The broadcast news industry is not an easy one to break into. A conference hosted by the College of Media and Communication and the Texas Association of Broadcasters, or TAB, will help students learn to succeed in this competitive field.
On Saturday, March 8, students and faculty members can attend a Broadcast Newsroom Conference. The conference will be from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and participants are expected to sign up before the event.
The workshop will consist of more than 15 different seminars, targeted towards either current students or professionals in the field. There are also two feature sessions that will bring both novices and seasoned professionals together. Many seminars occur at the same time, so attendants will have to decide which ones to attend.
Todd Chambers, Ph.D., the journalism and electronic media department chairperson in the college, said there will be some seminars students should not miss.
“I think the coolest thing for a student, and that’s going to be a session where they’re going to be able to interact,” Chambers said. “It’s going to be how not to get a job. Most sessions are about how to get a job, but this one’s how not to. Just hear some of these professionals talk about what not to do, that’s going to be great.”
Journalism students from around West Texas will be in attendance, along with professionals from Los Angeles and Minneapolis, Minn.. The conference is an excellent networking opportunity for students looking into breaking into the industry. Lea Hellmueller, a Texas Tech journalism professor who will be leading a seminar called “Journalism – A World View”, said students should come to the conference prepared.
“It’s always helpful to look up the speakers,” Hellmueller said. “Look at their resume, figure out how you might want to approach them, Google them, especially if you’re interested in getting an internship with them.”
Although most of the day will be spent learning in workshops, there will still be many networking opportunities. Lunch will be provided and will be a time for people to mingle and get to know each other. Hellmueller said her seminar will have interactive features, so it will not solely be lecturing. She said she hopes this will be an opportunity for more people to meet as well.
March 5 is the last day to register online, and late registration must be done on site after March 6. Registration fees for those not yet registered are $40 for students, $70 for TAB professional members, and $135 for non-members.
For more information, including the schedule of events, visit the TAB website.
About Sarah Self-Walbrick
