On Thursday, November 13th, Las Vegas Media and Yearbook left Las Vegas Academy and flew to Nashville, Tennessee, for the Journalism Education Association convention. Some of the class, as well as other classes, attended this event, where they learned many new things about photography, graphic design, news stories, and more.
This annual event was designed to teach students how to take their journalism abilities to the next level; some even presented on the trip. There were two groups, one discussing being an Editor-in-Chief, while the other talked about journalism basics and rules. While still on an educational trip, they were also able to explore the city.
Senior MAC major DJ Jones shares his opinion on the trip. “I’d say it was pretty good, there were some pretty low moments, aka the first day… the rest of the trip was pretty good,” said Jones.
Many students appreciated the scenery and the beauty of the city, while also sharpening their journalistic skills within the workshops. The workshops were the main part of the trip, teaching different strategies and tips on how to improve the quality of their work.
The convention lasted three days, and the students got to look into potential colleges and see if any of them piqued their interest.
Joslyn Rakes, a sophomore MAC major, shares her thoughts on the potential colleges she is debating. “The only East Coast College that caught my eye was SCAD. It’s an art college that I know of,” said Rakes.
Some of the students did see these colleges, but weren’t particularly motivated to research any of them. Jones was one of the few.
“I love Journalism, I do journalism now, and I see myself doing journalism in college. However, a lot of the colleges there were geared towards people who wanted to be journalism majors,” said Jones
The students voiced how they had a lot of fun on the trip, being able to hang out with friends and exploring new terrain. Some enjoyed staying in the hotel and the downtime they received. A few are experiencing this for the first time. They voiced their opinions on going back.
“I just wish to experience the JEA convention again, in maybe a different location,” said Rakes.
Students were able to learn more about the potential they have in themselves, and they are excited to go back in the following year, some even willing to come up with presentation topics next year. No matter the downsides, everyone enjoyed themselves.
