From March 4 to 8, a group of The Colonnade’s staff traveled to New York City to attend the College Media Association Conference, while also exploring the city and learning how to navigate a much faster pace of life.
I was the one behind our very detailed, color-coded itinerary, mapping out times, locations and plans so we could fit as much as possible into a short visit. Between conference sessions and time in the city, we kept a packed schedule.
We stayed at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, which meant stepping directly into crowds, bright screens and constant activity. From navigating airport travel to tracking the lengthy expenses, we were constantly figuring things out in real time, which made the experience feel like a week of “adulting.”
Each person played an important role in making the trip run smoothly. Editor-in-Chief, Mary Ciucevich, helped guide us through the conference and made sure we stayed on track with sessions.
Sports Editor, Bryan Cade, handled navigation and helped us get where we needed to go.
News Editor, Jane Carr, kept the group organized and brought humor to stressful moments.
Ad Sales Manager, Haley Quimby, documented the trip through photos with her digital camera.
Assistant News Editor, Annalie Parker, was a shoulder to lean on and became someone I grew especially close to during the week.
The conference itself focused on student media and offered sessions on layout, broadcasting, social media, writing, interviewing and building connections within the industry. Many of the sessions were centered on practical ways to improve storytelling and better connect with readers.
Annalie Parker said the sessions emphasized audience engagement.
“We learned a lot about what to look for, as far as capturing audience attention and just generally what interests the public the most, and how to keep their attention once you’ve gotten it,” Parker said. “I think that’s the most important thing we learned, because it can help us expand the outreach of The Colonnade and make sure that people stay interested and keep reading our issues.”
Being in a city known for media also added perspective. Seeing how information is shared so widely and quickly made the role of journalism feel more immediate.
“Walking past ‘The New York Times’ was really nice…It gave me a bigger perspective of how news works throughout the daily lives of people out of college,” said Bryan Cade.
Outside of the conference, we spent time exploring different parts of the city together. We ate at places like Lillie’s Victorian Establishment, which stood out for its “Bridgerton”-inspired decor, and Liberty Bagels, where I tried the rainbow bagel. Coffee stops, of course, became part of our routine throughout the trip.
We even visited FAO Schwarz and the Nintendo Store, spent time shopping in SoHo and walked through Washington Square Park. A visit to the New York Public Library also offered a quieter moment during the trip.
One of the most memorable parts was seeing “Heathers: The Musical.” We were able to get discounted tickets shortly before the show, and it ended up being a major highlight for the group. Peyton List played Heather Chandler, which made it especially exciting for many of us who grew up watching her on “Disney Channel.”
Jane Carr expressed how the performance was also one of her favorites.
“One of my favorite things that we did during the trip was see ‘Heathers: The Musical,’” Carr said. “It was such a pivotal moment for me, for the trip. Also just walking around all together and getting to see everybody’s personalities outside of the newsroom was so much fun, and I left with better friendships.”
While the trip focused on professional development, it also gave us time to connect outside of the newsroom. Spending several days together in a new environment allowed us to build stronger relationships and understand each other better as a team.
As a freshman, I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to attend a conference like this with such a dedicated group, especially in a major media hub like New York City. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am thankful to GCSU for providing students with opportunities like this.