Contradictions Galore in Baltimore

It has been rather interesting to hear what members from news organizations like USA Today, US News & World Report, Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal and more had to say about the state of their profession. One would say "we are having to reinvent everything." Another would say "we will be fine; it's not business as usual, but we are fine." I heard everything from blogs would soon be a thing of the past to blogs were the new way to promote your institution. One other contradiction I heard, and I know that my colleagues heard too was that members from the national media don't want called or for that matter even e-mailed (heaven forbid twice), but they care about what stories we have to tell. One gentlemen from a university in Florida said to a panel of reporters, "So what I hear you say is that you don't want us to pitch to you." They sheepishly backtracked, but it was obvious to the room they felt like PR people were car salesmen.
But I digress, now an update about what the national media said about Hard Work U. US News & World Report said they were interested in covering the work college philosophy, as they should be. Dee Dee Thomas from NBC Today Show raised a brow at the concept and wanted to hear more--will follow up later. And Mary Beth Marklein let my pitch fall to the floor with a resounding thud--USA's loss. There are great things to be told about College of the Ozarks, if they will only listen.

I leave Sunday for the 2009 College Media Conference in Baltimore. This will be the third year for me to attend this highly informational meeting. Each year, I learn something about how to best promote my institution. Generally, members from the national press will speak and try to give insight on what the media are looking for. They all say the same thing--breaking, hard-hitting news or something unique. It is my fortune that I work for one of the most unique colleges in the nation. Students don't pay tuition, instead they work at on-campus jobs, giving them the opportunity to graduate debt free. The work program is unique, no doubt, but the College has some of the most precious students in higher education. Many are the first to attend college in their family. Some have fought adversity in many ways to get to where they are today. One such student is Sarah Metallo. This young woman who, as a toddler, was devastated by a rare, airborne bacterial infection. With both legs amputated below her knees, her left hand with only a thumb and one finger, and her right missing a pinky and most of the three other fingers, attending college, let alone working her way through college was a heck of a mountain to tackle. But Sarah's successfully doing just that. She's will begin her senior year at Hard Work U, working a campus job 15 hours a week just like everyone else. Sarah wants to be treated just like the other students and hasn't asked for an easy job. A matter of fact, she spent two semesters in the stained glass and candle department, using her malformed hands to create perfect artistic pieces. Ambitious to the max, she wants to go into radio. I have no doubt she will be a success. Sarah is a testament to perseverance and hard work.