High school students had the chance to explore careers in media and learn about the journalism program at Los Medanos College’s Media Day event Friday April 4 in the Student Union Conference Center.
President Pamela Ralston spoke to students about her excitement to see them all there considering pursuing media in their futures and encouraged them to join the journalism program.
“My generation needs you desperately to step in, we have been struggling to make sure that newspapers exist so that media is online, so that people are hearing these stories, and you are part of that next day for us,” Ralston said.
She also explained to them the importance of the work student journalists do.
“Sometimes student journalists at our college tell stories I don’t necessarily feel proud of. They’re telling stories about how we could’ve done something better,” Ralston said. “The end result of that is we start to do things better because journalists were in the room asking the right questions, publishing the truth.”
Following the opening remarks, Krys Shahin, who was a former editor-in-chief for the LMC Experience newspaper and now works at TEGNA broadcasting company, gave his keynote speech to the students.
In his speech, he encouraged students to consider joining the college’s journalism program as he found support and community through it during his experience.
Shahin explained that although being on the Experience staff may sound intimidating because it involves you to copy edit, pitch and write stories, edit videos and work on page layout and design, it’s a very fun experience.
LMC librarians Christina Goff and Roseann Erwin talked to the students about identifying false information.
They hosted a group activity where they read a statement and students waved a colored flag to signify if they thought the information was true or false. Students who participated in the activities throughout the event were given candy.
Towards the end of the event, students got to ask questions to a panel of journalists and media professionals from publications like Contra Costa Pulse, San Francisco Chronicle and more about their careers and experiences in the media.
On the panel, they explained to students to be prepared to have skills in multimedia like video, audio, photos and writing, no matter what area of journalism they aspire to be part of.
“Whatever industry you’re going in, be prepared to work and work hard, cause there’s no shortcuts,” said panelist Malcom Marshall, Contra Costa Pulse executive editor.
Panelist and award-winning journalist Jose Fajardo encouraged students to join the fields they may be interested in despite the pay it may offer.
“A lot of places won’t pay a lot, but the experience is more valuable because you’re in the field doing what you want to do,” Farjado said.
Students and faculty of the journalism, art and recording arts departments tabled at the event for attendees to visit and learn more about the programs.
Recording Arts students Ricky Montejo and Joshua Borja gained lots of traction at their table as they were hosting a podcast where students could join the conversation.
To conclude the event, LMC’s Outreach team served lunch consisting of sandwiches and other snacks. High school students also won prizes in a raffle.
