HottyToddy.com Celebrates First Anniversary

HottyToddy.com is celebrating its first anniversary while reaching huge milestones.

“HottyToddy.com has had a remarkable first year, thanks to our loyal readers, advertisers and supporters,” said publisher Ed Meek. “With over 75,000 readers and a weekly reach of nearly 250,000 Ole Miss and Oxford lovers on our Facebook page, it is remarkable what the HottyToddy.com team has accomplished in just a year. In addition to a very capable and professional staff, we have had over 60 students work in various capacities; everything from writing articles, shooting and producing videos and keeping up with our social media platforms. I honestly don’t understand much of what is done, but I can see the results in our ever expanding audience of those who love Ole Miss and Oxford.”

Many students are sent to HottyToddy.com directly through the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. Associate Professor Dr. Debora Wenger’s Journalism Innovation class frequently meets in the HottyToddy.com office, and students have the opportunity to participate in the daily operation of a new media website.

“Having the ability to get more work published in more venues changes everything for students,” Wenger said. ” When they know their work has an excellent chance of getting published, they work harder to find better sources, sources respond more readily and they learn a great deal about engaging the audience — what readers like and what they don’t like.   This experience is invaluable for anyone who hopes to get a job in the broad field of multimedia journalism today.”

The mission of HottyToddy.com is to give students new age experiences with a place to experiment with new media, to generate funds for scholarships and create a positive new voice for our community. Dr. Wenger’s students helped launch HottyToddy.com Food & Drink TV, which showcases Oxford restaurants and chef demonstrations. Dr. Will Norton, Dean of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, sees the website as a valuable asset to students.

“I am grateful for HottyToddy.com, a multiple platform outlet for our students in which our faculty can have input as teachers that goes beyond an advising format.  For our faculty and students it is a significant complement to the student run Student Media Center in which faculty input is limited to advising.  Most journalism programs only have one type of local media outlet for student work.  The Meek School has both.”

HottyToddy.com recently launched Experience Oxford magazine, which is a free guide to everything Oxford and Ole Miss. It features original content from both students and staff, highlights local businesses and is available all over Oxford.

Contributions from students and Ole Miss and Oxford lovers are always welcome at HottyToddy.com. For more information, send an email to hottytoddynews@gmail.com.

Thank you all for sharing your time, family photographs and love of Oxford and Ole Miss with us. Here’s to many more years of HottyToddy.com.

–HottyToddy.com Editorial Staff

Team HottyToddy.com:

Ed Meek, Publisher: Dr. Ed Meek is former Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Relations and Marketing at the University and CEO of Oxford Publishing, a national publishing and trade show group. He is the founder of the Tupelo Furniture Market, one of the largest exhibition centers in America, Fellow of the American Council on Education and was awarded the Mississippi Governor’s Distingished Citizen Award. He is the author or co-author of several books and currently serves as CEO of New Media Lab LLC, publisher of HottyToddy.Com. He and his wife, Becky, are benefactors who established the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at The University of Mississippi.

Emily Gatlin, Editor: An Ole Miss alum, Emily Gatlin is a regular contributor to new media websites reaching millions of readers, including BookRiot.com and FoodRiot.com, and her articles have been featured in The Huffington Post and The Paris Review. She has appeared as a panelist in the Overby Center series at Ole Miss and has been a frequent guest on Supertalk Mississippi, ATS Live and Clearstory Radio.

Sarah Beth Wiley Smith, Creative Director: Sarah Beth Wiley Smith is an Oxford native who has returned home with her husband after 20+ years in Boston. During her years there, she worked with many prestigious Advertising and Design firms throughout the city, winning awards and enjoying a successful design and art career. She is bringing style to hottytoddy.com and Experience Oxford magazine through design, photography and info graphics.

Andy Knef, Managing Editor: Recent Oxford arrival Andy Knef previously worked for BJC HealthCare in St. Louis as editor of the company’s award-winning newspaper and intranet site. Knef is a graduate of the State University of New York. He has edited nationally award-winning military and corporate publications and managed an intranet site serving more than 30,000 employees in St. Louis. He is also a former copy editor for the Belleville News Democrat daily newspaper.

Kate Sinervo, Associate Editor: Kate Sinervo is a native of Oxford, Mississippi. She graduated from Oxford High School where she was a staff writer for The Charger and a contributor for The Oxford Eagle. Sinervo received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Public Relations from the University of Mississippi in 2010, before moving to Boston, Mass. to attend Boston University. She earned a Master’s of Science in Public Relations from BU in 2012. Her resume includes internships at news organizations and agencies, such as the Fox News Network in New York City, Cone Communications in Boston, Mass., and Burson-Marsteller in Memphis, TN.

Justin Taylor, Associate Editor: Justin Taylor is a native of Greenwood, MS and attended the University of Mississippi from 2011 to 2013. In December he will receive his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. While at Ole Miss Justin worked one year for The Daily Mississippian as a contributing student writer. He has a great interest in sports and history in addition to journalism.

Tad Wilkes, Nightlife and LIfestyles Editor: Tad Wilkes is a writer, editor, and attorney living in Oxford. He is also a songwriter and performs under the name Moon Pie Curtis.

Adam Brown, Sports Editor: Adam Brown is a native of Oxford, Mississippi. He holds a BA in Journalism from the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at Ole Miss.