ACP Brings Adventures in Washington, D.C.

By Ghada Tafesh

There is no better place to learn about media than the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., where the largest annual gathering of college media students and their advisers took place this fall. On Oct. 20, just two weeks before the 2016 presidential election, members of the Billboard staff, along with Adviser Kimberly Maske-Mertz attended the Associated Collegiate Press National College Media Convention to meet top reporters currently working in the field, learn about media coverage and politics along with other colleges and universities.

The three day convention included more than 200 sessions with expert advisers and media professionals, media tours and pre-convention workshops. Sessions and workshops varied from editorial leadership and reinventing student media to reporting live “10 seconds at-a-time” using Snapchat and other social media tools to increase followers.
Among these unique opportunities, the convention featured several keynote speakers including Donna Brazile (Author, Syndicated Columnist, Television Political Commentator and Interim Chairwoman at the Democratic National Committee); Bob Woodward (one of America’s preeminent investigative reporters and non-fiction authors); and Edward Snowden via Skype (a former intelligence officer who served the CIA, NSA, and DIA for nearly a decade as a subject matter expert on technology and cybersecurity).

In addition to tours to the National Public Radio Station, Newseum and CBS’s “Face the Nation” broadcast, the workshops offered students tips on searching for internships, preparing portfolios and resumes, and learning job etiquette. Wilson staff members also took
the opportunity to enjoy downtown Washington, D.C.’s popular attractions, dining and shopping.

Hong Nguyen ’18, a Billboard staff member in attendance, stated, “It was a very fun trip! Not only did we get to broaden our knowledge with information about the media and press but we also got the chance to explore the beautiful city of Washington D.C. I really look forward to more conferences like this in the future. It was such a well-spent weekend with a wonderful group of friends.”

The Billboard staff left Washington, D.C. with inspiration, knowledge and unforgettable memories from this once-in-a-lifetime experience, hoping to benefit and share it with other members and students.

Slide show photos provided by Ghada Tafesh and Kimberly Maske-Mertz.

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