Troy holds annual J-Day

Jameson Fowler photo

High school students gather for workshops.

High school students from Alabama and Florida visited Troy’s campus this past Tuesday to learn about the craft of journalism. Through an on-campus event dubbed “J-Day,” these students received a glimpse at what working in the media industry is all about.

“J-Day is our annual workshop for high school students,” said Dr. Stefanie East, assistant professor of journalism and communication studies and a J-Day director. “We had about two-hundred high school students come to Troy and learn how to be trustworthy and ethical communicators.

“We had presentations in yearbook, multimedia and broadcast journalism. Our students were able to attend these workshops and learn from our faculty as well as our current college students.”

The President of the Alabama Broadcasters Association, Sharon Tinsely, was a guest presenter at J-Day. She shared with students the challenges that journalists face and why they should take them head on.

“I think the challenges that journalism faces are all reasons for young people to become journalists,” said Tinsley. “If we don’t have great journalists going forward, everything that we’ve accomplished today will be lost.

“We as a country tend to forget where we came from. We tend to have to learn the same lessons over and over again. One of the roles of journalists is to help keep that from happening. We need people watching how the government operates at every single level. We need journalists watching big industries and companies as well. Journalists help hold people accountable and hold things together.”

Cassandra Price, a senior visiting from Niceville High School, shared what she enjoyed most about J-Day.

“Out of the workshops that I attended, I liked the photography workshop the most," Price said. “Getting to see Troy’s campus was also great.”

East emphasized the importance of Troy University’s journalism program. “Telling stories is so incredibly important, and I think journalism is a public service,” East said. “Our job is to tell people the facts, so that they can make the best decisions for themselves.

“I feel like what Troy has to offer in teaching ethical journalism is truly unparalleled. It’s an important field to be in, and Troy teaches it the best.”