Matt O’Connor: Editor-In-Chief
From March 4th to March 7th, Merrimack College Television (MCTV) and The Beacon attended the College Media National Convention at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Both editorial boards participated in a four day trip to New York City for a convention consisting of an array of different panels focused on different topics related to the world of media. The event was put together by the College Media Association, and this year marks the final time that the conference will be held in New York.
Throughout the four day conference, both E-Boards spent their time attending the various panels put together by the CMA. Some of the highlights of the convention included “Keys To The Game”, a keynote panel featuring Megan Santaniello of Gotham FC and Matthew Shortis of the Yankees Radio Network discussing their experiences with live broadcasting. Isobel Breheny from WUSB radio talked about her inside tips into starting a podcast in the “Podcast Bootcamp Challenge”. To round out the conference, the group attended the “Restart Your Career” keynote panel hosted by David Covucci of FOIAball. Beyond the main highlights, everyone who went on the trip had their own personalized schedule and attended different panels throughout the event.
Alongside the main convention, the group spent time exploring the city to see everything that the big apple has to offer. The crew visited popular locations like Rockefeller Plaza, Brooklyn and other shops around Manhattan. For restaurants, Black Iron Burger offered classic New York vibes with delicious food and a cozy atmosphere. Margaritaville was another dinner destination that made for a delightful meal and an entertaining dining venue.
From beginning to end, the College Media Association Conference and the New York trip as a whole made for an unforgettable experience that offered a lot of meaningful takeaways from the ever expanding world of media. A huge thanks to Chuck Scott, Mish Zimdars, the Student Government Association and the Department of Communication and Media for making this amazing trip possible.
