Now that Halloween has passed, the holiday season is upon us — Thanksgiving feasts, Hanukkah lights, Christmas carols and Journalism Days.
The Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication has packed this week full of events, speakers and networking opportunities.
Claire Celsi, director of marketing and community partnerships at DART, will kick the week off with job-hunting tips and a personal branding strategy talk called “The Brand of You!” The speech will be tonight at 6 p.m. in Meredith Hall 101.
Journalism Days have been held periodically in the past, but not in the past few years.
Eduardo Tamez, president of the Society of Professional Journalists, contacted SJMC director Kathleen Richardson last spring to see how SPJ could make Journalism Days happen.
“I always wondered why the journalism school did not have a day or a celebration like most of the schools around campus do,” Tamez said.
Tamez worked with SPJ Vice President Annika Peick, SPJ Recruitment Chair Lauren Horsch and Journalism Sen. Sean Walsh to bring the idea to life.
Richardson told them that there was money in the budget for Journalism Days if they wanted to make it happen.
“The goal of Journalism Days is not only to help students network and gain valuable knowledge regarding their field, but to also promote and celebrate what students at the journalism school accomplish,” Tamez said. “And to highlight what a terrific job the faculty does here.”
Richardson said the group researched past years’ Journalism Days activities and brainstormed across the SJMC study areas to come up with this week’s itinerary.
“The week overall is supposed to be fun and career-development oriented,” Richardson said.
Richardson worked with Carlyn Crowe, the SJMC internship coordinator, to contact and coordinate alumni for a panel of professionals and a speed-networking event.
“The Cutting Edge” media panel on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Meredith Hall 106 will have speakers from different kinds of media careers.
“We wanted people who were proud to be doing what they were doing and who were willing to encourage journalism students to follow in their path,” Tamez said.
Panelists include Kaelin Zawilinski, editorial manager at BHG.com; Sarah Day Owen, online entertainment editor at the Des Moines Register; Scott Kubie, senior product developer at BitMethod; Andy Drish, an entrepreneur; and David Zawilinski, sports anchor and reporter for WOI-TV.
Attendees will have the chance to hear the president of the Des Moines’ Young Professionals Connection and SJMC alumnus Jason Wells speak about the power of connections from 4-6 p.m. in upper Olmsted.
“The speed-networking event is a great way to learn about different opportunities and meet people,” Richardson said.
Throughout the week, speakers will be talking in different journalism classes. Students not enrolled in the specific classes are encouraged to attend the lectures.
Mock interviews with various professionals will also be offered all week in the Meredith Magazine Center. Students may sign up in Meredith Hall 111.
All students, regardless of major and year, are invited to participate in all of the week’s activities. This Friday, student networking will be the main event with an ice cream social in north Meredith.
“My main reason for wanting to bring back Journalism Days was to celebrate the journalism school at Drake,” Tamez said. “I think people need to know the terrific work that we all do around here.”
Journalism Days info
Monday, Nov. 7:
“The Brand of You” by Claire Celsi
6 p.m., Meredith 101Tuesday, Nov. 8:
“Create a blog with DrakeMag”
7 p.m., Meredith 104Wednesday, Nov. 9:
“The Cutting Edge”
7 p.m., Meredith 106Thursday, Nov. 10:
Speed Networking
4-6 p.m., Upper OlmstedFriday, Nov. 11:
Ice Cream Social
2:30 p.m., North Lobby in MeredithAll week:
Mock Interviews
Sign up in Meredith 111
