Natchitoches, La – Louisiana’s future journalism and media professionals will find a new online competition and a new name when they attend Journalism and Media Day at Northwestern State University this year.
The yearly half-day event, sponsored by the Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts, attracts hundreds of high school students from three parishes to NSU to compete in writing, reporting and speaking events.
The rebranding of the event, reflected in the updated Journalism and Media Day or JaM Day name, gives the event a broader, more relevant media focus. Professional media have changed so much the past few years, a name change seemed needed, Dr. Brian Gabrial, Interim Head of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts, said.
JaM Day is designed to encourage, inform and excite high school students about careers in journalism and professional communications. “I hope students leave feeling inspired and with a better understanding of their future goals in the communications industry,” said Emily Zering, this year’s JaM Day coordinator.
New this year is a Twitter competition, challenging competitors to send out the best and most informative tweets, Zering said. It joins returning competitions like media writing and on-air announcing along with expert panel sessions where high school students hear from a diverse range of communications professionals.
Last year, J-Day brought 238 high school students to NSU, and organizers hope to beat that number this year. JaM Day is Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. – noon, at the Friedman Student Union Ballroom.
For more information visit www.nsulajday.com.
