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NeEtta Gillespie |
With more than 20 years of corporate communications experience, including the past 12 years working in Internet technologies, Gillespie is ready to help convey UNMC’s news via podcasts, blogs and whatever new communication technology arises along the way.
“UNMC has experienced such phenomenal growth,” said Gillespie, who also has six years of health care public relations on her resume. “Blogs, podcasts and other new forms of communications will allow our administrators to talk about the growth plans and goals for the future, as well as create meaningful conversations within our community.”
Thanks to work done by Information Technology Services, UNMC’s Web/Online Communications Coordinator Theresa Cassiday and others on campus, UNMC has had blogs and podcasts available on its homepage for more than a year. Building upon that solid groundwork will be Gillespie’s focus, she said.
“Thanks to ITS, Theresa and others, a solid foundation is in place that will let us make headway in new mediums,” Gillespie said.
One of Gillespie’s primary goals will be quickly bringing the entire campus into the “blogosphere,” she said.
“By the end of 2007, I would like to see several blogs from all facets of our organization,” Gillespie said.
Some of the blogs Gillespie manages, including one featuring Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., can be seen at www.unmc.edu/blog/.
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“Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. …The term ‘blog’ is derived from ‘Web log.’ ‘Blog’ can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.” The term podcasting is an amalgam of the word broadcasting and the name of the popular MP3 player called the “iPod.” A podcast is basically a downloadable audio or video file that can be played back on any iPod, any other MP3 player, or a computer. By using podcatching software, such as iTunes or Juice, you can automatically download new podcast episodes for free. Visit UNMC’s blog page at www.unmc.edu/blog/. UNMC podcast are available at www.unmc.edu/podcast. |
Gillespie’s expertise will help UNMC maximize its resources in terms of communicating its message internally and externally, said Bob Bartee, vice chancellor for external affairs.
“The means by which UNMC can tell the world about itself are expanding rapidly,” Bartee said. “NeEtta Gillespie has her finger firmly on the pulse of new communication developments and she has the ability to make sure we are established in these new mediums.”
Gillespie also is focused on creating and managing podcasts of UNMC events and seminars. Podcasts are audio and/or video presentations that can be downloaded in MP3 or MP4 formats and played on computers and MP3 players, such as I-Pods.
Several popular programs, such as the Mini-Medical School on stem cells, avian flu forums and Valda Boyd Ford’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day address, are available for viewing on the UNMC podcast page at www.unmc.edu/podcast.
“I’m thrilled to be representing such a cutting-edge institution as it moves forward in the similarly cutting-edge field of communications technology,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie is a University of South Dakota graduate. She and her husband, Aaron, have two children.