Communications senior Michael Jimenez was one of 20 students from the United States and Canada chosen to attend the Online News Association Conference, which was held in Boston Sept. 22-24.
The Google scholarship paid for travel and lodging during his stay at the conference.
At the conference, Jimenez mingled with executives of social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, and news organizations such as, CNN, Al Jazeera and Google.
He said while at mixers and keynote sessions, he met people from NPR, free lance writers and received a lot of contact information from potential employers.
Jimenez said some nights he stayed working until 3 a.m. and still had to be in the newsroom no later than 8 a.m. the next day.
Though it seems like a tiresome routine, Jimenez said, “it’s an experience of a lifetime.”
At the start, Jimenez collaborated with two other students who were to take turns interviewing, shooting video and writing feature stories. All scholarship winners who were part of the student newsroom were responsible for covering events occuring the Online News Association conference.
The group interviewed 25-year-old Vadim Lavrusik, Facebook’s journalist program manager and adjunct professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Scholarship winners were assigned mentors who instructed them throughout the conference.
Jimenez said his mentor gave him great tips on reporting on camera that made him realize factors on his reporting style he had never seen before, and now knows to be more natural and relaxed while on camera.
“She made me realize I don’t have to try too hard,” he said. “I immediately knew I was going to be better on camera from here on and I’m very thankful for that.”
Jimenez said he lacked editing experience so his mentor taught him skills on programs such as Vega and Final Cut Pro.
The organization caters to journalism students, but he encourages any student with multimedia experience to apply.
“I’m telling everyone to apply, even if you don’t get it, at least apply. I didn’t think I was going to get it and I got it. It’s an amazing experience and it’s something you will never forget it.”
Jimenez said he did not think he would be awarded this scholarship but credits a story he pitched as an intern while at News 4 San Antonio.
He said, “I broke a story that ironically my mom gave me.”
When he heard his mom witnessed voter fraud by voter watchers, he pitched the story and was able to help produce it. He even got the District Attorney to state on camera that there was an ongoing investigation.
Jimenez said, “This is an amazing event, probably the best event that a journalist can attend in the U.S. It is an amazing opportunity for any one to network and rub elbows with some of the brightest and most successful journalists in the United State and abroad. I made sure to mention to my news director, who will be selecting attendees next year, to please remember our university’s name.”
Next year’s winners will receive a larger scholarship to San Francisco.
To apply, visit ONA’s website at journalists.org.
