C250 StoryLab 1

Karen Flores

I am a sophomore studying public relations.

Projects by Karen Flores

Student Athletes Struggle to Use NIL Due to Tasking Schedule

November 14, 2024 Karen Flores

By Saige Arnold, Karen Flores and Andrea Minuto

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Nov. 5, 2024) — The struggle of balancing athletics and academics has always been a challenge for student athletes, but the inclusion of NIL rights has significantly added a new layer of complexity. As they navigate the opportunities and difficulty of earning money from their personal brand, many find themselves struggling to execute the benefits of NIL while being a student athlete.

In July 2021, name, image and likeness laws went into effect benefitting college athletes to get paid through their NIL. This allows the athletes to accept money for their popularity which can be seen in many different ways. The athletes are able to do commercial endorsements, appearances and social media posts, hosting camps and more. However, these tasks are already too much to put on a student athlete.

Diver prepares to dive — Diver William Jansen mentions how priorities are often changing. He works around his sport and academics to gain NIL opportunities, which is a task he has not yet had to chance to focus on.

Student athlete, William Jansen, a junior diver at Indiana University, seeks to grow his NIL and use his image to his advantage and for the opportunity to make some money. Jansen expresses that he does not have the time to lean into his NIL opportunities. “There are some days when like I won’t come to practice at all just to focus on school, and then I’m about to miss school on Thursday and Friday for a meet.” With practices and meets being incorporated into Jansen’s academic schedule, it can be hard to find the incentive and interest in implementing it.

Dr. Galen Clavio, Associate Professor in the Media School at Indiana University answers questions at a press conference on October 15th, 2024. Dr. Clavio explains that social media plays a huge part in the world, allowing people to make a living off of their name on social media. When it came to NIL in the sports world, there were often times where college athletes names were being used by the university or even other companies like NCAA video games that were benefiting off of these athletes name, image and likeness. After many court cases, the NCAA was no

Dr. Galen Clavio speaks to Indiana University Students at a press conference about NIL. Focuses on how student athlete struggle to balance their time, on top of taking advantage of their NIL. Photo taken by Emma Pearce.

longer allowed to keep student athletes from using their name, image and likeness to make their own money. Although these students now have the access to their NIL, it doesn’t exactly mean they’re able to focus on it. Dr. Clavio explains that the schedules young adult student athletes have don’t always allow them to use NIL, “To me its a false dichotomy in a lot of ways and its part of a larger problem with the way we think about athletes at the college level in many cases, which is that they need saved or that they need all of this special structure around them, when in reality a lot of the reasons for this is because of the insane scheduling that we place on them in the first place.” With student athletes trying to manage such a time-crunched schedule, all of the NIL deals they could be taking, they don’t always have time for.

Marina Fuduric, a freshman tennis player at Indiana University, experiences the same challenges. With being a first-year college student and athlete, she struggles to find the right balance, on top of growing her NIL. She currently does not have a large following on social media, but works to grow her account. Working with what she has, she tries to reach out to people and brands, but since she does not have a large following and certain brands have follower requirements, she gets denied. She has to find other ways to grow her platform and to have brands be excited or willing to work with her. “I’m trying to figure out different ways to get more followers and I might have to make content or something in the future,” Fuduric said. This is prevalent in new student athletes because this is not necessarily taught or implemented within their sports. Student athletes have to go out on their own to find these experiences, having no guide on securing deals. It is significantly more challenging if the sport is not popular on a college level, making it harder to seek opportunities.

Fuduric talks about her experiences balancing playing tennis with her academics. Allotting free time on top of her sport, education and personal life. When she talks about this, she said that if you want to study, maintain yourself and find time to hang with friends, you will have to be efficient with your time. But it is not easy for Fuduric, especially when trying to get the hang of being a first-year student. Accountability is a huge thing that Fuduric has to do.

Because of the benefits that come with NIL, it is important to Fuduric and her future plans. She wants to rely solely on her NIL as an income to help support herself. As she settles and comfortable with being a student athlete at Indiana University, she sees herself growing her platforms and finding ways to get deals. She wants to learn how to grow her NIL and motivates herself to endure the obstacles that come with it.

NIL is crucial to student athletes, as it leads to greater opportunities for them in the future.

Students at Indiana University answered questions involving their opinions on name, image and likeness. Having strong ideas on what NIL can do for student athletes, if they take full advantage of it.

Public Relations Story

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook Announces A Brand New Product: The Apple Watch

October 4, 2024 Karen Flores

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts
Karen Flores
Maddie Greenberg
Grace Hunteman

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) – Tim Cook, on behalf of Apple, announced the new, revolutionary Apple Watch that was shown to seamlessly combine iOS features with life-efficiency upgrades all from the stainless steel, OLED watch screen.

First and foremost, the Apple Watch, which comes in two sizes, 38mm and 42mm, and has six different easily interchangeable watch band options. From leisurely leather and comfort, to sweat-proof silicone, the bands were created to easily fit in for all different lifestyles. Alongside the bands, there were more ways Apple created to personalize the watch. There are a variety of watch faces crafted to fit whatever the user is comfortable with; could be the time, an Apple produced watch face, or individually taken photos. Creating an efficient and usable watch that was aesthetically pleasing as well as highly-functional was a main goal of Apple’s that they seem to have accomplished.

Man holding writing pad on clipboard and pen, writing the times displayed on his Apple Watch stopwatch. — Speedway High School Cross Country coach, Brian Hunteman, records the times from his Apple Watch as his team completes a time-trial. The Apple Watch can be worn with the digital crown facing outwards or inwards to accommadate to the user’s needs.

“We’re using inductive charging. It has a magnet and it aligns perfectly to the back of the watch. It is so simple and elegant, it’s something only Apple could do”, said Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. Starting at $349.00, this stainless steel watch was created with advanced technological innovations which incorporated iOS into the watch allowing for it to link to the iPhone.

The Apple Watch can be used for various purposes. With a touch screen, digital crown, and vibrations sent directly to your wrist, the Apple Watch built a seamless route for communication. Continued features from the iPhone such as iMessage, phone calls, and even social media communications have all been proven accessible from the watch and made it more convenient to communicate with people through speaking, typing, or automated responses without having to dig through a bag to unlock and respond from your iPhone. With apps such as digital touch, you can send and receive real-time drawings and even share something as intimate as your heart beat.

“It’s a new innovative, intimate way to communicate directly from your wrist. And it’s a comprehensive health and fitness device, and it is so much more”, Cook said.

With a screen this small, the watch could sense not just touch, but any force on the screen. The electrodes surrounding the screen can differentiate a tap and a press which controls the haptic feedback and vibrations being received from the Taptic engine. This is resulting from the single chip behind the screen which is producing a computer-like functioning watch.

Girl is using her Apple Watch to send a voice text message. — Indiana University student Ella Self uses the voice to text feature on her Apple Watch to send a text message. This feature allows users to quickly send a message without having to touch their phone.

Navigating through the watch, there are apps that come with it such as upgraded health features. The apps all show real-time data monitoring your heart rate, daily steps, and can track workouts. By showing a ring with movement, standing, and exercise times, it encourages people to close the rings and become more active, sending users activity reminders throughout the day.

With continuously developing technology and growing social media platforms, the Apple Watch integrates these applications into notifications. There are customizable vibrations for each app, message, and phone call. With just a quick wrist movement, Apple Watch users can access their Apple Wallet, Siri, the weather, and notification center. Apple incorporated a luxurious and systematic experience into a watch, upgrading one’s quality of life.

Although the watch may not have a camera, there are new camera improving features. The ability to take timer photos from your wrist will greatly improve timed selfies and save time.

Now, on Maps, it is possible to get vibration alerts on your wrist to help direct you. Walking, as well as driving, directions are visible as well to make it easier to navigate the area. “Now while you’re walking, Apple Watch will give you Taptic feedback on each turn, so you’ll know whether it’s time to turn left or to turn right and those feelings are different for each direction so you can actually know without even looking at your watch which way to go, it’s like having this invisible guide with you,” Cook said.

In a year’s time, the Apple Watch will be released to the public projecting a luxurious and life-altering way of living that will boost your exercise, health, and communication styles.

Kevin Lynch, Vice President of Apple, demonstrates how to use the photos app. Lynch also shows how the crown feature is being used.

Cook explains how the Apple Watch is not for a specific type of audience, it is for all. The Apple Watch is very versatile and can be customized.

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