Two anchor/reporters from WRAL-TV and a representative of CBC New Media’s News Over Wireless shared their knowledge with mass communication students at an educational forum in September.
Ken Smith, Renee Chou and Sam Matheny addressed high-school and collegiate students from across North Carolina at the “iMedia: Making the Connection” forum at North Carolina State University’s McKimmon Center Sept. 19.
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| NOW’s Sam Matheny (l to r) and WRAL-TV’s Ken Smith & Renee Chou recently presented to students at a forum about the media. |
They talked about career preparation, job searching and changes in journalism.
“It was a good event, and I was happy to talk with kids and young adults considering a job in the media,” Matheny said. “We had a good discussion of where the industry is and could be headed.”
Students asked questions about blogs, social networks, citizen journalism and “all the ways people can use new technology to publish their own,” Matheny said.
The students were particularly concerned about how to break into the industry in the midst of a recession.
“My message to them was initiative, initiative, initiative,” Smith said. “Take the initiative to learn every aspect of this business from writing for TV and the Web to nonlinear editing.”
More of the attendees were from the high school level. Smith said that concerned him a little that college students might not be adequately preparing themselves for a quickly-evolving industry.
“However, among the students who attended, I was encouraged by their focus and commitment to learning their craft,” he said.
Thanks to CBC NMG’s Jodi Glusco for this capcom story.
