My Class Was Fun and Great, Thanks Class

Oct 26 2012

In West Virginia last week, I gave a class, ‘How to Blog & Why You Should‘.

It was in conjunction with West Virginia State University Economic Development Centre, and DigiSo – WV’s first co-working digital studio, and media centre. Which is really nice, I blogged it here.

I’m an Anchor at the latter:

I equipped them with press badges and a media room,
then showed them how to document, live tweet/SM,
and then publish & promote, a conference and/or event.

They were a lot of fun, and motivated.

Below, we’re putting together the blog post. It’s published here on KeriBlog. They each covered a different aspect of the conference. Great work, guys!

I flew them through WordPress, Picasa, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Here’s some much nicer, professional photos from K.D. Lett.

My Class 'How to Blog & Why You Should'

Oct 19 2012

(visit the DigiSo.org information page)

As part of my involvement with DigiSo – West Virginia’s first co-working digital space, I’m holding a workshop tomorrow.

“How to Cover an Event Online, and Why You Should”

Being good at this can help you get a job in new media journalism.

I’m from Toronto, Canada, my country’s largest tech and new media city, and I’d argue, one of the most social media savvy cities in North America. Like I said during my Ignite presentation here a few months back, “I’m not trying to be a jerk, but I’m a few years ahead you of guys”.

It’s all trickling down to you here, the new online way, and I’d like to show you how to turn that into a paying job. It can be done, it takes time and hard work, and it’s ridiculously fun.

We’re going to cover Hack3rCon, the state’s premiere online security conference. But really, you can use the skills you’ll learn at any event. I’ll show you how to cover an event, from start to finish, share my tricks, and mistakes.

I’ve set up a press room for us. When you arrive at the Ramada Inn in downtown Charleston, find the Clendenin Room.

Itinerary

11am – 12pm – Meet in press room, establish your plan of attack

12pm – 2pm – Field work – out to the conference floor, documenting, interivewing, gathering content for your story. Also, you’ll be live covering the event via Twitter / Foursquare / Viddy / etc.

2pm – 3pm – Return to press room, publish your story, and market your work

What You’ll Need to Bring

– laptop

– camera

– phone

– pen & paper

– your blog (if you have one)

– if you don’t yet have a Twitter account, set one up

– familiarize yourself with the event – here’s the website, the Twitter account @Hack3rCon, and the hashtag – #Hack3rCon

Why Am I Doing This?

There’s 3 answers:

1 – Many, many people over the years have taken the time to answer my questions, over coffee or the phone, and helped me navigate and get to where I am today. There’s no way I’d be where I am today without them. Now it’s my turn.

2 – This is fun for me. I saved these tweets from May:

Back home, it’s different than it used to be. It’s not as new and shiny, it lost some luster, that’s the way things go, right? But you guys are just gearing up and taking off, so I get to re-live it all once again!

3 – I like you West Virginians. You remind me of my country’s Newfoundlanders. That’s maybe the biggest compliment a Canadian could give you ;)

Any question, send me an email, and looking forward to meeting you guys tomorrow.

Keri

Things From My Weekend

Apr 16 2012

New gear day!!

Arrived in the mail. I ordered it in Atlanta, and it was shipped from Atlanta. That is ironic.

Hello mobile studio.

Here I am fixing my ponytail before filming.

Used this to practice on the new Final Cut, which, the more I use the more I dislike it. I’m not alone; video editors all over are unimpressed. Too much forcing you to do stuff you don’t want to do.

I made a one-minute video about the story behind my first security advice post, click here.

Then I wandered around an Asian grocery store, and grabbed some photos for BloggingAboutFood.com.

Would you like an eel?

Tried on some wigs.

I’d like a short brown bob wig. I have an angle on one in Toronto. Gotta make it tougher for the stalkers when I return.

Tried out a new iPhone app – Photoshop Express. It’s good, it’s free, and I’ll likely buy I couple upgrades for it (they have a great collection of frames which will make my blog beautiful).

See?! Freemium works.

Day drive.

Night walk.

DigiSo dinner meeting Saturday night.

Flew out Sunday at 6am. It’s the last leg of my “Avoiding Winter 2012 Tour”. Boo.

Hi from Tennessee! This music mecca is really wasted on me, since I don’t listen to music.

See those two bottom left? They saluted me when we passed one another. I like where people’s heads are at here :|

Gotta run and change over my laundry, TTYL.

Meet DigiSo, West Virginia’s First Co-Working Digital Studio

Apr 12 2012

DigiSo is the result of collaborative brainstorming by the West Virginia State University Economic Development Center (EDC), Create West Virginia, and more than a dozen working professionals in media design, production and Internet technologies.

Cool, eh?! You can meet here, rent out brand-new equipment, and find like-minded people to trade tips and swap ideas.

Hey Toronto pals – remember two years ago when social media really took off and everything changed? They’re on the cusp of that (Charleston is the largest city in the state).

Thanks to these guys for making this happen!

And special thanks to Sarah ;)

The DigiSo space will offer drop-in work stations, and editing suite, voice studio, secure access and storage, all basic production equipment creates need, and meeting space ideal for large and intimate groups.

My second favourite room.

My first favourite room – the green screen studio.

Here we are inside, getting our group ‘Anchor’ shot.

Here’s how you know this place is class… see the arrow?

They thought to install coat hooks in the bathrooms. Success is in the details.

Last minute presentation preparation.

Presentation.

This was right after the opening, the Charleston chapter of Ignite – a worldwide speaking group, tagline, “Enlighten Us, But Make it Quick”. You get 20 slides and 5 minutes. Here’s me prepping for it.

Click here: Digiso.org It’s a beautiful site.

Here’s the direct link to my page.

I spoke about how to build your brand online, and why having a blog is good for a human.

Oh, remember when I referenced I’d also built a green screen studio?

Here’s that video.

I’m an “Anchor” here.

What I’d like to share with you: what I’ve learned about blogging, social media, living online, and managing a brand online, all to help you find, or create, a job in this brand new industry.

I’d like to spend an afternoon together, help you create and build your online identity. Show you how to manage it. Make it so when I say, “I’m about to SEO the crap out of this post”, you’ll know what I mean.

Thanks for a great time, I’m pumped to be a part of DigiSo!

And a huge congratulations guys,

your hard work paid off beautifully.

PS – Yup, that was my big mouth on the invitation ;) (it’s from my airport post)

Meet Me in a Few Videos

Apr 12 2012

Hi DigiSo –

If we’re meeting for the first time I’m Keri, I’ve been sharing my life online since 2007, and I especially like making videos. Of the 140+, below are a few favourites.

Find me fastest on Twitter @KeriBlog, my DigiSo bio sums me up well, email anytime, TTYS!