Training Time at Poynter
By Claudia Amezcua
A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to attend SPJ’s Reporters Institute held at the famed Poynter Institute for Media Studies in beautiful St. Petersburg, FL. The program gathers a group of thirty journalists from various mediums to train in a wide range of topics covering social media, SEO, public documents, mobile reporting, etc. What makes this program unique is that all the participants are currently within their first few years of their careers, either at their first or sometimes second job after college.
Through the course of three days, participants gain the skills to further develop as journalists.
Honestly, I was a bit apprehensive about applying. I didn’t know what to expect and what could I possibly learn that I didn’t know already. However, with the a few encouraging words from fellow Gen J committee members and R.I. alum, Lynn Walsh and
Victoria Reitano I soon found myself on a jet plane to St. Pete that I will never forget. It has become one of the best experiences that I am thankful to be a part of. I have gain many skills that I can’t wait to put into practice along with meeting a group of amazing young journalists. It was a great feeling to know that I am not alone when it comes to making sense of this big, crazy, and sometimes mixed up “real world”. The program itself inspired me to continuing to pursue journalism and to seek the truth and report it, minimize harm, to act independent and to be accountable as a journalist.
To read a thread of tweets from our program on Twitter, use #RI.
View my slideshow of pictures below and check out those take by Jeff Cutler by clicking here.
To view my video recaps check out Gen J’s Facebook page and like us: https://www.facebook.com/SPJGenJ.
Claudia Amezcua is a freelance multi-plaform reporter and production assistant based inf Los Angeles, CA. She is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelors in Communications, and is currently pursuing an Associates Degree in On-Air Radio Broadcasting from Mt. San Antonio College. Ms. Amezcua’s work experience includes anchor, reporter, and DJ at 90.1 KSAK in Walnut, CA, and as a freelance production and library assistant for CNN. You can follow Claudia on twitter by @ClaudiaAmezcua, or visit claudiaamezcua.com.
Tags: advice, broadcast news, career, Careers, employment, entry level positions, Gen J, Gen Jers, generation j, job, journalism, journalist, journalists, new media, newsrooms, reputation, Society of Professional Journalists, spj, twitter, young journalists, young reporters