Member Monday- Madeline Zenz

In addition to being a member of Illinois State University’s PRSSA Chapter, senior Madeline  Zenz serves as the social media manager for The Vidette, ISU’s student newspaper.

What do you do as the social media manager for The Vidette?

I oversee all of our social media sites with another social media manager. Every day, I promote our stories via social media while also sharing other relevant content. I also help oversee The Vidette’s blog. This year, we have a really great team of bloggers, and I have been impressed with their work. If you haven’t checked out the blog, you should! There’s something for everyone to read, from sex and dating to lifestyle and even entertainment. Additionally, I work closely with the marketing department to promote events and contests on our social media sites. Finally, each week I compile the content for the social media page in The ‘Bird, our weekend edition published on Thursdays. This is one of my favorite duties because I get to choose the pet of the week, tweets of the week and other favorite content sent in by our readers.

What made you interested in this position?

The current Editor-in-Chief Kristi Demonbreun announced the position opening in one of my communication classes last year. It sounded like a great opportunity to supplement my public relations degree. I talked to a few people I knew who previously held positions with The Vidette, and they told me how awesome it was to work there. I also contacted the previous social media manager to get a sense of what the job would entail before I even applied.

What is the greatest thing you will take away from working at The Vidette?

I was just telling a friend the other day that working at The Vidette was the best decision I have made in my four years here. I’m a strong believer that you get what you put into things. I think it’s really important when you see the need for something in your organization, consult your boss about it and then just do it. It shows initiative and also helps you build an awesome portfolio.

How has PRSSA helped enhance your skills as social media manager?

I actually talked about PRSSA quite a bit in my interview for this position. Not only does PRSSA help you network with a group of individuals that share common interests, but it also allows you to gain practical experience that can be applied to any job.

How would you encourage others to get involved with The Vidette?

I would encourage others to talk to people you know that work in the office. Networking is huge. If you don’t know anyone personally, I would encourage you to stop in the office. We love new faces, and everyone there is really friendly. Even if there are not open positions at the time, there are always things you can do to get involved.

How will this position prepare you for jobs post-graduation?

I have learned so much, not only about social media, but also about advertising, marketing and communication in general. This position has definitely made me more confident in applying for jobs in the field.  


Questions composed by Ali Seys

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