BHSU mass media students present at Associated Collegiate Press conference

Becky Kindvall, mass communication and journalism major from Rapid City who serves as editor-in-chief of the Jacket Journal, presented on behalf of Black Hills State University mass media students at the Best of the Midwest Associated Collegiate Press conference in Minneapolis recently.

Taylor Powell, mass communication major from Redmond, Ore., presented on behalf of Black Hills State University mass media students at the Best of the Midwest Associated Collegiate Press conference in Minneapolis recently.

Black Hills State University students studying mass communication presented, managing the pressures of student media convergence, a session on convergence for campus media at the Associated Collegiate Press Conference in Minneapolis recently.

BHSU students discussed the ongoing convergence of campus news   Students from several media groups on campus including KBHU T.V., the Jacket Journal, and The Buzz FM staff worked together on the presentation, speaking about specific staff positions and how they collaborate with each other.

Dr. Mary Caton-Rosser, associate professor of mass communication and Jacket Journal newspaper advisor at BHSU, says it's important to offer students opportunities to, network and gain new insight and skills in a professional conference setting.

"This kind of activity gets the students out of their comfort zones, and also pushes them to think outside-of-the box and experience other ideas and approaches to doing their media work, both on campus and in their future careers," says Caton-Rosser.

Becky Kindvall, mass communication and journalism major from Rapid City who serves as editor-in-chief of the Jacket Journal, says the experience helped her because it offered seminars on how to run a successful campus newsroom.

"The conference also allowed me to make connections with other students as well as other editors. The editors I met with gave me great advice on how to market myself when I look for a job after graduation," says Kindvall.

Taylor Powell, mass communication major from Redmond, Ore., says the experience was meaningful to her because she learned about new ideas for the newsroom and how to improve as a journalist.

"As for my career, it was an amazing opportunity to be able to talk to successful journalists and take in their advice. Because of this convention, I now have phone numbers and emails from journalists from the Star Tribune and have made my name and face known. Not many college students get this opportunity and it gives me an edge over others," says Powell.

BHSU students who contributed to the presentation include:

Jacket Journal staff: Becky Kindvall, mass communication and journalism major from Rapid City Bailey Roebling, mass communication major from Clearmont, Wyo. Anna Teghtmeyer, mass communication major from Scottsbluff, Neb. Christel Peters, mass communication and journalism major from Spearfish Tristen Polensky, mass communication major from Dickinson, N.D. Taylor Powell, mass communication major from Redmond, Ore. Christina Larson, graphic design communications major from Sturgis Jessie Pravecek, mass communication major from Winner Jayce Winsell, corporate communication major from Sturgis Jeremy Rosser, exploratory studies-behavioral sciences from Spearfish

KBHSU TV staff: Scott Altstiel, mass communication major from Sturgis Joshua Bruce, mass communication and journalism major from Edgewater, M.D.

The Buzz FM staff: Brady Jones, mass communication and management major from Spearfish Dani Litaba, mass communication and photography major from Wright, Wyo.

The Best of the Midwest Convention is a gathering of college news journalists and advisers working with print and online media non-profit Associated Collegiate Press. The conference included practical learning sessions, including general topic keynotes, problem-solving breakouts and discussion groups on topics such as reporting, news writing skills, and how to instill ethics in your newsroom.