of the aviary was a tremendous accomplishment. It helps everyone in the community to keep hoping and working for a better future.”

That better future is what keeps the organization going, despite the numerous challenges Haiti faces.

“Unfortunately, the sad reality is that a majority of Haitians continue to live in desperate poverty, in conditions that are inhumane and rob them of their dignity,” Fotta said. “The Haitian people want opportunities to meet their own basic needs: food, water, shelter, education for their children, employment, healthcare – the same things we all want here in the United States.”

In Fotta’s belief, one of the most powerful things a Marywood student can do to support the cause is to think and understand beyond our own comfortable lives.

“Nurture a sense of empathy by becoming more conscious of the everyday challenges that others in our world — including Haiti — endure,” Fotta said. “Challenges will continue, putting the lives of Haitians in limbo; however, I am hopeful that despite the turmoil, the people and dedicated organizations – both Haitian and international — will work to make strides in each of their communities. It will be a slow process, but it is possible. That is what grassroots work is all about.”

Students interested in supporting Konpay can follow the organization Facebook and Twitter or visit www.konpay.org.

Advertising Sales Manager

If there is to be one word associated with the 2010 British historical drama, The King’s Speech, it’s “delightful.” Centered on the unlikely ascension of Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI) to the throne in  1936, The King’s Speech is all at once intimate, entertaining, and inspiring.

The movie opens with Prince Albert, known affectionately as “Bertie” to his family, delivering an address at the 1925 Empire Exhibition with his wife Elizabeth, Duchess of York, at his side. Bertie stammers his way through the speech and one can’t help but feel uncomfortable. Both the prince and his audience are visibly unsettled by the address and as a result, Bertie withdraws from public life and begins seeing doctors and therapists to work on his speech. After a particularly embarrassing session where Bertie nearly chokes on marbles in a doctor’s office, he declares that he will no longer seek help for his stammer.

Elizabeth can’t let that happen, so she seeks out Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist living in London, known for his unorthodox and sometimes uncomfortable methods. Elizabeth is desperate and makes arrangements for Bertie to meet with Lionel.

The first meeting is awkward and unsettling for Bertie. Despite his royal status, Lionel treats him like any other patient. He can’t smoke, he’s called “Bertie”, and Lionel even bets him one shilling that he can make Bertie read without a stammer. Loud music, Shakespeare, and a recording ensue, causing Bertie to become irritable and flustered. He leaves Lionel’s office with the intention of quitting.

“The King’s Speech” earned 12 Academy Award nominations including Helena Bonham-Carter as Best Supporting Actress, Geoffrey Rush for Best Supporting Actor, Colin Firth for Best Actor and one for Best Picture. Photo credit Ann L. Williams.

After his father’s Christmas address to the people, Bertie listens to the recording of himself reading in Lionel’s office. He’s convinced. Bertie begins daily coaching sessions with Lionel which take him outside his realm of comfort. Bertie is made to curse (in a hilarious scene), dance, stretch, jump, hop, roll, do vocal exercises, and delve into the painful psychology behind his problem. You will see happiness, anger, frustration, sadness, and friendship blossom in the process.

When George V dies, Bertie’s brother Edward assumes the throne, which he later abdicates in 1936 in order to be with American socialite Wallis Simpson. Suddenly, Bertie is put into a position he doesn’t want to be in and with this role, comes the uncomfortable reality of public speaking. Your heart will sink as Bertie is forced to become the one thing he dreads: king.

But can Lionel coach him through it? Can Bertie overcome the stammer to deliver one a powerful, unifying message to the people as war is declared on Nazi Germany? To find out, you’ll simply have to see the film.

In this reviewer’s opinion, Colin Firth’s portrayal of Prince Albert is nothing short of stunning. If he doesn’t get the Oscar for this role,  it’ll be a great disappointment. One actually feels noticeably uncomfortable when the stammer begins to take over his abilities to communicate and overjoyed when he makes progress. Firth captures the nature of a speech impediment perfectly and one can’t help but cheer for him. His ever supportive and devoted wife Elizabeth, played lovingly by Helena Bonham Carter, stands by him even in the most difficult of circumstances surrounding his transformation.

Geoffrey Rush plays an incredibly likeable and graceful Lionel Logue, whom you can’t help but enjoy when he comes on screen. His presence is a comfort throughout the film, especially when Bertie struggles with both words and emotions. The friendship between the two men is heartwarming.

You’ll also notice something interesting with the cinematography throughout the film. Off-centered frames will eventually become centered as Bertie makes progress. Imbalances in the world become righted. Dull and rich colors fluctuate with Bertie’s moods and moments.

To put it simply, The King’s Speech is a beautiful film and its characters, superb acting, and story keep the viewer engaged from start to finish. You may find yourself wanting to see at least another hour of the film. I know I did.

Mandy Boyle
Staff Writer

Did you know that saving the world can be as easy as clicking a mouse? OK, well maybe not saving the entire world, but you can actually make a difference and do something meaningful by hitting up your internet browser. Non-profit organizations and charity-related websites are becoming increasingly popular for generating both interest and results. In many cases, these websites are well-built, useful, and actually fun.

Here are three websites you can visit to make a difference in our world:

VolunteerMatch.org
“The term virtual volunteer conveys things that you can do virtually anywhere. The idea that you are no longer locked into the needs of your immediate community means that you can connect to more opportunities, regardless of your skill set.” – Robert Rosenthal, Director of Communications, VolunteerMatch.org

VolunteerMatch, according to its official site, “strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect.” Basically, VolunteerMatch provides free online services to support networks of non-profits, volunteers, and business leaders so that civic engagement is a lot easier to manage. With millions of visitors each year and a reputation for being a preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 74,000 nonprofits (according to its 2009 annual report), one could say that VolunteerMatch is an essential site for organizations to know about.

Their main feature is a sort of free matchmaking service where volunteers can reach out to organizations and organizations can post ads searching for volunteers. Volunteers then respond to ads and work one on one with the organization to achieve a particular goal. Sometimes, it’s getting a brochure designed. Other times, it’s getting filing done in the offices. The tasks available appeal to a wide variety of talents and skills. So, if you’re looking to build your portfolio and professional experience while doing some good, consider checking out VolunteerMatch.org. There are opportunities there for writers, designers, techies, and anyone else who just wants to lend a hand.

FreeRice.com
“What if just knowing what a word meant could help feed hungry people around the world? Well, at FreeRice it does.. the totals have grown exponentially.” – Washington Post

According to its official website, FreeRice is a non-profit run by the United Nations World Food Program. Essentially, this site fulfills two of its missions. Firstly, it provides free education to people through word games that allow for users to win grains of rice. Secondly, it helps end world hunger by providing those rice grains to hungry people around the world for free. Play a word game and feed the hungry. It’s really that simple.
FreeRice is also incredibly popular. According to Compete.com, FreeRice.com gets hundreds of thousands of unique visitors each month, which means countless grains of rice are being donated to people in need. In 2009 alone, nearly 17 billion grains of rice were donated to the World Food Program – impressive for a charity who just launched in 2007.

GoodSearch.com
“In today’s troubled economy, Ken Ramberg’s recipe for fund-raising is simple: give people at all income levels a tool for benefiting charity without spending a dime. GoodSearch, the Los Angeles-based company that he and his sister JJ founded in 2005, tries to do just that.” – The New York Times
The premise of GoodSearch is simple. Every time you search something at GoodSearch.com, your charity or school earns money. The more you search, the more your organization makes. GoodSearch taps into the billions of dollars generated in search engine advertising so that some of those funds go to causes that people actually care about. As a result, you get the same quality search engine results you need when you’re researching something for paper while doing good for your community, club, or university.

So how does it work? Either go to GoodSearch.com or download and install the GoodSearch toolbar on your internet browser. Then, just search as you normally would and 50 percent of the revenue generated from the sponsored search advertisers gets shared with the organization of your choosing.
According to GoodSearch, a charity with 1,000 supporters searching the Internet twice a day will receive about $7,300 in a year. More than 93,000 organizations have signed up with GoodSearch, including Marywood University-related ones such as the Dance Team and Campus Ministry.
These are just three examples of how the internet can make a huge difference for our non-profits. Remember, you’re only a click away from doing some real good for real people.

Mandy Boyle
Staff Writer

For the past decade or so, there’s been quite a shift in the way we think about how we feel.

The shift is toward positivity and psychologists, behavioral specialists, authors, and entrepreneurs have noticed. In fact, they’ve targeted and tailored happiness to be one of the most talked about things in pop culture, science, and business.

But what made you and I question happiness? Did we ever really think about it in the first place? What pushed us toward the happiness culture?

For the most people, that push to consider happiness came when Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love made it to the New York Times Best Sellers list.
Eat, Pray, Love came out at a very unique time in our lives and it may be one of the reasons why it’s been so successful.

Consider what was happening. It was 2006 and we were on the fringes of recession, global financial problems, and a housing market bubble burst. Social media began to grow and flourish. Corporate responsibility became a word in everyone’s vocabulary. As times got harder, the book got more popular. 2+2=4. A stressful, unhappy world will seek out more ways to be happy and in turn, buy books telling you what it takes to be happy.

But this book didn’t just get us to question our happiness. It also spawned multiple lines of merchandise, including branded candles and journals, Republic of Tea flavors, and travel packages. Happiness surged as a money maker because, let’s face it, who isn’t looking for happiness?

“In any year, more people use self-help than psychotherapy,” notes John C. Norcross, Ph.D., psychology professor at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania and a coauthor of the Authoritative Guide to Self-Help Resources in Mental Health in a recent interview with MSNBC. We turn to solutions that we can easily purchase to achieve happiness. It’s private, it’s in vogue at the moment, and it’s easy.

As a result, we do yoga, Feng Shui our apartments, indulge in deep fried foods, light scented candles, and spend money, all in the pursuit of happiness. Now, more than ever, you’ll find more people questioning what truly makes them happy because the world around us is so chaotic. This quest, and the trend toward positivity, is known as the Happiness Movement.

Though the term has no real origin, the Happiness Movement describes our growing need to understand and achieve happiness. Granted, all human beings have the desire to be happy, but today, happiness has been boiled down to a science. Literally.

In 2008, a survey was conducted asking 240,000 people across the country to rate their contentment with their overall lives on a scale of one to ten. The participants, who ranged in age from 18 to 85, were asked questions about age and sex, current events, personal finances, health, and other factors that come into play concerning our overall happiness levels. The findings were unexpected.

According to the survey, people start out at age 18 feeling really good, but then head down a decline in overall happiness until about 50. Then, at that point, there’s a reversal. Happiness upticks and by the time people reached 85, they were even more satisfied with life than they were at 18.
So we see that age can be an indicator, but what about other things? Like money?

Well, in that case, take a look at the recent Princeton University study on happiness and money in TIME Magazine. According to TIME, the study determined that an annual salary of $75,000 is the money/happiness threshold for the average American.

Traditionally, it’s been thought that the more money a person make, the happier they feel. However, this study shows that any amount of money earned over $75,000 ceases to increase reported happiness. In short, people connect the quality of their lives more with how much money they make than the degree of happiness they feel. Remember, this is now scientifically proven. Scary.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Classes at top universities are centered around positive psychology. Millions of dollars are invested in happiness-boosting techniques in companies. Countless research studies on happiness and its place in our lives are being conducted and released. All on top of huge merchandise deals, multi-million dollar movies on happiness, and scented candles. It’s a lot to take in.

There are more than 50,000 self-help books in print and sales of these books are increasing yearly by about 8 percent, says Christine B. Whelan, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh. It’s clear; people want their happiness and they’re getting it through the self-help industry’s Happiness Movement.

So what can one make of this? Well, for starters, expect to see more people looking to improve both their moods and lifestyles. The uptick in self-help approaches could indicate that the growing desire for happiness is actually motivating people to action.

This could be a good thing. Maybe we’ll see a world motivated toward a greater good. Maybe people will be nicer to each other. Maybe we’ll be healthier. Maybe happiness will become something woven in the fabric of our lives. Only time will tell.

For now, we’ll just have to wait and see what interpretations, methods, and causes of happiness come along. Who knows? Maybe in a few years we’ll all be part of the movement.

Amanda Toth, Editor-in-Chief

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Amanda Toth, Editor-in-Chief:

Major: Advertising and Public Relations

Minor: Journalism

Future plans: I want to do communications work in the political sector, whether it’s campaigning or working in a U.S. Senate or House office.

Fondest Marywood memory: Working on layout for The Wood Word and working on the 2008 election. Both were a lot of hard work, but were also a lot of fun and rewarding in the end.

Advice to underclassmen: Get involved! If you’re a Communication Arts student, you will have to get involved, but do it anyway, even if you’re not getting practicum hours. You will meet a lot of great people and will boost your resume, not to mention have a lot of fun! The experience is invaluable.

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Mandy Boyle, Advertising Sales Manager/Entertainment Editor

Mandy Boyle, Ad Sales Manager/ Entertainment Editor

Major: Advertising and Public Relations

Future plans: After graduation, Mandy is sticking around Scranton and will continue working part-time with Solid Cactus Inc., freelance writing, and furthering her master’s degree in Communication Arts at Marywood. If you want to keep up with her, you can always check out her blog at http://mandyboyle.com.

Fondest Marywood memory: There’s been a lot of great memories throughout my time at Marywood, but I have to say most of my favorite moments come from time spent involved in campus clubs and activities. PRSSA, AAF, Marywood Players, Digital Media Club, and The Wood Word have given me memories and experience I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.

Advice to underclassmen: Wow – this one’s a toughie, but I’d have to say take responsibility for your actions. Your ability to succeed is not dictated by what others do, think, or say, nor can you reap the benefits of hard work without putting in any time or effort. Give 100% and when you can’t, own up to it. Making excuses only compromises what you really want in life.

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Courtney Baro, Layout & Design

Courtney Baro, Layout/ Design

Major: Graphic Design

Minor: Advertising

Future plans: After gradation, I hope to work for a renowned publications company or advertising agency. Eventually, I hope to obtain position as Creative Director. However, regardless as to where life may take me my main goal is to remain happy and successful in all that I do.

Fondest Marywood memory: The relationships I have built with my girlfriends. I cheerish the bond I share with them. They became my family away from home.

Advice to underclassmen: Trust yourself. Be confident in all that you do.

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Alicia Capazzi, Layout & Design

Alicia Capazzi, Layout/Design

Major: Graphic Design

Minor: Art History

Future plans: To be working as a successful graphic designer at an advertising agency, design firm or publications company in New York.

Fondest Marywood memory: Working on The Wood Word with such an amazing team (i.e. Courtney, Amanda, and Ann) and building friendships that will last a lifetime! Advice to underclassmen: If you have the opportunity to study abroad go, it will be an amazing experience that will change you forever.

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Lauren Smith, Publicity Director/Lifestyles Editor

Lauren Smith, Publicity Manager/ Lifestyles Editor

Major: Advertising and Public Relations

Future Plans: To work in an in-house public relations position at an organization and eventually get my graduate degree in Communications or an MBA.

Fondest Marywood Memory: Having a semester’s end PRSSA meeting at Idle Hour Lanes where Mandy Boyle brought purse muffins and I bowled horribly.

Advice to Underclassmen: Look for internship opportunities early on, and do as many as possible, no matter what your major is. Internships will be key in distinguishing yourself from other graduates when applying for jobs after college.

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Angel Fuller, Distribution Manager/News Editor

Angel Fuller, Distribution Manager/ News Editor

Major: English

Minor: Journalism

Future plans: To hopefully write for a newspaper or magazine

Fondest Memory of Marywood: Joining The Wood Word and Zeta Phi Delta

Advice to Underclassman: Marywood is what you make it. In order to make the most out of your four years here, you need to get involved in something. Marywood is a wonderful school with plenty of opportunities, you just need to expand your horizon. Dream big.

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Chuck Fisher, Peace and Justice Editor

Major: Biotechnology

Minor: Environmental Science, Chemistry and History

Future plans: PhD in Immunology or Evolutionary Biology

Fondest Marywood memory: working in the labs, camping with the Pugwash Club, spending ten days doing service in San Lucas, Guatemala!

Advice to underclassmen: GET ACTIVE FROM YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR!, Do service trips; my big- gest regret was waiting until I was a junior to start going on service trips

PR Boot Camp was a great opportunity for students to learn about the evolving world of public relations. Photo Credit: Lauren Smith.

By Lauren Smith
Publicity Director/Lifestyles Editor

If you’re a student that has ever attended a professional conference, then you probably understand what a great learning experience and networking resource they can be, as well as how incredibly expensive it is to attend. If you are paying out-of-pocket, the costs of attending a conference can easily reach between $500 and $1000, quite easily. Pass prices, travel costs or accommodations, and other incidentals can tack on hundreds of dollars, even with student discounts.

Fortunately for Marywood students interested in Advertising, Public Relations, Marketing, Graphic Design, Copywriting, and Social Media, there will be a FREE conference open to all college students and high school seniors in the Scranton area. The event, called PR Boot Camp, has been organized by the Marywood Chapter of PRSSA, or the Public Relations Student Society of America, which is in association with the national organization, PRSA. PR Boot Camp is the first event of its kind for the Marywood chapter of PRSSA, and also falls within the same week as Communications Week, “Bringing the Vision of the Future”, a week of events sponsored by Marywood’s Communications Department.

PR Boot Camp will be kicking off Communications Week on Sunday, April 18^th from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with free lunch provided. The next event will be a panel discussion on Wednesday, April 21^st beginning at 3 p.m. where some of the speakers will include: Christopher Ell ’03 an artist for Dreamworks; James Loftus IV ’82, Vice President for CBS Radio; John Kilker, a film maker and producer; William Lynett, a publisher for the Scranton Times-Tribune and Marywood Trustee; and Tricia Richards, President of The PR Department, LLC. Ending the week will be presentations from senior Communications students on Friday, April 23^rd at 3 p.m. where they will present their capstone projects. All events will take place in the Media Center, Room 160.

So far, PR Boot Camp has five confirmed speakers: John Dawe, President of Dawe Consulting Group; Robin Snyder and Alicia Madga from Solid Cactus; Tricia Richards, President of The PR Department, LLC; Catherine Schaefer, Owner of CDS Creative, Inc., and Catherine Bolton, Founder of River Rock Communications, LLC and former President and Chief Operating Officer for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). In the coming weeks, PRSSA members hope to add more speakers to the roster for the event.

When asked what their objectives are for the PR Boot Camp, PRSSA President Mandy Boyle says, “Our goal is to expand the horizons of students in the Communications program, build relationships with local universities, provide students with strategies and tactics they could use in the future, and build connections with industry professionals.”

Along with marketing materials for Communications Week, PRSSA members are using one of the platforms that will be discussed at PR Boot Camp—Social Media, to promote the event. You can find information about PR Boot Camp at their Twitter page (@MU_PRBootCamp), and their Facebook group, PR Bootcamp, and registration will be held online as well. Members of PRSSA have also reached out to local high schools and universities to invite them to the event which will be beneficial to both groups since high school seniors can learn more about the Communications program, and other local college students can meet and connect with local business leaders. Members hope that if the event proves to be successful it will only be one of many to come for the professional student organization.

Just to illustrate how expensive an event comparable to PRSSA’s PR Boot Camp can be, PRSA, the parent organization to PRSSA is holding their own two day PR Boot Camp seminar this May in Chicago with pricing offered at $745 for members and $845 for non-members. Even other PRSSA chapters that are hosting their own events, such as the Drexel University chapter which is hosting the event “Bizarre PR” at the Radisson Plaza on April 10^th, are charging $65 to register, $30 just to attend the networking social, and $40 for students.

With this in mind, Marywood’s PRSSA members considered it important to keep the event free and open to the student community. For more information on the event, or to find out how to register, email Marywood.PRBC@gmail.com for details.

Dolores Nolan addressed the Communication Arts Department at its first Communications Week. Photo Credit: Dolores Nolan.

By Mandy Boyle
Advertising Sales Manager/Entertainment Editor

On Wednesday, April 21 at 3:00 PM in the Media Center, Marywood will get to welcome back one of its own as part of the Communication Arts Department’s panel discussion, The Changing Art of Communications: Bringing The Vision of the Future. Dolores Nolan, a Marywood alum and Vice President of Membership for the Radio Advertising Bureau, will act as the panel moderator as PR pros, technology experts, filmmakers, and keynote speaker Gary Arlen, President of Arlen Communications, come together for what promises to be a memorable event to showcase the Communication Arts Department.

Recently, I got the chance to speak to Nolan on her experiences in broadcasting, what we can expect from the panel, and her time at Marywood.

What has the experience been like working on the Communication Arts seminar, The Changing Art of Communications: Bringing The Vision of the Future?

It’s been very special and an honor for me to be involved with the launch of this first Communication Arts seminar.  (The seminar) evolved out of conversations over time between myself and Liz Connery of Marywood’s development department with respect to career challenges and how, no matter where you are along the career path, you must be vigilant about staying up on and the rapid changes in technology as those changes impact our jobs.

What do you feel was the biggest motivating factor behind your involvement?

It’s an exciting project for Marywood to do and I am excited about being involved in something academic and experience the Marywood community and campus again.  Also, it will be great to meet the students, who are “Digital Natives.” I know I will be learning lots from them.

What was your experience like at Marywood University?

Marywood was a very special experience.  Decades later, I am still talking and breathing Marywood.  There is something very special about the experience there that has resulted in enduring friendships.  Probably because the student body was smaller compared to many other schools and you never felt lost in a crowd.  You had personal relationships with your professors.

What made you choose Marywood?

Marywood always had a great reputation and it was always on my list.  It was far enough away from Hawley, PA, where I grew up, that I would need to dorm and have the experience of living away from home, yet not too far away that I could get home easily for a weekend.

How did Marywood prepare you for your current career?

The radio and television curriculum was relevant and you had the opportunity to work at the college radio station for practical experience.  The opportunity to intern at the Scranton Times radio stations in my last semester of college really launched me into the workplace.   I started my internship in January of my senior year at WEJL/WEZX.  Bill Longworth was the General Manager.  He advised me that there was a traffic job available across town at WGBI-AM/FM and that I should try to get an interview.  I got the job and started my first paid job in the industry on Saint Patrick’s Day, which was very special to me since I am a native of Ireland.

Did Marywood give you the skills needed to achieve your goals?

Absolutely.  I think college is what you make of it.  The curriculum is there and it is up to the student to delve into the course work and to seize opportunities like working on campus at the radio and television stations and to get involved with the community media.

What advice do you have for Marywood University students on their experiences here?

Enjoy it.  It goes so quickly.  Take advantage of everything the college environment has to offer. Get involved in your passion.

What made you want to go into broadcasting?

Growing up in the Pocono region of Northeastern Pennsylvania, I was lucky to be able to listen to New York City’s WABC-AM radio and local WARM-AM.  They both played music and had great personalities. Knowing what was going on in the area because of local radio and television.  It was show business, it was celebrity, and it was fun!

What was it like when you first started out in the industry?

It was the 70s. Women were breaking into the industry.  As a woman, I felt empowered.  For me, I found the industry welcoming and that I was always mentored by everyone I ever worked for.   I still have good relationships with many of the people I worked with.  Again, the internship was key.  It launched me into the industry.

What lessons did you learn early on?

Don’t be myopic.  Be curious and open to others and all opportunities.  Treat everyone in the workplace with respect, no matter what their title.  Realize that everyone you work with can be a mentor and that people like to advice and help when asked.  Always deliver on what you promise.  Remember that you are a brand.  Be memorable for something good and remarkable.

What lessons are you still learning today?

You must always keep learning and keep up with the changes by reading articles, books and taking courses in your field.  Participate in new media.  Volunteer and be involved with industry professional organizations to widen your network and to be exposed to free knowledge.  Give back.  You could be inspiring a future leader or trail blazer.

What are your hopes for the future in terms of your career?

What is on my mind right now is my desire to update and finish a labor-of-love, my website/podcast www.saintsofnewyork.com and see where that leads.   I’d love to see it evolve into a documentary series and book.

What advice do you have for Communication Arts students on starting their careers?

Be digital and marketing savvy.  Don’t just consider “on-air.”  Off air work can be very lucrative, such as sales, production, producing.  Communication knowledge and skills can be assets for jobs in many fields:  PR, advertising, journalism.  Consider entertainment/media law or intellectual property law.

If you could recommend a few books for any communications student to read, what would they be?

1. SOCIALNOMICS – How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business by Erik Qualman
2. The Long Tail, The Revised and Updated Edition:  Why The Future of Business is Selling Less of More by Chris Anderson
3. What Would Google Do by Jeff Jarvis
4. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
5. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
6. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Beyond books, Marywood students with a Marywood e-mail address have FREE access to the resources of the Radio Advertising Bureau website, www.rab.com.

There you will find rich information and data on media, advertising and marketing.  All you need to do is log on with the master credentials to personalize your logon.   For the logon credentials, Marywood students can contact RAB Members Response at member_response@rab.com or 800-232-3131 or contact me at dnolan@rab.com, 800-998-2153.

Where can students and alumni find you on the net?

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/DigitalDoll

Facebook:  Dee Nolan

My Labor-of-Love:  www.saintsofnewyork.com

E-mail:  dnolan@rab.com

After several failed attempts, The Wood Word finally has its own website.

By Amanda Toth, Editor-in-Chief
Mandy Boyle, Advertising Sales Manager/Entertainment Editor

The Wood Word is proud to announce the coming to fruition of a project that has been just a proposal for quite some time: The Wood Word is going online!

The capstone of the Communication Arts Department is Senior Seminar, which requires all graduating seniors to produce a final project, typically documentaries or advertising campaigns. We have chosen to make the development of a Wood Word website our senior project for several reasons.

One reason is that The Wood Word has been trying to do this for quite some time. In fact, the last three Editors-in-Chief have looked into some form of a website, including hosting PDFs on the Communications and Marketing Department webpage and a full contract with the AP and MTV College Networks. With the rise of easy-to-use blogging platforms like Blogger and WordPress, it has never been easier to start a website. We feel there is no time like the present to get started.

Another reason for going online is the popularity of online news. The newspaper industry is becoming digitalized. Even college newspaper’s like Penn State’s The Daily Collegian and The University of Scranton’s Aquinas are online. But this is not to say The Wood Word will be only in an online format; we will continue to print a physical paper.

This brings me to a third reason for going online: it will enhance the physical paper. Sometimes there are articles we cannot print simply because of space issues, or because it would not be timely by the time the paper is delivered. This will no longer be an issue, as we can publish these articles online. We can also use the website as a way for other clubs to advertise their on-campus events.

After we decided the paper should go online, it came time to actually sit down and think about how we would do it. There were a ton of options out there when it came to building a successful site, but we had to choose something that was going to be right for us. We decided to go with WordPress.

WordPress is an incredibly easy-to-use, user-friendly platform that gave us the flexibility we needed while still ensuring that our site maintained a professional look. As for the technical side of things, a WordPress blog was simple to set up and something that we felt would transition well to future web editors.

So we had the idea and we had the platform. Next, we went to reserve the domain name and hosting to bring the site to life. Mandy had some experience with HostGator prior to the site launch and was really pleased with their interface, not to mention, their great tech support service. So we went with HostGator on a plan that gave us tons of space to build our site, an already registered domain name (http://thewoodword.org), and all of the support we would need to start making a site from scratch. Trust us – it wasn’t easy.

For those of you who may not be technically well-versed, building a site is a challenge. We had to learn the vocabulary of a web designer and programmer. We had to find out what an FTP was. We had to read up and research on how to actually take a site from the design to the actual reality. Luckily, by using WordPress and an already built theme, we didn’t have to do much coding manually.

Speaking of the theme or site layout, we have to give credit to Woo! Themes, which provided us with the free Original Premium News theme and support documents. This theme, we felt, was the best fit for our publication. Not only did it offer a clean look and a feel that was consistent with our print edition, but it also gave us tons of features that we could use to make the new site much more customized and user-friendly.

Now it was time to make the piles of files we had on hand into something that resembled a site. Using the automatic WordPress installation feature on HostGator, importing our theme files went from being intimidating to a piece of cake.  We now had a working design and a template that was customized. We then redesigned the logo, to make it more web-friendly and consulted with the Communications and Marketing Department at Marywood to get all of the colors in the theme consistent with those used by the university. From then on, it was just a matter of uploading all of the photos, news stories, and information needed to bring the project together.  It took awhile and the task had its own share of trials and tribulations. Before we knew it, we were ready to launch and ready to take The Wood Word into an era of information and new media.

It’s been an exciting ride and we both agree that it has had its challenges, but in the end, we knew it was worth it. Now, we can proudly say that when you want to get news about what’s happening on Marywood University’s campus and beyond, you can turn to TheWoodWord.org to find it. Add it to your Google Reader, bookmark it in your browser, and share it with your friends on social networks. TheWoodWord.org is ready for some web traffic.

As a graduating Editor-in-Chief, I feel obligated to write an open letter to thank those who have made it such a pleasure for me to attend Marywood. I am honored to have served you this past year, and it certainly has been a learning experience.

To President Sister Anne Munley, with your progressive leadership, Marywood has come so far since I was a freshman. Loughran and Madonna Halls were renovated, and the Woodland Townhouses are being expanded. The Mellow Center was built, and it, too, is being expanded. We have added an entire college to the University and converted the old Health and Physical Education Center into the Architectural Studies Center. (As a sidenote, if you haven’t been in the new building, I highly recommend walking in to take a look around. It is a gorgeous building). We also offer two new sports, lacrosse and swimming and diving.

To the Vice Presidents and Deans, you have what I’m sure are thankless jobs. It is because of you that Marywood has such wonderful academic programs. To all the teachers I have had the pleasure of having, thank you for sharing your knowledge of your respective areas. Marywood’s teaching staff is phenomenal.

To the faculty and staff of the Communication Arts program, a huge thank you. I would like to especially thank Pat Trojanowicz, department secretary. She will do anything for anybody and is by far the most valuable member of the department’s staff. I really feel the Communication Arts Department is a hidden gem at Marywood. It, like the University as a whole, has made great strides since my first day of classes in 2006. This year especially has been a banner year for the department, with the Communications Week that featured PRSSA’s PR Boot Camp, the Communications Panel featuring industry leaders and Marywood alumni, and Senior Seminar presentations. The week’s success just goes to show the department’s commitment to providing its students with extensive experience and opportunies to learn outside the classroom. The addition of the Journalism major in the fall will be a great asset to the department. As much as students complain about the practicum program, it is really a great part of the department. It gives students the chance to get involved and “get their hands dirty” starting their freshman year. I’m sure most major universities don’t let students start using video production equipment until later in their education. It also adds great experience to students’ resumes. I just can’t say enough about how it’s helped me enhance my resume and expand my portfolio.

To Ann Williams, our faculty advisor, you are the greatest newspaper advisor ever. Whenever we have problems with deadlines, writers, or other situations, you have always been there to calm me down and help me find a solution. If it had not been for you, I would have literally gone crazy this year. You are a great advisor and an even better friend.

To Paul Sevensky, I owe you so much I can’t begin to explain it. I have learned so much from your classes,working with you in PRSSA, and from our political discussions. If I had an MVP award to give a teacher, you would win it, hands down.

To Mandy Boyle, my partner in crime, your friendship means the world to me. I have had so much fun working with you on The Wood Word, PRSSA, and senior seminar. If I cry at graduation, I know I can count on you to judy-chop some sense into me.

To the members of the Marywood community who reached out to my family after the death of my father, your compassion means the world to me.

I would like to end my final article for The Wood Word with some advice for the underclassmen: get involved. Some majors require students to get involved, but I think all students should do it anyway. You will have amazing experiences and will meet so many great people. Some of my closest friends that I met at Marywood, I met because of my extracurricular involvement. Enjoy your time at Marywood. It will be some of the best years of your life, but they will fly by. As someone who is getting ready to enter the “real world,” trust me–I would rather stay at Marywood. Get to know your advisor and the teachers in your department. They have a wealth of information just waiting to be shared. (To those in the Communication Arts Department, take classes with Paul Sevensky, Dr. Lawrence, and Ernie Mengoni. Their combined expertise will be such an asset to you).

Thank you, Marywood community, for allowing me to serve you as Editor-in-Chief this past year. My Marywood experience has truly made me a better leader, a better citizen, and a better person.