On Thursday, October 20th, the Mass Communications Department held its 2nd Lunch and Learn of the semester to discuss opportunities available to current students. This event was achieved through the combined efforts of Toni Terrett, Associate Professor and Advisor of Alcorn’s National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and special guest, Michael White, Jr., Director of Operations for WLBT News which is a television news station in Jackson, Mississippi.
The event was held in the Industrial Technology Building at 12:30 pm in room 215 where there was a panel-based discussion. Questions were asked and answered involving the curriculum of the Department. The broad field was explained in-depth with the help of White’s knowledge and nine years of experience in the business. He explained to those in attendance his passion of helping and offering others the opportunities he wasn’t afforded in the beginning of his journey as a media specialist. “I want to help people who look like me,” he said. White informed the students that the WLBT Media Training Center would be offering internships in the Spring and Summer of 2023 and that it would behoove them to take advantage of these opportunities.
The program, which consists of 12 weeks, is divided into three weeks of training in each department. Geared toward Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), its purpose is to help create diversity in the field of Journalism.
After White’s presentation students asked various questions about his experiences within the field and tips on how they could better prepare themselves for their transition from student to media professional.
For more information about Alcorn’s Mass Communications Department, you can contact Mrs. Terrett at terrett@alcorn.edu.