The Department of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) at Jackson State University will host The Mississippi Association of Broadcasters (MAB) inaugural student conference at the Mississippi e-Center on November 10, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The student conference will feature statewide broadcast and media practitioners who will deliver group lectures and workshops on current industry trends. Some presentation topics include: “The Digital Desk,” “Presentation Skills,” “Technology you Need to Know,” and “How to be Creative While Serving Your Clients and Community.”
JMS Department Chair Elayne Anthony, Ph.D., said the conference is an opportunity to bring all media students to one central location. “As vice president of MAB, I am honored for Jackson State University Journalism and Media Studies to host the first student conference in partnership with the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters,” said Anthony. “We believe that students will receive a unique opportunity to see practitioners present needed skills as journalists in the digital world.”
Influencer Marketing Executive Brittany Bright will deliver the keynote address. Bright is the founder of The Influencer League, an educational platform dedicated to elevating and educating more than 30,000 influencers nationwide.
Spotlighted at the student conference will be the 2022 recipients of the MAB scholarship. Select junior and senior broadcasting majors in Mississippi will be awarded $1500 scholarships.
Started in 1941, MAB is one of the nation’s leading state broadcast associations, with 100% of Mississippi TV stations and 85% of Mississippi radio stations as members. MAB hosts an array of networking and educational seminars to connect with and educate practitioners and aspiring students about information affecting the broadcast industry.
Each year, the association hosts MAB Day at various Mississippi colleges and universities to provide students one-on-one training with broadcast and media specialists. MAB Executive Director Amanda Fontaine said the addition of a student conference allows them to provide more educational opportunities for Mississippi students.
“General managers would return from campus visits on MAB Day with relevant topics they gathered from student questions,” said Fontaine. “So, the student conference was a collaborative effort between universities and general managers to determine what would be beneficial for our broadcasting and media students.”
Among confirmed participating schools are Mississippi State University, The University of Southern Mississippi, and Hinds Community College Utica Campus. MAB invites all Mississippi colleges and universities to attend this free event.
Fontaine said her hope is that the conference inspires students to see the possibilities of Mississippi. “We want students to be excited about the opportunity to work in broadcasting,” she stated. “More importantly, we want them to see the talent we have in Mississippi. We want them to stay.”