When it comes to the HHS journalism class, so many unique opportunities arise for the students. This past weekend, our journalism seniors had the chance to attend the National Journalism Education Association (JEA) convention. The journalists traveled to the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee, where they had the chance to choose from a variety of sessions designed to enhance their understanding of how to improve their publications alongside over 5,300 other attendees.
The convention lasted for three days and included unique and engaging events. Our student journalists learned ways to enhance their productions, such as the Tiger Tattler and the Tiger News.
While there, the journalists also took advantage of their time and completed their publication work. They had the chance to record in a new environment, which provided a new, refreshing scenery for their broadcast. Additionally, they met many new people from around the country, which added valuable content to their broadcast piece, “Tigers on the Street.”
The most interesting session for Herrin attendee D’Kaisha Meadows (12) was the Small Town Big Broadcast breakout session because “the people who were speaking came from a tiny school. They came up with really good tips and helpful ways to make everyone’s broadcasts and social media sites better. And they also talked about other ways to reach out to their own communities and collaborate with nearby towns.
Haleigh Absher (12) said, “There were so many (memories), but if I had to choose one, I would say it was when Cooper, Kaisha, and I all filmed a broadcast segment in our hotel room at 12 am, and we just couldn’t stop laughing.”
Other than just the convention, they got to do plenty of fun activities together. One of them was enjoying a meal at the Rainforest Cafe, where the lush, tropical ambiance and animated animal sounds made for a fun dining experience. The next day, they went to see ICE, a spectacular event that showcased a delightful Charlie Brown Christmas theme. The vibrant ice sculptures, ice slide, and festive displays truly brought the fun to the trip. Finally, they spent some time exploring the Opry Mills mall located just behind their hotel to end each day. Each activity added to the joy of their journey, making it a trip to remember.
Overall, the seniors gained a lot of new knowledge in their chosen sessions, and at the same time, they created memorable memories throughout the trip to Nashville.
