A&M-Commerce hosts second annual Mass Communication Career Day

On Thursday, April 1, the National Broadcasting Society, in conjunction with Career Development, hosted their second annual Mass Communication Career Day on the second floor of the Sam Rayburn Student Center.

The conference contained a series of workshops held by professionals in the mass communication industry, who dispense information about working in the field to students.

High school students from around the area attended, such as Rockwall-Heath High School and Commerce High School.

"We hosted a luncheon for the professional presenters and the mass communication faculty and assisted with the marketing," Career Development Center Director Tina Boitnott said.

The speakers and additional practical experience events were coordinated by the NBS.

"We started planning this event last year," Blanca Duran said. Duran is a senior radio-television major and the president of NBS. "The speakers were mostly all of our faculty adviser Dr. Tony DeMars' contacts he made in the field and connections of members of NBS."

The events of the day lasted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a total of eight workshops held. There were several speakers from different companies, news stations and news corporations, such as the Dallas Morning News, NBC Universal and KDFW in Dallas.

Boitnott said she was especially excited about the connections students could make at this event.

"The information was outstanding, and the networking opportunities were priceless," she said. "In today's job market and the competitive nature of mass communications, it is vital that students take advantage of every opportunity to network and learn all they can about their chosen career and how to land a job."

Junior public relations major Candace Foots attended the conference as well.

"I am happy that I attended this event this year," Foots said. "It was more of a reality check than I had expected. I am more prepared to enroll in classes, seek internships and pursue experiences."

Duran hopes the NBS will continue to hold the event again every year.
"I feel like today's event was a success," Duran said. "The students were participating and asking the speakers questions."