Two high profile sports anchors made the trip to Edmonton last Saturday to speak with future media students from across the province.
Ken Reid and Evanka Osmak, hosts of Sportsnet Central, kicked off the morning with inspiring words for students who attended the NAIT Media Workshop.
The two guests shared some insight on what students need to do to achieve their goals.
“Build yourself up, which is not natural for a lot of people. I was painfully shy as a kid and wouldn’t tell anyone. But I remember when I did tell somebody suddenly it started happening. So tell people what you want to do,” said Reid.
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Because you never know what can come out of it. Either introduce yourself to someone or job shadow a person or volunteer,” said Osmak.
Osmak remembers when she was a student and how helpful it was to hear from people in the industry and listened intently to their stories.
“I came from a field of engineering and didn’t know the right way to do it. When you hear people’s stories and hear their advice and experience it’s beneficial,” she said. “It can give you motivation. Any chance I have the opportunity to talk with future co-workers or perhaps future bosses I jump at the chance.”
The workshop also included a question and answer session with a panel of guests in the media industry.
It gave the students a chance to interact with professionals.
Lamya Asiff, event organizer, agrees it’s a great experience for students especially before breaking into the industry.
“It gives them that face to face access with people who are working in the industry and working successfully. So we are kind of just the bridge and a lot or times you need that bridge to connect with those people.”
Students tested their on-air skills in front of a live audience while being critiqued by a panel of experts.
Many students attended the event with the hopes of gaining valuable insight.
Jordan Magnuson, media student at Mount Royal University, wasn’t disappointed.
“You get to hear stories from people in the industry who are in places where you want to be be. I think this is great,” he said.
The NAIT Media Workshop has been held for the last eight years.
Asiff says it’s a great way for students to learn from some of the best in the business.
She encourages all media students from across the province to attend next years’ event in March.
