Journalists Unite! SPJ hosts event to educate, network

Image by stanjoudan, courtesy of Creative Commons

Victoria Garcias / Contributing Writer

Journalism is a multi-faceted craft and it can branch out into many paths that extend beyond the classroom. In the hopes of furthering journalism education, the University chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will be hosting an all day panel to cover different areas of importance in journalism today.

The SPJ panel, “Listen. Learn. Connect.” is one of the many events the School of Journalism and Mass Communication is hosting for Communications Week 2014. The panel will be held March 21 at Biscayne Bay Campus in the Wolfe University Center. The event will be in Room 244AB, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“One thing that journalism is about is networking, getting to know people from the field and learning from them,” said Katherine Lepri, a senior journalism major and vice president of SPJ at FIU. “Students can move through those connections and learn what journalism really is outside of the classroom.”

With this vision in mind, Lepri and SPJ President Marisol Medina, a senior journalism major, have organized the all day panel to cover five major topics: journalism ethics, social media, branding, war reporting and photojournalism.

Some of the panelists represent three of the major newspapers in South Florida, as well as other media organizations.

The list of panelists includes Lori Todd, a social media manager from the Sun Sentinel and Orlando Sentinel; Jacqueline Charles, a Caribbean correspondent for the Miami Herald; Patrick Farrell, a Pulitzer prize-winning photojournalist for the Miami Herald; Carmen Gentile, a war correspondent for USA today; Larry Doyle, a senior producer for CBS News and Juliet Pinto, an SJMC associate professor.

Each panel is designed to be interactive between the speakers and the audience.

“We really just want people to come and have a good time and meet other journalist and other journalism students,” Lepri said.

The national Society of Professional Journalists on-campus strives to advance and safeguard the freedom of the press.

The SPJ-FIU chapter intends to bring together journalists annually from other chapters and beyond. In an effort to strengthen bonds with other chapters in the region, Lepri said that other Florida SPJ chapters have been invited to this panel event.

“We’d really like know what they’re doing in other universities, as well as our students,” Lepri said.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments, including a light breakfast and lunch, will be provided.

Students, faculty and members of the community are welcome to attend the different panels. Lepri said audience members can come and go throughout the day.

“We really just want to bring people together, we’re passionate about journalism and passionate about really bringing all the we can to other students,” said Lepri.

 -bbc@fiusm.com

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