How to protect your data on Facebook

By Allison Barwacz, Digital Media Content Producer

The information you share online isn’t safe.

The Facebook data leak taught us that lesson. Millions of Facebook users – and social media users in general – are now asking: How can we protect our data? How can we keep our information secure when a trusted social networking website wasn’t even able to?

For starters, it’s important to understand the background story on the leak. In short, Cambridge Analytica, a British political consulting firm that provided data to President Donald Trump’s political campaign, wanted to identify the behaviors and demographics of American voters and use that data to target ads and content to them to influence their voting behavior.

The company didn’t have the resources to obtain the data, so company executives hired Aleksandr Kogan, a Russian-American academic and Cambridge University researcher, to collect the information.

Kogan created a personality quiz on Facebook, which was installed by about 270,000 people and gave him access to the data of about 50 million Facebook users, The New York Times reports. Before installing the app, users agreed to share their information and, at the time, Facebook allowed apps like this to collect data on users’ friends as well, which resulted in the widespread data leakage. He then shared the behavioral data with Cambridge Analytica.

Facebook emphasizes that what happened wasn’t a “data breach”: Kogan requested and gained access to information from users who chose to sign up to use his app. These users gave Kogan consent to access their information, such as the city they set on their profile, their list of Facebook friends and content they liked. According to Facebook, Kogan failed to abide by its rules when he shared the data with a third party.

So how can we protect our information on Facebook? While the data that’s been collected can’t be taken back (even if you delete the app), users can follow these simple steps to prevent other apps from gathering their personal information:

Mobile (Android users will begin the process at step three)

  1. Open Facebook app
  2. Scroll to bottom
  3. Tap hamburger menu (three lines on right side)
  4. Scroll to bottom
  5. Tap “Privacy Shortcuts”
  6. Scroll to bottom
  7. Tap “More Settings”
  8. Scroll to bottom
  9. Tap “Apps”
  10. Tap “Logged in with Facebook”
  11. Tap any app and adjust the information you’re sharing with the app

Desktop

  1. Open Facebook
  2. Choose “Settings” in the dropdown in the top right hand corner
  3. Choose “Apps” in the menu on the left
  4. Choose the “Edit Settings” button to the right of the apps and adjust the information you’re sharing with the app

You can also choose to delete those apps from Facebook; however, keep in mind that you’ll want to save apps that you log into through Facebook, otherwise you’ll be logged out with no password recovery options.

The data leak, reasonably so, caused an uproar among Facebook users businesses alike. Users don’t want their data compromised, and businesses don’t want to lose their customers’ trust.

The lesson learned from this incident is elementary and obvious, but it can’t be emphasized enough. Be mindful, vigilant and informed when it comes to sharing your information on the internet. Just because there’s an option to share information doesn’t mean you have to do so.


Allison holds a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism with specializations in Spanish and English. Her understanding of the ever-changing digital media world allows her to quickly grasp what a target audience desires and create content that is appealing and relevant for any client across any platform.

Digital Media Content Producer’s blog featured on ASBPE.org

barwacz_allison2Allison Barwacz specializes in digital media and is aware of the constant change in the industry. She makes it her goal to create relevant and appealing content suitable for audiences. She wrote a blog post on the topic from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) National Conference earlier this month in St. Petersburg, Florida.

ASBPE.org, the organization’s national website, shared Barwacz’s blog post about her expertise pertaining to audience engagement on June 5, 2017, featuring it prominently on the homepage. ASBPE, a professional association for writers, art directors and designers employed in the press has more than 1,700 members.

Barwacz attended the conference as one of the five ASBPE Young Leaders Scholarship winners.

“Allison went above and beyond our expectations by shooting photos and taking notes on her laptop during each session,” says Amy Fischbach, president of the ASBPE Foundation. “The entire national board was impressed with Allison, and we were honored to have her as one of our 2017 Young Leader Scholarship winners. We hope that she will continue to be active in ASBPE, and we think she has a bright future ahead of her.”

Barwacz fully intends to apply the knowledge she gained from the conference to her work at North Coast Media.

“I’m honored to be named an ASBPE 2017 Young Leader, and the conference was an excellent way to gain insights from and network with B2B professional. Ren LaForme’s keynote on audience engagement related directly to what my colleagues and I do on a daily basis, so it was great to bring back some of those insights to North Coast Media,” Barwacz says.

Read Barwacz’s blog post: “How to develop an audience engagement strategy that works” from ASBPE.org, June 5, 2017

NCM brands recognized for editorial, design excellence by ASBPE

Cleveland, OH — June 6, 2017 — North Coast Media (NCM) is pleased to announce that Golfdom, Landscape Management, and Pest Management Professional were recent winners in the American Society of Business Publication Editors’ (ASBPE) Azbee awards program, with one national award and 13 regional awards. NCM is also proud to share that digital media content producer Allison Barwacz was named a Young Leaders Scholarship winner.

The Azbee awards recognize the exceptional work of magazines, newsletters and digital media in the business-to-business and professional publication industries. According to asbpe.org, more than 1,200 entries were submitted in 76 different categories. 

“We continue to provide the best possible content and design on each platform we use to connect with readers. Having the hard work of our staff recognized is very rewarding and well-deserved,” said Kevin Stoltman, NCM president and CEO.

NCM’s regional and national Azbee award winners include:

Golfdom, a magazine that focuses on news and information for businesses and individuals who manage and maintain golf courses, won:

 
Landscape Management, a magazine that focuses on news and information for landscape contractors, won:

LMOctobercover
LM’s award-winning October 2016 front cover design

  • National Gold, Social Media Presence-Online, “Landscape Management Social Media Presence,” for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart and Kelly Limpert
  • Regional Gold, Front Cover-Design, “LM October Cover,” Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart and Tracie Martinez
  • Regional Gold, Special Supplement-Print, “LM150 2016,” Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart and Tracie Martinez
  • Regional Silver, Magazine Design, “LM October and November,” Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart and Tracie Martinez
  • Regional Silver, Case History-Print, “Stronger Than Ever, November 2016 Cover Story,” Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart and Tracie Martinez
  • Regional Silver, General Interest Feature Article-Print, “Employer of Choice, March 2016 Cover Story,” Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart and Tracie Martinez

 
Pest Management Professional, a magazine that provides its readers with the most recent news and insights in the pest control industry, won:

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PMP’s “Ante Up for 2017,” Regional Gold Winner
  • Regional Gold, Front Cover-Illustration, “Ante Up for 2017,” Tracie Martinez and Courtney Townsend
  • Regional Silver, Special Supplement-Print, “Bed Bug Lock Down,” Marty Whitford and Tracie Martinez
  • Regional Silver, Feature Article Design, “Driving the Bottom Line,” Tracie Martinez and Courtney Townsend
  • Regional Bronze, Humorous/Fun Department-Print, “Photo Finish,” Heather Gooch and Tracie Martinez
  • Regional Bronze, Special Supplement-Print, Diane Sofranec, “Ant Wars,” Marty Whitford, Heather Gooch, Will Nepper and Tracie Martinez

Barwacz represented NCM at the ASBPE National Conference and Awards of Excellence Banquet recently in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she was recognized as one of five of the country’s top business editors under 30.

 

 


About North Coast Media

North Coast Media, LLC (NCM) is the largest B2B publishing company headquartered in Cleveland. NCM’s flagship brands include LP GasPit & QuarryGPS WorldPest Management ProfessionalLandscape Management, and Golfdom. Ancillary brands include Portable Plants & EquipmentGeospatial SolutionsAthletic Turf News and Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations, and a host of other leading industry reference books.

NCM’s Allison Barwacz named top young leader by ASBPE

CLEVELAND — May 8, 2017 — North Coast Media (NCM) is proud to announce Digital Media Content Producer Allison Barwacz has been awarded a Young Leaders Scholarship from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE).

Barwacz will receive her award at the Azbee Awards of Excellence Banquet May 17 at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Barwacz
Allison Barwacz

The scholarship funds Barwacz’s attendance at the ASBPE National Conference, which is held in conjunction with the awards banquet. Five of the country’s top business editors under 30 are awarded the scholarship each year to give them the opportunity to learn from each other and industry veterans.

“Allison’s willingness to pitch in and dedication to each project she takes on is admirable and an extreme asset to our team,” says NCM Digital Media Manager Joelle Harms. “A true leader, Allison capitalizes on new digital opportunities for each brand she serves. Her future in the industry is nothing less than promising.”

Barwacz is responsible for developing content for the digital properties of NCM’s LP Gas and Pit & Quarry brands. She also produces e-newsletters for GPS World and has assisted with video production and show coverage for Landscape Management and Golfdom.

Tasked with providing an immersive view of the industries she covers, Barwacz researches long-form features, shoots and edits video, creates multimedia projects and engages with audiences on a variety of social media platforms.

Darren Constantino, editor of Pit & Quarry, was the ASBPE sponsoring editor for Barwacz’s scholarship application.

“Allison not only takes on assignments with enthusiasm, she’ll often volunteer for them,” Constantino says. “She is eager to travel, and often returns from trade shows and client events with quality video. On more than one occasion, clients have told me Allison was a joy to have at their event.”

Barwacz has helped veteran print editors integrate multimedia into their content workflows and improve their digital literacy, and she has led sessions in the company’s “Lunch & Learn” series on the topic.

Barwacz holds a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism with specializations in Spanish and English. She has worked for North Coast Media since July 2014.


About North Coast Media
North Coast Media, LLC. employs over 50 professionals who collectively possess hundreds of years of experience creating and delivering unparalleled media — from industry-leading print magazines, websites, email newsletters, social media and mobile solutions — to exclusive industry research, custom products and one-on-one buyer-seller networking events. NCM flagship brands include Golfdom, GPS WorldLandscape Management, LP GasPest Management Professional and Pit & Quarry. Ancillary brands include Athletic Turf NewsGeospatial SolutionsPortable Plants & Equipment and Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations.

 

North Coast Media brands win 14 Regional Azbee Awards from ASBPE

 

CLEVELAND — North Coast Media (NCM) is proud announce that its brands and staff combined to win 14 Azbee awards at the ASBPE Heartland Region banquet June 24 in Cleveland.

Launched in 1964 as the American Society of Business Press Editors, ASBPE is the professional association of editors, writers, art directors and designers in the business, trade and specialty publishing industry.

Heartland Region awards were selected from more than 1,200 entries from member states Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

IMG_0175
NCM staff members at the 2016 ASBPE Heartland Region awards banquet in Cleveland

North Coast Media publications Golfdom, GPS World, Landscape Management, LP Gas and Pest Management Professional received awards, as did the company’s corporate website. (See below for the complete list)

Several of the regional finalists are also finalists for national awards, which will be announced July 21 at the Azbee Awards of Excellence Banquet during the ASBPE National Conference at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida.

NCM’s Joelle Harms will represent the company at the National Awards, where she is also being named a Young Leader.

The complete list of NCM brands and staff recognized includes:

Golfdom

masterpiece of minimalismPrint, Original Research, Gold Medalist, “The Golfdom Report,” Seth Jones, Pete Seltzer and Grant Gannon

Design, Front Cover-Photo, Silver Medalist, “A Masterpiece of Minimalism,” Pete Seltzer and Seth Jones

Design, Opening Page/Spread-Illustration, Bronze Medalist, “Water, Water, Everywhere” (November 2015), Pete Seltzer

GPS World

Design, Website Redesign, Bronze Medalist, GPSWorld.com, Jesse Malcmacher, Joelle Harms, Bethany Chambers and Pete Seltzer.

Landscape Management

Print, Special Supplement, Gold Medalist, LM150, Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart and Tracie Martinez

Print, How-To Article, Silver Medalist, “Step by Step: How to store pesticides,” Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart and Tracie Martinez

Online, Social Media Presence, Silver Medalist, Landscape Management social media, Marisa Palmieri, Allison Barwacz and Dillon Stewart

LP Gas

Online, Web Feature Article, Silver Medalist, “The digital revolution and its impact on the propane industry,” Allison Barwacz

Print, Original Research, Bronze Medalist, “Concealed carry policy discussion,” Megan Smalley

North Coast Media

Design, Website Design, Silver Medalist, NorthCoastMedia.net, Jesse Malcmacher, Joelle Harms, Bethany Chambers, Pete Seltzer and Steve Galperin

Pest Management Professional

PMP_PesTech_419x600-210x300Design, Front Cover-Illustration, Silver Medalist, “PestTech 3.0” (December 2015), Leo Michael, Illustrator; Tracie Martinez, Marty Whitford and Heather Gooch

Print, Humorous/Fun Department, Silver Medalist, “Start-Up Diaries,” Pete Schopen, Contributor; Marty Whitford, Heather Gooch and Tracie Martinez

Design, Front Cover-Best Typographic Cover, Bronze Medalist, “2016 State of the Industry Survey” (November 2015), Tracie Martinez, Marty Whitford and Heather Gooch

North Coast Media brands Golfdom and Landscape Management net 27 industry awards

CLEVELAND – May 17, 2016 – North Coast Media (NCM) is pleased to announce two of its brands were recognized for outstanding editorial, graphic design and photography, winning 27 awards at the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) awards ceremony in Omaha, Neb., on May 5.

Both Golfdom and Landscape Management (LM) won more total awards and more first place awards than their competitors.

Golfdom led golf market publications with 17 awards, including 10 first place awards and seven merit awards.

Landscape Management (LM) came home with 10 awards. Included in its accolades are two “best in show” Gardner Awards for new media and special projects, along with seven first place awards and one merit award.

“Once again, we are proud of our haul of TOCA awards,” said NCM President and CEO Kevin Stoltman. “Each year they help strengthen our longstanding leadership positions in the landscape and golf course maintenance industries.”

NCM staff members recognized for their work include VP of Graphic Design & Production Pete Seltzer, Editorial Director Marty Whitford, Editorial Director and LM Editor-in-Chief Marisa Palmieri, Golfdom Editor-in-Chief Seth Jones, Golfdom Associate Editor Grant Gannon, LM Associate Editor Dillon Stewart, LM Digital Media Content Producer Allison Barwacz, and LM Art Director Tracie Martinez.

TOCA annually recognizes members for excellence in writing, design, photography/AV, new media and special projects, and top winners in the marketing and publishing categories are named as Gardner Award winners.

The complete list of winnings for the two publications includes:

Golfdom:

Design – First
Two-plus page design, editorial – printed magazines
“Make yourself at home” | Pete Seltzer

Design – First
Cover page design – printed magazines
“A masterpiece of minimalism” | Pete Seltzer

Photography, Video, Multimedia – First
Best single photo – Use of stock art
“Search. Tap. Sold!” | Pete Seltzer

Photography, Video, Multimedia – First
Best single photo – Use of stock art
“Water, Water, Everywhere” | Pete Seltzer

Photography, Video, Multimedia – First
Best single photo – created by a TOCA member or freelancer commissioned by a TOCA member
“Ready for Play” | Seth Jones, Pete Seltzer

Writing – First
Environmental stewardship article – commercial publications
“Propane to the people” | Seth Jones

Writing – First
Product information article – commercial publications
“The stars of Texas” | Seth Jones, Ed Hiscock, Marty Whitford, Grant Gannon

Writing – First
Business management – commercial publications
“What are online tee times doing for your course?” | Grant Gannon

Writing – First
Series of columns by regular department columnist – commercial publications
“Assistant Living” | Matt Neff

Writing – First
Turf feature article – commercial publications
“To Core or Not to Core?” | Stacie Zinn Roberts

Design – Merit
Overall magazine design – printed magazines
“October 2015 Golfdom” | Pete Seltzer

Photography, Video, Multimedia – Merit
Best single photo – created by a TOCA member or freelancer commissioned by a TOCA member
“A masterpiece of minimalism” | Pete Seltzer

Photography, Video, Multimedia – Merit
Best print magazine cover
“Search. Tap. Sold!” | Pete Seltzer, Seth Jones, Grant Gannon

Special Projects – Merit
Writing for special projects
“The Golfdom Report” | Seth Jones, Grant Gannon, Pete Seltzer

Writing – Merit
General feature article – commercial publications
“Getting by with a little help from friends” | Seth Jones

Writing – Merit
Column – commercial publications
“You might be a turf guy if…” | Matt Neff

Writing – Merit
Ornamental feature article – commercial publications
“The buck stops here” | Hannah Schrum

Landscape Management:

New Media – Gardner Award
“LM Social Media Strategy” | Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart, Allison Barwacz

Special Projects – Gardner Award
LM October 2015” | Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart, Tracie Martinez

Design – First
Single page design, editorial – printed magazines
“January 2015 Backstory” | Tracie Martinez

New Media – First
Blogs
LM Blog” | LM Staff + Contributors

New Media – First
Innovative use of social media
LM Social Media Strategy” | Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart, Allison Barwacz

Photography, Video, Multimedia – First
Portrait/Personality
“March Cover Photo/Bill Dysert” | LM Staff, Laura Watilo Blake

Photography, Video, Multimedia – First
Best print magazine cover
LM March 2015” | Laura Watilo Blake, LM Staff

Special Projects – First
Best single issue
LM October 2015” | Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart, Tracie Martinez

Special Projects – First
Writing for special projects
LM150 2015” | Marisa Palmieri, LM Staff

Writing – Merit
Editorial/Opinion Piece – commercial publications
“Editor’s Note: To the point” | Marisa Palmieri


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