BOSTON- An SPJ Emerson College chapter meeting typically starts with an informal discussion of everything from class gripes to the state of local news.
“We strive to create a very inclusive environment where our students feel comfortable first and foremost,” chapter president Payton Cavanaugh said. “It’s very important that we combine both professional and social bonding endeavors because they are equally important.”
However, these meetings are more than just a social event – it’s a unique opportunity for students to learn more about the profession they’re excited to enter.
“We try and address anything that our members are looking for us to do,” Cavanaugh said. “So we’ll start off the semester just being very blunt and asking ‘what would you like out of this work?'”
The journalism industry has recently been challenged by financial troubles, layoffs, and concerns about fairness. Students like those at Emerson — and countless colleges and universities around the country — may offer the business a brighter future.
Something the students at Emerson have found effective is implementing workshops that are able to cater to various types of student journalists, covering everything from concert photography to resume building.
“Our resume workshop, we had a lot of people come to,” Vice President Hannah Flayan said. “Our headshot workshop, we had a lot of people come to. Because that’s something clear-cut and tangible that the student can walk away with.”
SPJ at Emerson teaches students the vital skill of networking, emphasizing its importance and helping to foster impactful connections. In helping students gain exposure to the field, the E-board hosts their prominent “Ask a Journalist” nights, in which they invite industry professionals to speak to their students.
“It’s a really great networking opportunity for students and just a really great way to learn from people that are currently,” Cavanaugh said.
The organization has collaborated with other major journalism associations, most notably the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
“People of color obviously bring a different perspective to working in the journalism industry and becoming journalists,” NAHJ Representative Isa Luzarraga said. “And so collaborating with SPJ was just mutually beneficial for all of our parties.”
At the SPJ Region 1 Conference this weekend, the E-board led an engaging panel as they would lead any SPJ meeting with an agenda, introductions, and tips for success. They spoke highly of SPJ and how it has prepared them immensely for the real world.
“I think what’s great about being a college student and being so young is just having the experience to try new things,” SPJ Treasurer Emily Champagne said. “And SPJ has really just allowed me to go into my field so early and just see what I’m interested in and how I fit into the scheme.”
“Because SPJ is a professional journalism organization, it’s set us up immensely for not only connections with professional journalists, but also just connections with other student journalists,” Cavanaugh said. “Conferences like these are a really good example. We get to meet a lot of people that we likely will cross paths with in the future.”
SPJ Emerson College chapter offers a supportive space for aspiring journalists to learn and grow. They will continue to host workshops, network, and collaborating, helping their members in getting ready to be the next generation of journalists.
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/thespjnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AmritaKumar-150x150.jpg)
Amrita Kumar, Endicott College
Photo by: Bob Butler
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