OSU welcomes young professionals from Mexico to learn about media literacy

Monday, August 5, 2024

Media Contact: Page Mindedahl | Communications Specialist | 405-744-9782 | page.mindedahl@okstate.edu

Last week, Oklahoma State University welcomed young professionals, journalists, government officials and students from Mexico to learn about media literacy and disinformation. 

Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, the group traveled from across Mexico to Stillwater for a week-long trip that capped off their three-week course. 

OSU’s School of Media and Strategic Communications is teaching the track and will finish this week with a project the individuals have been working on throughout.

On Thursday, the group attended a misinformation and crisis communications seminar with a panel of PR and communications professionals across Oklahoma. 

The panel consisted of Amanda Clinton, principal and owner of A.R. Clinton: Communications Strategies in Tulsa; Brittany Harlow, founder of Verified News Network in Tulsa; Taylor Ketchum, vice president at Jones PR in Oklahoma City; Shelia Moore, principal and owner at SixPR in Tulsa; Sam Powell, senior account manager and staff writer at SixPR in Tulsa; and Lance Lantham, OSU chief communications officer. 

The Mexican group heard from industry professionals on their tactics and thoughts behind crisis communications. The panel discusses their battles with disinformation and how difficult it can be to navigate a world that moves quickly. 

“It's bewildering sometimes, and it's difficult to try to understand why people think the things that they do,” Clinton said. “But I also know that you can't really waste time trying to get in those headspaces because you'll never understand. So, you just have to get to work and try to do the best that you can.” 

Moore gave students advice on managing crisis communications in its initial stages, a task that can be daunting to young professionals starting in the industry. 

“In a crisis, your first instinct is to do this or to do that or to be defensive. You have to step back from that for a moment and think about what your methodical approach is,” Moore said. “The very first steps for me in a crisis would be, ‘What's the source? Where did this originate? How do you find that source?’”

The panel was receptive to giving career advice that the group would not necessarily learn in a classroom. Harlow shared encouraging words on how to succeed in an industry that can sometimes feel like it is out to get you. 

“Establishing that presence as someone who's trusted to begin with is so important,” Harlow said. “Knowing the people who actually want to know the real news, information and truth is crucial. Understanding who you can turn to in those types of times is really important.” 

The group asked questions throughout the panel. Some asked about AI in the communications landscape, while others shared their own stories from working in the professional industry and asked the panel what they might have done differently. 

Latham was excited to have the Mexican group on campus and hear about the other activities they would be partaking in later. 

“It’s great to see young professionals eager to learn about their industry and ask passionate questions they really want to know your opinion on,” Latham said. “Andrew Abernathy, Rosemary Avance and Skye Cooley have done a great job with this program, and I am excited to see it grow in the future.”