Mass Comm Week

Mass Comm Week is always one of my favorite events of the year.

This year, I was able to attend only one panel because I ended up getting sick (half my staff is sick and it’s literally terrible), but the one I got to go to, Just Media’s digital media panel, was fun and interesting.

Media is the means. Connecting people is the result #MC1313AJ pic.twitter.com/mQ1TlcKbkH

— Alexis De La Garza (@AlexisDeLaGarza) October 19, 2015

Social media has changed the ad industry immensely, and so have browser extensions like AdBlock. Personally, I am an AdBlock user, and I haven’t seen an ad on my computer in years. It was interesting to hear how advertisers are struggling with a lack of a consumer base because so many people use some kind of AdBlock. As for social media, the ad industry has used it to be able to target people more effectively because now they know what you like.

Two of the presenters in that panel, Alastair Winston  and Aaron Barr, are Texas State alumni. They were kind enough to offer attendees career advice.

Your references will follow you, so work hard and communicate well because that reputation could help you out in the long run #MC1313AJ

— Alexis De La Garza (@AlexisDeLaGarza) October 19, 2015

Besides an internship, something you can do is stay relevant. Stay on top of content, what’s coming out and trends #MC1313AJ

— Alexis De La Garza (@AlexisDeLaGarza) October 19, 2015

I found a lot of the events were also sort of inconveniently-timed for me. They either occurred while I was in a class that wasn’t cancelled for the week, while I was working at my hall’s front desk or while I was on-call and couldn’t leave my hall.

I had hoped to be able to attend the Evan Smith event, and while I did watch the livestream, I’m still sad I missed that opportunity.