2016 was a field day for those in media. Over 62% of adults get their news from social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even Snapchat. The first things many of us do when we wake up in the morning and before we go to bed now is check our news feed, open our friends’ stories, and get as many likes in before we either start our day or rest our eyes. More and more households are ditching their TV providers for Wi-Fi, which means the number of users who receive their news via the internet, apps, or smartphones will only increase into 2017. Our past presidential election was shaped greatly, both positive and negatively, by social media, whether it was last minute reporting, leaked videos, or fake news. Now, more than ever, it is important to reiterate to the incoming classes of rising journalists, writers, media junkies, or creatives in a publishing field the significance of the work that you have or will publish on the internet.

No. 1

As a recent graduate in the media field, every day I see how popular my area of study is becoming. The students entering college now will have lived in a world where they did not live without technology, mobile phones, and the internet. They’re some of the most connected, savvy, and internet creative generation that has yet to come (since the millennials J). The communications, media arts, television, film, and journalism programs across the country will continue to rise in popularity at universities and colleges. Countless times I heard throughout my time in college how “easy” or “a joke” my degree was, but little did those belittling voices know how essential my studies are to their everyday life. Be proud of what you do, love the content you create, and prove the naysayers wrong.

No. 2

It is important to remember your audience. Who will be reading this? How will they interpret what I am writing? This is what fake news got right in 2016. The eastern European websites that ran and provided fake news stories to naïve Americans were aware of their audience. They used their words to create biased stories and introduce false narratives that blindly empowered supporters for President-elect Trump. As a writer or media publisher, you are responsible for your words and work. Dishonesty will only destroy you as a professional. In journalism, our job is to inform and report to the best of our abilities the truth. The internet has become one of the best fact-checking tools out there and it can also come back to bite us in the ass if we you don’t do your research.

No. 3

Privacy will be harder to come by in a world where so much is public, so make sure to keep your accounts private if you believe what you post can be misinterpreted and be conscious of what you post.

No. 4

Deadlines are everything. Get an agenda, set seven alarms, don’t sleep, but whatever you do submit your work! Four years later and I still have trouble with turning things in on time, but in the work place (not your teacher’s classes) late assignments are not accepted. College will allow some flexibility, but once you land that first internship or temp job you are responsible for your content being published on time, don’t fuck it up.

No. 5

Enjoy creating!