Jones promotes Milton Schools

Milton School District Media Relations Manager Mr. Norm Jones said he has been working with the district for just over a year.

Mr. Jones said his day could include responding to a reporter, shooting a video, telling  stories about current events in the district or creating a YouTube channel. “Each day is different,” he added.

Mr. Jones said he grew up in Danville and graduated from Danville High School in 1995. He added he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania four years later.

According to Mr. Jones, he wanted to become a reporter and anchor because “it’s something I have always wanted to do since I was a little boy. I loved storytelling and writing, and thought by becoming a reporter, I could use those passions.”

Mr. Jones said he worked as a reporter and anchor at Newswatch 16 for nine years. He said he left the station in 2010 because he had a young child with another on the way and he wanted more family time. He added that the commute from Milton to Scranton was “brutal.”

Spending time as a news reporter sparked his interest in Public Relations, Mr. Jones said. “When you are a reporter, you’re on the other side of public relations. You’re asking the tough questions,” he said. “When you are in PR, you’re fielding the tough questions and trying to find the most positive way to answer that question.”

According to Mr. Jones, he became a media consultant because “I was able to take everything I learned from journalism and storytelling, and put that together with everything I learned at Comcast Spotlight with marketing and advertising, and go into business for myself.” He said Comcast Spotlight is an advertising agency he worked at.

Mr. Jones said he created a company called Norm Jones Media in 2014, which “is a communications and public relations firm that services small, medium and large businesses, nonprofits and the school district with a full team of graphic artists, videographers and content writers.”

He added his team can do anything from writing news releases to creating internal documents. Mr. Jones said an internal document is a correspondence that outlines objectives or information to employees of a business, school or any other organization.

He decided to work at Milton because he wanted to become involved in his community, Mr. Jones said. He has three children who go to Baugher Elementary, and his wife is from Milton, he added.

Mr. Jones said he is hired year to year by the district and has goals he set for the school year. He said one of the goals he would like to accomplish is increasing positive social media interactions with the community. At the end of the school year, it is up to the school board to decide whether or not he will continue working with the district, he added.

Mr. Jones said he is proud he was able to create a YouTube channel for the district and grow Milton’s social media channels. He added he was pleased when he filmed a viral video of the Milton boys’ soccer team leading a crowd through a singing of the Star Spangled Banner.

Milton Superintendent Dr. Cathy Keegan said Mr. Jones’ role is part of the district’s vision. “Through a commitment of district resources, a school and community public relations model will be established to maintain and expand the Milton Area School District reputation, enhance its prestige and present a favorable image through positive and effective communication and branding,” she said, quoting the district’s stated goal.