On April 22, students from the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communications gathered for a Virtual SJMC Student Journalist Q&A Panel. The event was streamed on Facebook and later posted on our YouTube channel.
The panel, hosted by Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw, Ayo Ogunwusi, Lucy Rohden, Michael Aragon, Marissa Payne, and Bailey Cichon, was attended by faculty and students. Panelists ranged from sophomores to graduating seniors, each with unique experiences in the field and the classroom.
Those attending the event asked questions that were answered with advice from the panelists. It was stressed that college is the time to make mistakes, learn, and gain experience while making connections and getting involved to set students up for internships and jobs. Between questions and comments from participating students, panelists shared stories from their time as an SJMC student, each with a unique perspective on what it means to be a journalism student.
Lucy Rohden was able to chase her dreams and cover Hawkeye athletics while Bailey Cichon utilized internship coordinator Paul Jensen to find an internship during her freshman year. Michael Aragon shared how he found a love of politics through his reporting with KRUI, and Marissa Payne managed a team of award-winning student writers at the Daily Iowan. Ayo used her talents with DITV as a producer and hopes to pursue a career in documentary film making.