This month's CoSIDA Corner, which appeared in the December issue of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)
Athletics Administration Magazine, was written by Shelly Poe. Poe is the director of athletics communications at Ohio State and CoSIDA's 3rd VP. Her column talks about the importance of CoSIDA's continuing education programs and the strengthening of those outreaches.
Beginning with the 2009-10 academic year and with its new partnership with NACDA at that time, the CoSIDA leadership was invited to contribute to each issue of the
Athletics Administration Magazine. In October of 2009, CoSIDA President Justin Doherty penned the first "CoSIDA Column."
This academic year, the CoSIDA Corner authorships will rotate. The first two "CoSIDA Corner” columns were penned by CoSIDA President Larry Dougherty of Temple University (in October) and Eric McDowell (Union College), Chair of the CoSIDA College Division Management Advisory Committee (in November).
Each
Athletics Administration issue is sent to over 10,000 university and athletics administrators, with CoSIDA's voice, thoughts and expertise shared with these key constituents. The magazine is published each October, November, December, February, March, April, June and August.
See the CoSIDA Corner archives HERE.
Download: CoSIDA Corner: The importance of CoSIDA's continuing education programs, by Shelly Poe (.pdf)
What did you know 10 years ago about social media? Or Flip cams or FTPs? Did you think you would be checking e-mail on your phone, or shooting photos, or uploading information for world-wide distribution from the palm of your hand?
Just a decade ago, would you have predicted that your local newspaper wouldn’t print daily? That conferences and institutions would establish their own broadcast and information portals? That placement of your brand would be as critical as content of your message? There’s nothing as consistent as change — and it’s equally certain that when these transitions come, you look toward the sports information professionals on your staff to decipher and navigate the evolutions.
That’s why CoSIDA continues to place an emphasis on strengthening its continuing education program year-round, making available to its members the latest information on technical, social and visibility developments and trends. We’re looking for the newest and most effective innovations in technology to help us tell the stories of our athletes and programs, and searching out the most economical routes to do so, saving us all in terms of money and time. We want to be alert to what’s on the horizon, so we don’t purchase and train on something today that will be obsolete before this year’s freshmen are seniors.
We want our members to stay current on effectual media strategies, incorporating best practices from across the communications industry on everything from viral marketing to virtual press conferences. The media, too, are in transition; we are planning programming to survey what current journalists are being taught, and what trends will shape the business of media in the near future.
We want to glean resources from the web and beyond that will not only spread the messages of our teams, but offer an educational component to our student-athletes — giving them vivid examples of excellent interviews and public speaking, as well as memorable illustrations of the real perils of “telling all” in this social media-driven climate. We work daily to invent, identify and implement the very best tools and techniques available to help our studentathletes and athletics staff members become more effective communicators. Continuing education is the key to that effort.
We’re looking forward this year to giving our members a chance to learn and discuss what’s new and what’s happening across the communications spectrum, through webinars, teleconferences and replayable video sessions. Experts will present the latest in theory and practices from the worlds of professional sports, business, media and non-profit entities. Our IT committee will bring us up to speed on ways to get the broadest and most efficient use of the key gadgets and technologies flooding our industry. And we will hold special sessions pertinent to our younger and student members on media synergies and cross-branding, professionalism and ethics.
Communications is the fastest-shifting segment of our society, and few topics have broader appeal than collegiate athletics. As professionals, our curiosity is constantly whetted. It’s exciting to come in each day and investigate: “What’s next? How can we run with it?” We don’t want to miss out!
If you want to know more about what’s happening on the cutting edge of strategic athletics communications, please visit our website any time at
www.CoSIDA.com. As we look toward joining our NACDA partners for conventions each summer, we hope you will feel free to visit with us throughout the year and participate in our programming.