On Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., GCSU hosted Student Media Day in Terrell Hall, an event that celebrates and shares awareness of the student media organizations on campus.
Students had the opportunity to express themselves creatively and meet other organizations, allowing a collaborative space for new and returning members.
Juliana Simmons is a senior mass communications major and president of Bobcat Multimedia. She believed that being in a leadership role has contributed greatly to her personal and professional development.
“I adore being able to put on Student Media Day,” Simmons said. “Bobcat Multimedia has been a huge part of my college experience, and teaching others about it is one of my favorite parts of being an ambassador.”
During the event, students were able to explore opportunities in journalism, broadcasting, design and digital storytelling. Simmons hoped the event would bring more participation and collaboration.
“We do our best to promote and photograph the event, but I feel like we could improve in social media coverage,” Simmons said. “Continued promotion through other organizations and the communications department could definitely help the organizations expand.”
Andrew Earnest is a senior mass communications major and president of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). He believed raising awareness could help those looking to get involved on campus.
“It is a great way for those who do not know about these organizations to learn about them in public,” Earnest said. “It’s also a great way for the clubs themselves to demonstrate what they’ve been working on.”
Earnest has been a part of PRSSA since his sophomore year, and since then, he has found a career path he truly enjoys.
“It means a lot because it’s something I’m very passionate about,” Earnest said. “Everything from newspapers, to headlines and social media – it finds its way everywhere.”
Although it was raining, student ambassadors hosted the event on the front porch of Terrell Hall. There were tables set up with raffle and giveaway tickets, snacks, stickers and interest forms. The Podcasting Club also included an open-mic station where students from different organizations could talk about their interests.
Danielle Pittman, an internship coordinator with GCSU’s Career Center, said she believes students’ professional experience from Student Media Day goes beyond the event itself.
“I think it opens up a lot of doors and gives students a lot of resources,” Pittman said. “The one thing recruiters look for is making sure [students] have all the experiences they need that are transferable.”
Pittman emphasized the importance of getting involved and using resources such as GC Connect to learn more about different organizations. She also recommended getting in touch with faculty members and student life.
“I think it being the same week as Homecoming makes it easily accessible, and it helps knowing friends or classmates could be in those organizations,” Pittman said.
Student Media Day is a space for students to express their ideas, meet like-minded people, explore career opportunities and gain practical experience that can be used in professional settings. The hands-on activities foster collaboration by bringing together students from different majors, which leads to a more inclusive campus environment. Finally, making connections through fun activities and conversation can introduce students to colleagues and mentors who may share similar interests.