As Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton brought their campaign rhetoric to South Texas this week, student journalists from the journalism and radio-television programs from Texas A&M University-Kingsville were there to take photos, shoot video, do interviews, take notes and report news that impacts our university, South Texas and, of course, our state, nation and the world. It has been a pleasure to see the excitement in our students' eyes as they get the next "BIG" assignment and to get a taste of "real world" journalism. During these events, they get to "mingle" with the national press corps and touch shoulders, literally, with many of the area's professional journalists. They are there and I know it's a privilege they do not abuse.
It's great to cover TAMUK events and activities and our student journalists relish that experience, too. However, to be present for a speech delivered by a former or future president in a dynamic manner is inspiring and helps our students understand that - as journalists - that is their mission. It's their job to report what great minds think and to analyze how those great minds can impact us - the citizens.
During the past week, The South Texan sent reporter and Spanish Page Editor Edwin Vasquez to report on Sen. Ted Kennedy's visit to Corpus Christi. On Friday, a team of reporters was sent to cover Barack Obama's speech at the cavernous American Bank Center in Corpus Christi. That team included Juan Carlos Reyes, Kristie Ann Vela, Keiona Ausbie, Roberta Flores and Michelle Leal. All were under the direction of journalism lab instructor Adriana Garza, a staffer and columnist for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, as well. On Saturday, J.R. Quintanilla and Edwin Vasquez will report on former president Bill Clinton's visit to South Texas Vasquez's photo of Clinton is featured on this post. Read their reports on the Feb. 26 issue of The South Texan, catch it all on the web and maybe even listen to it on KTAI 91.1 FM.
If there is a story in our area that impacts US, the RTV and Journalism programs of TAMUK are dedicated to go and get the facts. And, in case you miss our print edition, radio or TV news, check out our news on the web at www.tamuk.edu/southtexan. Stay tuned......
5 comments:
It was a great experience to finally get my feet wet with covering this weekends speeches. There are a great many lessons to be learned with being able to incorporate the use of many different forms of technology and at the same time paying careful attention to the other possible stories that can be written as a result of one event. I have learned a great deal thus far and realize that there is much more to learn before the semester is over. Thanks for the opportunity. JR
J.R., I'm glad you enjoyed the experience. The least we can do as a journalism program is to allow our student to be exposed to real world news events. It doesn't get much better than covering a former president. Looking forward t o your article. Good luck.
That is really cool to brush shoulders with other journalists in the field, great way to gain exp. J.R., how close where you to the podium; did you fell the least bit star struck?
For Sen. Obama's speech in C.C., i saw many studetns from many different departments at TAMU-K all working together. Some of them were from The South Texan, som from the radio station, and some from the TV field. It was good to see many of our students at this event and covering it from the different angles. It seemed as if we had more studetnts covering the media section of Sen. Obama in Corpus than TAMU-CC did. Just want to encourage our media students to keep up the good work!
Coverage of the Obama and Hillary events, alogn with the Ted Kennedy and Bill Clinton visits, were planned to include as many TAMUK journalism and RTV students as possible. Events like this serve as a mechanism to help train our future journalists. Any time events like this happen, TAMUK journalists will be around. Watch for them.
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