By Kiyana Collins
The University of Southern Mississippi department of Mass Communication and Journalism hosted the “Remembering Hurricane Katrina” multimedia journalism workshop June 14 through 21. Students with an interest in media were invited to participate in this workshop where they learned to cover news topics, respond to press releases, and proper news style writing.
Although students spent the week learning how to cover new stories, they also had a chance to tell their own stories, particularly stories about their experiences during Hurricane Katrina.
During the event, students also had a chance to engage in activities and listen to different professionals from the mass communication and media industry. They also had the chance to gain information by asking any questions or voicing opinions they had.
High school sophomore A.J. Magee (15, Hattiesburg) shared how the storm brought him and his loved ones closer together.
“I didn't really lose anything, but I did gain some relationships skills with my family. It brought us closer together. Everybody was under one roof and everybody got along .. cause we had to.”
High school graduate Michael Edmonds (18, Yazoo City) said that his neighborhood received damage from the storm.
“Shingles got loose, one window busted," Edmonds said. “We had one neighbor, we had to help them out of their house. A tree fell on their house. We had no water, no electricity, but we had gas."
Both Edmonds and McGee also shared how to prepare for such a storm in the future.
"Never think that the storm is going to be a small one anything can happen, be prepared," Edmonds said.
McGee shared a quote from guest speaker Tim Isbell, photojournalist for the Sun Herald, to express his feelings on how to prepare for future storms.
“The best way I’ve heard it put was by Tim Isbell, ‘Prepare for the worst thing that you can ever imagine and then realize that you can never imagine the worst thing that could possibly happen,’” Edmonds said.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The workshop is an annual event sponsored by the Dow Jones News Fund and hosted by the University of Southern Mississippi School of Mass Communication and Journalism.
Although students spent the week learning how to cover new stories, they also had a chance to tell their own stories, particularly stories about their experiences during Hurricane Katrina.
During the event, students also had a chance to engage in activities and listen to different professionals from the mass communication and media industry. They also had the chance to gain information by asking any questions or voicing opinions they had.
High school sophomore A.J. Magee (15, Hattiesburg) shared how the storm brought him and his loved ones closer together.
“I didn't really lose anything, but I did gain some relationships skills with my family. It brought us closer together. Everybody was under one roof and everybody got along .. cause we had to.”
High school graduate Michael Edmonds (18, Yazoo City) said that his neighborhood received damage from the storm.
“Shingles got loose, one window busted," Edmonds said. “We had one neighbor, we had to help them out of their house. A tree fell on their house. We had no water, no electricity, but we had gas."
Both Edmonds and McGee also shared how to prepare for such a storm in the future.
"Never think that the storm is going to be a small one anything can happen, be prepared," Edmonds said.
McGee shared a quote from guest speaker Tim Isbell, photojournalist for the Sun Herald, to express his feelings on how to prepare for future storms.
“The best way I’ve heard it put was by Tim Isbell, ‘Prepare for the worst thing that you can ever imagine and then realize that you can never imagine the worst thing that could possibly happen,’” Edmonds said.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The workshop is an annual event sponsored by the Dow Jones News Fund and hosted by the University of Southern Mississippi School of Mass Communication and Journalism.
Blog written by Kiyana Collins
Sound edited by Mason Graves
Sound script and narration by Mandesha Thornton
Sound edited by Mason Graves
Sound script and narration by Mandesha Thornton