One of the things I have noticed in my 10+ years of teaching is that the expectations for educators continues to grow. We are asked to produce and write more research articles. We are asked to be more connected with the industry and integrate marketable skills into our classes. We not only have to have a reputation in our field in academia, but in the industry.
These are all not bad things – in fact, I have been committed to fully embrace these new expectations to what it takes to be a modern day professor.
One area that seems to have alluded me for years is being able to be a contributor to a major publication. This has been a goal of mine for a while, and I have noticed at various universities, we are seeing this become an expectation for faculty to also be able to accomplish. Some are adding this as a point of criteria for promotion and tenure consideration, showing the reputation and impact you as a professor has on the industry.
Year after year, I would submit my application and would get the same messages back.
- This is for professionals, not professors.
- In order to write for us, you have to be recommended to us by another contributor.
- We have a paid partnership with a program already, so their professors are the only ones who can write articles for us.
- We are looking for writers with more industry experience.
With every message, I kept my eye on the prize as having this be a professional goal of mine.
I am thrilled to announce I am an Adweek Opinion Contributor
You might be asking – Karen, why did you go with Adweek and become an opinion contributor?
- I have cited and referenced more Adweek articles in my classes and books than other other publication. Literally, I feel a lot of my work has cited their articles based on analysis of campaigns and showing new industry trends.
- Adweek balances my expertise and position in the field. In my role at UofL, I teach strategic communication classes, and what I cover in my classes are all aspects of advertising, public relations, social and digital media. I feel Adweek has a strong balance in this.
- Grew up hearing my Dad talk about his views of Adweek during his marketing days. My Dad did marketing for years for various brands like Mars, Nestle, and more – and he said he was always a student of the field, and that meant reading the industry news on a daily basis, including Adweek.
- Adweek is very inclusive of academics contributing to their publication. HUGE win for Adweek on this account! I was very pleased to not only see this, but know there are other professors who are contributors to the Voice channel. Love seeing a publication work in bridging the gap between academia and industry this way!
My first post in the Voice channel of Adweek came out today, and I have to say, I have written a lot in my career – but seeing my name here as the author of this piece on Adweek was – well – very special.
This channel is focused on various topics that are related to the marketing and advertising industry, and I pitched my first article to focus on the new marketable skills graduates (since many are graduating this term) and professionals (who have lost their jobs or have been laid off). This is a topic I covered a lot during this past semester at the University of Louisville w/ my students in preparing them as they enter the workplace, or applied for remote internships.
I am excited to add this new role to my work as a professor, and continue writing and contributing to the field that can help others in the process.
Hope you all are doing well and staying safe! Have a great day.
Best Wishes,
