FIU Hosts JournCamp

By Amanda Rabines

SJMC joined forces with the Society of Professional Journalists to host its first ever JournCamp at FIU, a daylong workshop event funded by the education association Sigma Delta Chi Foundation to provide high-quality practical skills and training for journalists.

About 60 reporters, freelancers, students and teachers came to Biscayne Bay Campus Nov. 8 to hear about the latest trends in journalism and learn about its new tools.

Attendees were able to participate in four different topic sessions given by specialized trainers.

The two hour sessions included: “Be a Mojo: Shoot, Edit and Publish Video Packages on the Fly,” by Cindy E. Rodriguez; “Narrative Journalism: From Beat to Book,” by Cynthia Barnett; “Capturing Tomorrow: Emerging Trends in Photography,” by Samaruddin Stewart; and “New Tricks and Treats for Watchdogs: Online Data and Google Fusion Tables,” by Doug Haddix.

One of the participants was Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald’s Cuba and international business correspondent.

She attended Barnett’s narrative journalism session, among others.

“It was an excellent seminar on how to get your book published,” said Whitefield, who was impressed by the students who participated. “It’s good for younger reporters, too, because they’re learning skills to develop their careers.”

Young and seasoned reporters and editors mingled during the reception and in-between sessions.

Marisol Medina, president of the SPJ chapter at FIU, said it was a great networking opportunity.

“I got to meet people that were very interesting,” said Medina, who graduates this year. “You get to meet people who talk about job openings, and you never know who can offer you a job, so that’s something to take into account.”

Scott A. Leadingham, director of education and a member of the national SPJ board, worked with FIU’s SPJ student chapter to develop its seventh JournCamp, thus far.

Leadingham said the idea behind JournCamp was to offer training to more journalists on a local level, adding he was happy with the turn-out of people at FIU.