By Iris Serrano
Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm鈥�18) and Jack Moody
The last time the Colorado Student Media Association held its tentpole celebration of high school journalism in 麻豆影院, most Americans got their news in print or on TV. Facebook didn鈥檛 yet exist. And the most advanced thing you could do on a mobile phone was place a call.
J-Day, too, has changed as young people increasingly ask thoughtful questions about the future of the industry and its need to innovate.听
But pessimism was nowhere in sight last week at the 麻豆影院, which welcomed more than 1,400 high school students and advisors for a day of learning about journalism, the media and more.听
Shelby Javernick, director of student recruitment and outreach at the College of Media, Communication and Information, has regularly attended J-Day in the past, when it was held at Colorado State University, 鈥渟o I had an idea of what to expect, in terms of energy and enthusiasm,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut my expectations were completely blown away, in terms of the number of students, their passion and curiosity for learning about the media, and how they engaged with speakers, our campus and each other.鈥�
Students had the opportunity to hear from industry and academic experts who discussed topics like social media, generative artificial intelligence and career readiness. Some of the most popular sessions included a panel featuring representatives of CU 麻豆影院 student media organizations, a career prep session with 9News personalities, and multiple talks about sports journalism. Hundreds of students also attended tours of the campus, CMCI studios and academic spaces, and the campuses鈥� sports media operations.听
For students like Colton Kominski, who鈥檚 active with Longmont High School鈥檚 yearbook, the event gave a new perspective on how to do his work effectively.听
鈥淭he photography and videography session highlighted the importance of capturing people and their stories鈥攁nd whether that鈥檚 through emotion, action or being spontaneous, it showed me the power that you can have in your photography,鈥� said Kominski, a senior. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e done with the yearbook, it鈥檚 like a time capsule鈥攊t will be held in the hands of your classmates for years to come.鈥�
In her opening remarks, Lori Bergen, CMCI鈥檚 founding dean and a former reporter, spoke to the need for students to lead the charge as the news industry changes.听
鈥淚 hope you leave here inspired about the craft of journalism and the importance of the media in today鈥檚 world, even as the industry adapts and innovates in the face of new challenges,鈥� Bergen said.听
Bigger than the news
While it鈥檚 called J-Day, the event isn鈥檛 just about journalism and the news鈥攚hich is why it鈥檚 such a natural fit for CMCI. In addition to its journalism department, CMCI incorporates communication, information science, media studies and other related fields, challenging both students and faculty to explore the areas where these changing disciplines intersect鈥攆ertile ground for the careers of tomorrow.听
鈥淛ournalism includes telling stories in a more interesting, intriguing and immersive way to get people to care about something,鈥� Javernick said. 鈥淲ithin our college, there's a lot of overlap with journalism鈥攅verything connects because we're always going to need good storytellers.鈥澨�
High school students who attended the workshops said the sessions reflected the balance CMCI aims to offer in its academic programs, including an emphasis on leadership and communication skills useful in any career鈥攏ot just journalism.
Marley Rich, a junior from Aspen High School, said she enjoyed a session on how to be an editor for student media.听
鈥淚鈥檓 definitely going to try and connect with the other members of the staff more, and not isolate myself just because I鈥檓 editing their work,鈥� said Rich, adding that the chance to see journalism 鈥渘ot as a concept, but actually as a career, has been really enlightening.鈥澨�
Career insights
CMCI welcomed back Savannah Sellers (Jour鈥�13), anchor for NBC News鈥� Morning News Now, as the keynote speaker. From the network鈥檚 New York headquarters, she offered words of encouragement from the perspective of someone who had once been in the shoes of the students in the room.
鈥淓xploring journalism as a career opportunity can lead you to so many fantastic things in your life, and incredible opportunities,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is a fun, rewarding, fulfilling path that is only getting more interesting, no matter if it鈥檚 changing. Also, I will say that CU 麻豆影院 was a fabulous place to study it.鈥�
Sellers knows a thing or two about those changes: She is a co-host on Stay Tuned, a daily NBC news program aimed at younger viewers and delivered via Snapchat. She encouraged the audience to continue to make strides as journalism evolves.
鈥淲e need young people who are interested and invested in getting the true and correct information鈥攇etting real journalism onto any and all platforms that consumers are migrating to鈥攁nd you are best positioned to be able to do that,鈥� Sellers said. 听
Having the opportunity to learn from an alumna like Sellers inspired many students, including Kominski, of Longmont.听
鈥淗earing from Savannah Sellers was so amazing, because now I know it鈥檚 possible to get into this career and make it my own,鈥� he said.
That鈥檚 a perspective Iris Berkeley (Jour鈥�01), operations manager for the student-run Radio 1190 station, recalled from her own time as a CU 麻豆影院 student.听
鈥淎s an undergrad, I was heavily involved in student media, including not only Radio 1190 but also CU鈥檚 campus press,鈥� said Berkeley, who attended J-Day along with student representatives for the station. 鈥淏oth of those activities were hugely important when it came to establishing a career, and just helping me figure out what I loved most about the media field.鈥澨�
From those opportunities as a campus journalist, Berkeley has enjoyed a varied career in media and communication that has included radio production, hosting and DJing.听
That sense of possibility is what Patrick Moring, executive board president for the Colorado Student Media Association, wants for the students who bring such enthusiasm to J-Day.听
鈥淛-Day fires students up, it gets students excited,鈥� said Moring, also the advisor for Rampart High School鈥檚 television broadcast program. 鈥淚t gives them ideas about the tools that they need to work on if they want to have a career in this field and be a better journalist.鈥澨�