Professor speaks about value of networking

UCA professor Adriian Gardner spoke at a Society of Professional Journalism meeting Thursday, April 19 in Stanley Russ Hall, telling a room of aspiring journalists the importance of networking today, tomorrow and for the rest of their lives in his lecture titled, “Networking in News.”
“Networking is not important,” Gardner said. “It’s critical.”
One approach Gardner took was relating networking to an everyday newspaper.
“You get the entire newspaper, but you choose the sections you like to read and you choose the ones which are relevant to you,” he said.
Gardner said networking was something that encourages personal and professional growth.
He told a story of being in Atlanta on a trip for a journalism job he had at the time in which he not only met people in his field, but also learned where good mechanics and restaurants were, including the nearest Baskin Robbins.
“That’s networking,” he said.
Gardner said networking is one of the most important things to do in your career. He said it allows you to meet new people, create friendships, meet potential coworkers or employers and find job opportunities.
Gardner also said networking allows you to make sure you are in the right field.
“At some point you want to decide, for example if my major is biology, do I have the stomach to be a doctor or research scientist?” Gardner said.
Gardner said it is important to decide early if you are in the right career field, because you do not want to waste time. He said of all the things he had done in his career, his favorite occupation has been being a teacher. Gardner said it has been his favorite because he knows it is a fit for him and because he is able to give back to the students.
He said a labor company surveys showed 65 percent of people’s first jobs are obtained through networking.
Gardner said some people might hear that and think college is a waste of their time, but they would be wrong. He said college is the time for augmenting and sharpening skills you already have.
Greg Brown, UCA professor and advisor for News6, reiterated Gardner’s points of the importance of networking, including with fellow students.
Brown said it was important for students to take advantage of every opportunity they have.
Since the majority of the students were journalism majors, Gardner gave advice for students in that particular field, including what he called the “Three P’s of journalism,” which were a pen, pad and purpose.
“As a journalist, you need something to write down your thoughts with. You need a pad to write down your ideas names and places, and you have to have a purpose,” he said.
Gardner said writing would be an important asset no matter what career path they took.
“My editor told me a long time ago that ‘Writing will get you in the door, keep you in the door and get you out of the door,’” Gardner said. “If you are a good writer, you have a chance of being successful not only in mass communications and journalism, but in all professions.”
Not only did Gardner tell the students of the importance of networking, but he also issued a challenge for the students during their time in college.
“You are enrolled at the University of Central Arkansas, and you aspire to get a degree whatever your major is and that’s respectable,” Gardner said. “Shame on you, if you leave this institution without something.”
He said in the end, it’s not up to the teachers, but to the individual student to make the most of his or her opportunities in college.
Gardner said students should take advantage of their opportunities such as learning from their advisors, getting connected with groups on campus and learning about the media in the community.