Arriving at 9:45 in New York City on March 14, Northern’s journalism students eagerly checked into their hotel, The Milford Plaza, that sits just around the corner from Times Square. Of course the group, being so close to all of New York’s action, spent the next three days sightseeing and shopping, but the main focus of the trip was to expand their minds regarding the world of journalism.

The 13 student journalists attended sessions at Columbia University as part of the 88th Annual Columbia Scholastic Press Association Spring Convention from  Wednesday through Friday. They were chose a class each hour from among eight categories (Advisers, All Publications, Digital Media, Law and Ethics, Magazines, Newspapers, Photography, and Yearbooks). Along with the wide variety of categories, the conference instructors included employees at famous publications, like Sharon Otterman from The New York Times.

The journalism exposure the students gained during their sessions was extended in their other activities.  On Wednesday morning, students went to the plaza at Rockefeller Center to watch a taping of The Today Show outside.  The following morning, the students were part of a live audience during the recording of Anderson, journalist Anderson Cooper’s new talk show. Besides watching him interview guests, students were able to ask Cooper any questions they had relating to journalism.

On Wednesday, thanks to yearbook adviser Ms. Adriene Lagier’s involvement with CNN on the Lucky Seven program, the students and Lagier joined Laura Cozik for a jog and workout in Central Park filmed by the news network. Cozik is the assistant athletic director at CNN. The students also attended two Broadway shows, The Lion King and Jersey Boys. This great opportunity opened the students minds to the larger world of journalism, as well as to the independence that the city offers.
–Jess Ward, The Patriot Press