You Are More Than Your Reel: Building Your Personal Brand Beyond the Newsroom

Journalists, here’s something you might not hear enough: you are MORE than your reel!

This was my key takeaway when I recently spoke to students in David Nelson, Ed.D.'s class at the University of Central Oklahoma this week. While we touched on important topics like résumés and cover letters, my primary message was clear: Reach is the new résumé.

This concept, which I first heard from career content creator Colin Rocker, emphasizes the power of your personal brand in shaping your career trajectory. Whether you’re looking to network, land a new opportunity, attract clients, pivot careers, or snag your dream job, it all starts with how you present yourself online. Here’s a closer look at what I shared with the class:

Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile isn’t just a digital résumé—it’s your first impression. Make it count with these tips:

• Fresh, Professional Photo: Ensure your photo is recent and polished.

• Updated Banner: Use a visually compelling banner that reflects your personality or profession.

• Clear Value Proposition: Make your headline and job description stand out.

• Thoughtful “About Me” Section: Write a well-crafted summary that highlights your skills and aspirations.

Maximizing LinkedIn Engagement

To grow your reach on LinkedIn, focus on consistent, quality engagement:

• Post Daily: Share insights, experiences, and industry-relevant content.

• Engage Daily: Leave high-value comments on posts from your network and beyond.

• Expand Your Network: Connect broadly to increase your visibility and opportunities.

Showcasing Your Unique Skills

Your reel, package, or article is the outcome—but what makes you stand out are the stories behind the work. These are the narratives that demonstrate your value:

• How did you land a big scoop?

• What creative approach did you take to b-roll?

• What challenges did you overcome?

• How did data shape your story?

Sharing these insights highlights your expertise and builds your personal brand.

Content Tips for LinkedIn

Instead of simply dropping a package or article link into your LinkedIn feed, take a more engaging approach:

• Record a Vertical Video: Share behind-the-scenes insights about your story and include the link in the first comment.

• Create a Custom Image: Use tools like Canva to design eye-catching visuals, then link your story in the first comment.

The Hashtag Debate

While hashtags aren’t as critical as they once were (LinkedIn’s search functionality has evolved), they can still play a role. I still use tags like #journalism and #tvnews out of habit, but focus more on creating searchable, high-quality content.

The Bottom Line

Your personal brand is your professional ticket. By sharing the process behind your work, engaging authentically, and optimizing your LinkedIn presence, you can showcase your unique skills and stand out in a competitive industry.

You are more than your reel—you are the strategies, creativity, and resilience that bring every story to life. Start sharing that story today!

👀 Businesses: Activate Like A Newsroom!

Imagine what your public relations and communications efforts could be if your teams truly activated like a newsroom.

• Going direct-to-audience with your messages

• Owning the narrative

• Capturing attention faster

It’s what I do in my new post-newsroom life: work with businesses, brands and entrepreneurs to show them how to ‘activate like a newsroom’ to level up the attention they need to succeed at scale!

Visit my website at doabledigitalmedia.com, or message me anytime at [email protected].

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