The Alcorn State University Department of Mass Communications hosted its annual Media Day on Wednesday, March 19, in the Dr. Clinton Bristow Jr. Dining Facility Gold Room. The event provided students with invaluable opportunities to learn from professional journalists and gain insights into the dynamic media industry.

Professional journalists from across Mississippi participated in the event, sharing their experiences and perspectives on the current media landscape. The Mississippi Association of Broadcasters conducted a panel discussion, offering students a comprehensive look at the broadcasting industry.

During the event, Lambda Pi Eta, the official honor society of the National Communication Association, held an induction ceremony. Lambda Pi Eta recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement and encourages interest in the field of communication.

Melanie Sanders, founder of LuxeLife, LLC, served as the guest speaker during the luncheon. Sanders, a former American Idol contestant, and Miss Atlanta discussed her career blending entertainment, sales, and public relations. Her presentation focused heavily on the power of branding and storytelling.

Sanders candidly shared her initial fear of public speaking, recounting a moment from her time as Miss Atlanta. “Being a keynote speaker, or the speaker, whatever you want to call it, has always been a fear of mine. I can sing in front of everybody, but speaking was always something that just made me nervous. I mean, I’m nervous now, you know. But it all stemmed from, in 2005 when I was Miss Atlanta, I prepared a speech, and they had me at this big school, and you know, I thought I had it together, I got there, and y’all, when I got on the stage, I forgot everything. Like, just zoop, it just went away,” Sanders explained. She emphasized the importance of incorporating personal stories to connect with an audience, stating, “Sometimes you have to throw a little story in, you know, to grab a memory.”

Sanders highlighted the interconnectedness of branding and public relations, stating, “Branding and PR are my, what I like to think are my specialties, right? But, it’s a little bit deeper than that.” She emphasized that branding is more than just a logo or tagline. It’s about creating a lasting memory. “Branding is your story. It’s gonna create a memory… I feel like if you can create a memory, you got it. You have something special there. That is how you tap people in. And it’s connected with emotions,” Sanders said.

She stressed the importance of storytelling in building a strong brand. “I always tell people when I meet a client, the first thing I want to know is, what’s your story? You know, some people know, some people don’t. And I feel like, you know if you don’t have a brand or a story, then people won’t care. Because, you know, what’s the public going to relate to if they don’t know anything about you? So that’s always the first question. What’s your story? What makes you so different?”

Sanders used American Idol as a prime example of effective branding. “American Idol, at the end of the day, is just a talent show, right? So, the question becomes, what makes this talent show so different that people from all over the world will be interested in it? Well, it is called American Idol, and we, you know, we’re Americans, and we do like to idolize things, so whether we realize it or not, that title was striking, as simple as it was, it was striking. But not just a talent show, American Idol knew to tap into your emotions. They knew to bring you on a journey. They knew to make you love and hate. They knew how to make you feel excited, sad, passionate about people simply doing stuff that we see every day.”

Sanders described “brand polishing” as a main component of public relations and emphasized its role in managing narratives and ensuring a brand’s voice is heard. She shared an anecdote about her time working with NeNe Leakes during the early days of Bravo’s hit reality TV show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” explaining how to handle a public relations crisis by focusing on relatability. “To keep things relatable is probably one of the best things you can do in the branding space, in my opinion. I personally think that if you can make people understand you and relate to you, then you got them. And when I say you got them, they’ll remember you, whether they like you or not. But the name of the game is to be remembered.”

She concluded by doubling down on the importance of communication in building and maintaining a brand. “Clear, consistent, and authentic communication allows organizations, personas, people, places, all those things that we’ve been talking about, it allows them to connect meaningfully, and then they will connect with audiences authentically.” 

The event was also attended by Vicksburg High School Media Club and journalism students, providing them with a unique opportunity to learn from industry profession