Image: Stunt performer (left) gets kicked by Ryanna Miori, first year Theater major, during the film crew stunt demo on April 10. Miori went to the event so that she could get experience, since she one day wants to stunt in her acting career. Photo by Giovanna Triguis
Story by Sam Kunkle | Translation by Isabella Hernandez Betancur
During the week of April 9 – 12, TAMUCC hosted the annual Communications and Media Week, in which students, graduated alumni, and teachers all come together and discuss anything and everything there is to do with how communications and media have impacted their lives.
The week was founded 10 years ago with the original purpose of showing off all student made research and developments, with the intention of finding ways to better nearby communities within the city. However, it eventually evolved into producing more and more activities and events dedicated to specific showcases of skill sets as well as opportunities for people to share knowledge and experiences.
“And, y’know, I found some pretty good advice there honestly, I got to talking to some of the alumni, mostly about photography stuff and with some other people, but mostly it was all news stations and stuff, especially for those who want to be in news for their future, so this would all be a really good opportunity for them, for like management and stuff,” said junior sociology major Jonathan Baez.
Jonathan’s words echo the original reason as to why the program was put into effect, giving opportunities for students to learn, grow, and share with each other as well as others to better innovate and create for the betterment of others.
“In terms of what I’ve learned like I said a lot of cool photography tricks from a couple of the alumni there but I mean there was mostly videographers and people with the news, and in terms of skills and stuff that I’ve learned for the future would be the photography stuff that some of them was speaking to me about so in terms of, y’know, adding more stuff for the future, definitely the alumni’s advice, and I guess you could say – I’m going to be honest cause it felt a little quiet – so if I had to give it a rating it definitely be like a 7 out of 10 so definitely not bad,” Baez continued to say concerning his participation of the Comm and Media Week.
Although impressed with what he saw, Baez did have something to say concerning how the week could have been improved, stating “But what I felt was a little weak was, um, I was talking to a friend of mine and he said ‘last year there was way more of these people, like, from different hiring places or alumni’ he said, so I feel like something that they could strengthen could be to bring in more alumni this year, so like, more people or people that are hiring and stuff I guess.”
However, critiquing the events could potentially lead to more improvements, as when students like Baez who actively participate in what the week’s events and people have to offer, then there are now more opportunities to tweak, fix, add, change, and rearrange certain aspects of the week itself, as the more and more people voice their opinions and experiences then the more potential the week has for helping future generations.
It’s moments like these that help implement the success of the Comm and Media week as an effective means of teaching and learning for any and all interested in communications and media. As well as an opportunity for alumni and teachers to share their advice and teachings onto the newest generation of filmmakers, photographers, commu- nication engineers, and even teachers.
This year’s Comm and Media Week is just one of hopefully many more in the coming future, where more students can continue to innovate and progress in the fields of communication and media.