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School of Journalism and New Media
University of Mississippi

Facebook and LinkedIn marketing experts to speak at Data Day event

Posted on: October 29th, 2015 by

By Samantha Mitchell

UM Data DayData is the centerpiece of networks and stories. The Meek School of Journalism and New Media will showcase the importance of data and understanding consumers at its first Ole Miss New Media Data Day on Thursday, Nov. 5, in the Overby Center auditorium.

Speakers will include Sean Callahan, senior manager of Content Marketing at LinkedIn, and Eric Schnabel, director of Facebook’s Creative Shop in North America. Both will give insights into the market and the importance of connecting with consumers.

Leslie Westbrook, expert brand guider and former consumer market research specialist for Procter & Gamble recently came to the University of Mississippi and spoke of the importance of gathering consumer information and data.

“Market research, strategy, marketing, package design, branding, PR, advertising, writing, all those things may be separated now when you’re in school,” Westbrook said. “When you get in the real world, they all work together. You work on teams.”

Professor Scott Fiene and Professor Chris Sparks will be spearheading the program and hope to get many students interested and involved in it.

“We love to bring opportunities for students to learn from executives out in the real world, to hear about the uses of data and analytics, and how that relates to understanding our audience,” Sparks said. “What an honor it is to have executives from Facebook and LinkedIn visit our school.’

The speakers will be holding two identical sessions, at 9:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., along with an optional workshop at 11 a.m. The workshop will be offered to help journalists and others interested in finding data to tell a story. This event is free and open to the public.

Visit olemissdataday.com for details.