Get Ready World. Samantha Ogborn Is Graduating & Ready To Take You By Storm.

It’s officially May, and it’s officially college graduation season.  This week’s post is a special one, as it is part of #prstudchat‘s effort to honor the graduating Class of 2010.  Today, I have an interview with the lovely, talented and beautiful Samantha Ogborn.  I highly recommend following Samantha and getting to know her.  Every day, I am impressed by her kindness, her intelligence, and the insightful and informative blog posts she writes.

Sam is graduating from the University of Missouri with a degree in Journalism and Business next Saturday!  Aside from being awesome, She enjoys anything digital and social media related, traveling, and cooking.  One more thing to mention: Sam already has a job for post-graduation! She will be working at Fuor Digital, a small digital agency in Chicago, and her new position entails a mix of PR, social media, and new business development.  I hope this interview allows you to gain a little insight into Sam and her passion for Journalism and Social Media.

Christa (C): What drew you to major in Journalism as opposed to other specializations in the Communications industry?
Samantha (S): The writing and the quick pace! You’re never bored when you’re on the edge of the latest news. But I never wanted to report per se. I’ve always appreciated the elements of good journalism. My freshman year I started at a small private school in Dallas called Southern Methodist University. I was in Advertising, but it just didn’t feel like the right fit (school and major). So one day I approached my Advertising teacher and blatantly asked him where I should transfer. With little hesitation, he told me to go to Mizzou for journalism. I visited, and fell in love. I feel fortunate here at Mizzou to have a broader major in Journalism and an emphasis in Strategic Communication (for me, a PR focus). That’s always been appealing personally!

C: How do you think social media will continue to change the Journalism industry?
S: I see social media as the foundation for the future of journalism. People no longer wait for news to break on sites like CNN or USA Today. Instead, they’re viewing a Twitter feed like @BreakingNews for the latest – and this benefits both the news source and the individual. No one has to concoct a transparent news story, they just need to release an update in 140 characters. There is definitely the question of credibility, but my recommendation would be to stick with news outlet accounts that you recognize and trust. Once a reporter learns to harness the speed and efficiency of Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook, then they will find themselves at a heightened level of success.

C: What is your dream job?
S: I’ve never had a specific dream job, actually! My dream job is a job that makes me feel like I’m never really working – I think passion reigns over any job title. I want to be surrounded by teachers and a dynamic team as well – that will always make me happy. But I’ve never forced myself into a niche. I think it’s safe to say anything with a digital focus will always be of interest for me. Otherwise I just stick to what feels natural!

C: You recently co-founded a Twitter chat (#cookchat, 8 pm on Sundays) and regularly participate in other chats such as #u30pro, #prstudchat, and #journchat. How important do you think these experiences have been in your employment search?
S: I can’t even begin to express how helpful these chats have been in contributing to my overall job search. I love that I’ve had the opportunity to converse with other bright minds that I would’ve never met otherwise. I’ve actually pursued a lot of connections I’ve made in chats and taken them offline – this has been an excellent experience as well. When it comes to social media and these Twitter chats, I think they just serve as a tipping point for something greater – whether it’s networking, exchanging blog posts, or creating solid friendships. Not to mention you learn so much from others! Experienced pros are always willing to offer great advice, and that’s an opportunity you can’t find anywhere else. I am forever indebted to those who went out of their way to provide suggestions and tips.

Side note: Matt (the other co-founder of #cookchat) and I worked at the same agency in Columbia, Missouri at different times. We didn’t know each other and collaborated randomly on Twitter. That’s pretty powerful!

Image from Flickr

I’d like to personally congratulate Sam on her amazing accomplishments and her upcoming graduation!  I expect nothing but great things from her and her fellow Class of 2010 grads across the country.  Congrats again!  You did it!!