Journalism career conference brings in local students and professionals

Jack Raskopf asked members of the audience at Saturday’s Society of Professional Journalists Mass Communication Career Conference to do something they have probably never done before. Raskopf asked the audience to give a round of applause without knowing for whom.

“That was for you,” Raskopf, the conference’s chair, said. Approximately 100 people attended the event, which was sponsored by the SPJ Fort Worth Chapter.

Students from TCU, the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of North Texas gathered in Moudy Building South to network and gain knowledge from professionals.

SPJ Fort Worth Chapter President Kim Pewitt-Jones introduced the speakers and gave a rundown of the five-hour conference. The opening session also included a welcome video from CBS’ “Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer.

Attendees heard from author and writing consultant Paula LaRocque, a former journalism professor at TCU and writing coach at the Dallas Morning News.

LaRocque gave career advice on résumés, cover letters and successful interviews. She explained that résumés should be “accurate and immaculate” and believed the most important attribute in a potential employee was responsiveness.

The conference was split into two breakout sessions where students chose to attend a strategic communication, newspaper, visual communication, broadcast, online/convergence or magazine/book publishing session. Professionals in each industry talked to students about their career paths and experiences and answered students’ questions.

Courtney Lowrie, a junior public relations major at UTA, said he still was unsure about what he wanted to do in the industry but said the conference was important and beneficial for students.

“Hearing from professionals about what they are looking for helps us gain firsthand experience from people who are involved in the hiring process regarding what they are looking for and what they aren’t looking for,” Lowrie said.

The conference gave students the opportunity to talk with professionals in the business. Speakers such as Brett Shipp, an investigative reporter at WFAA-TV, and Alice Rios, co-anchor of the KRLD Morning News, offered business cards to students looking for internships or career advice.

This was an opportunity for students like Lowrie to “get your name out there and let people put a name to a face. Give them five minutes of your time and communicate,” he said.

Bob Schieffer’s introduction video for the conference can be found here.