Today, I spoke with Eric Kuhn, who is a new media consultant and journalist. His current client roster includes both CBS News and the NBA and he also blogs for The Huffington Post. In this interview, Eric walks us through how he’s been so successful at a young age, the opportunities available in the media space today, how to network, some of his experiences and tips for recent college graduates.
Since you’re caught in the middle of traditional and new media. What changes have you seen 
and what opportunities are out there?
Over the past few years I have seen the emergence of incredibly adaptable news divisions who try out social technology such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, while still sticking to their core principles of storytelling and amazing journalism. The traditional media outlets should embrace new and social media as a way to increase the number of eyes viewing their work and to further enhance the experience for the consumer. Tweeting information immediately from a location where there is breaking news, or uploading pictures from a cell phone to Facebook, allows the news consumer to be better informed in real time. When a reporter can take us behind the walls of a hearing on the Hill or into the White House press room and give us a front row account, the opportunities are endless. What an exciting time to be involved in both traditional and new media to help craft the way we consume news in the future.
You’re an all-star networker at a young age. What are your top three tips for networking?
I am not a huge fan of the word “networking.” People say “you are such a good networker,” but I never think of it that way. I love people and love finding out what people do, why they are successful and what I can learn from them. So, I keep in touch or try to meet more people not because I am “networking,” but because I am interested in many different fields and people.
When meeting new people, I make sure to let them do the majority of the talking and try to leave a conversation having learned something new (even if it is something small). I also try to keep in touch on a regular basis, but never over do it. Finally, I am honest about what I want from the relationship. For example, I was at a party once and asked someone I had literally just met for an internship. It might have been bold, but I don’t like people who want to be your “friend” just so in a few weeks they can ask you for a job.
However obvious, I think the biggest tip to “networking” is something people normally forget: talking! Talk with the person sitting next to you on an airplane, for you never know who he or she is. Make sure you are in the room – nothing replaces a face-to-face conversation. When in that room, don’t be scared to approach a CEO or someone you want to connect with.
What do you owe much of your success to?
Probably by not thinking I am successful. I recognize I am only 21 and have so much to learn. I try to be nice to everyone, listen to everything that is being said, and learn from each experience (good and bad). I never take credit for anything that is not mine and I share success with everyone who helped get me to a certain point.
What is the coolest life experience you’ve had to date? Why?
One of the coolest experiences I have had was when I was invited to the White House to interview with the president’s personal photographer. The meeting occurred in the West Wing and it was a dream come true. For me, the gratification was not just because I was in an awesome place that few have access to, but it was the back-story. I spent two years pursuing an interview with the White House photographer for an international online photography magazine I co-edited. I would politely call or e-mail him approximately every other week to remind him I still wanted the interview. Then I spent a semester in Washington and on the last day I was there, he called me in the morning and said I should come by in an hour. I had 19 minutes with him before President Bush arrived, but it was an awesome experience that was the result of a lot of hard work and perseverance.
For recent college graduates, what do you recommend they do in the few months before they graduate?
If you have not found a job yet (and if you are not going to graduate school), now is the time to make sure everyone you have met with remembers you and knows you are still looking and interested in his or her company. E-mail your contacts with an “updated” copy of your resume and plan a few trips to the area you are interested in moving to after graduation, to meet face-to-face with potential employers. Also, if you have not joined LinkedIn, use the social media site to help build your brand online. Clean out your Facebook and start friending potential employers. Also, check your school’s alumni directory and see what other resources your career center can provide. Remember, even in this economy, there are jobs out there, so (not to be cliché) have a positive attitude.
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Eric Kuhn is a new media consultant and journalist, while still a senior at Hamilton College. A recognized member of the UWire100 list, Eric is considered one of the most influential young people in the field today. Arianna Huffington called Eric a “fearless journalist” and legendary television veteran Tammy Haddad said he was “the most creative, young person that came through MSNBC. He gets new media; he gets old media.” As a new media consultant, Kuhn advises companies on their marketing and communications strategies for blogger outreach and the use of social media, especially Twitter. His clients include CBS News and the NBA. He regularly appears on the radio and is frequently quoted in articles regarding politics and the use of new media, as well as Facebook, LinkedIn and social media. Kuhn also gives speeches and workshops on the changing media landscape.
