It’s been a loooooong time coming… and keeping quiet about it was incredibly difficult… but the time is here to FINALLY announce a new book collaboration between Erik Qualman, myself, Dr. Laura Pasquini, Courtney O’Connell and Jason Meriwether:
What Happens on Campus Stays on YouTube
So what is this book about? Many of you might already be familiar with Erik Qualman’s pulitzer-prize-nominated book, What Happens in Vegas Stays on YouTube. This practical guide helps individuals navigate the complex issues involved in understanding and developing one’s digital reputation online. With the advent of social media and other modern technological tools, there are very few guideposts that are written in plain English with practical tips and activities to help individuals navigate them. This book filled that gap.
Erik, Courtney, Jason, Laura and I began working on a new version of the book over the summer as a part of the ACPA Presidential Task Force on Digital Technology. After almost a year of work, it’s finally ready to go to print! This new version of the book builds off of the original, but is geared more squarely towards college students. It includes examples, stories and tips relevant to life on campus. This makes it a perfect book for use in first year seminars, as a university common read, or for staff divisional retreats.
To give you a flavor of what to expect, here is the text from the Introduction:
As a young person, you are experiencing great time of exploration. It is a time where you can figure out who you are and who you want to be. One of the greatest strengths of the Internet is its ability to allow people to engage, connect, play and learn more about themselves. Perhaps you’re a LGBT student who has not had the possibility to meet others to share insights, opportunities and challenges. Or perhaps you want to reinvent yourself and find new interests. Or maybe you want to join a fraternity or sorority in college and develop deep relationships with new people. Be genuine in your online interactions and you will be surprised with the amazing opportunities you will be presented. It is a great way for you to learn to be comfortable in your own skin. Who do you want to be?
During this time of youthful exploration, sometimes we make choices we later regret. Maybe we chose an unfortunate hairstyle or maybe we make a mistake in one of our relationships. Unlike generations before you, however, your exploration, your evolution and your missteps are much more likely to be public. They are also more likely to follow you after college. This shouldn’t scare you, but it should make you think about what you post and be aware of what others post about you. Remember what sometimes seems like a good idea at the time can, in retrospect, be a poor decision.
This book is filled with great examples of young people just like you that have used the digital tools at their fingertips to be able to drive change, start a company or share their ideas and thoughts with the world. You’ll read about how students from Western Illinois University started an #unselfie campaign to share acts of kindness and capture stories of social good on campus. In our success stories section, you can read about how one young woman from Michigan State University started a blog called 52 Cups documenting a year filled with 52 different meetings she had over coffee with thought leaders, authors and university presidents. Finally, you’ll read about a variety of different students that are using social media to produce a strong digital identity that will help them achieve their biggest aspirations and career goals. While there are some drawbacks to growing up in the digital age, we think that after reading this book, you’ll find that the benefits far outweigh these disadvantages.
This book can be read in a day, but referenced for a lifetime. Everyone important to you deserves this gift. Its 36 essential rules ensure you produce and preserve your most important asset — your reputation.
So where can you buy it?
As of right now, there is only one place: The 2015 ACPA International Convention in Tampa next week. Equalman studios has produced a special advance copy (a penultimate draft) that we are planning to make available for purchase (subject to some last-minute details…). The full book in all of it’s edited and finalized glory will be available on Amazon and other platforms beginning in April.
So you want to get a jump-start?
Our book was one of the common reads selected for the 2015 ACPA International Convention. This common read includes excerpts from the book. If you’re heading to ACPA15, consider checking out the common reads program.
We’re pretty proud of the final product and think you will be too!
Pb 