A group of University of North Georgia (UNG) students attended the recent Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) conference in Atlanta and toured CNN's facilities.

Shelia Conti and Katherine Brennecke, communication lecturers and faculty co-advisors for Vanguard student media, are both former CNN journalists and Emmy award winners. They attended the conference with the students. UNG alumna Angelica Beltran, who is now a production assistant for CNN International, helped facilitate the opportunity.

The students heard from a panel that included Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editor-in-Chief Leroy Chapman Jr. and CNN journalists Victor Blackwell and Michael Holmes.

"It helped us see the bigger picture of what it would be like to work in the field of journalism and broadcasting," Robert DiClemente, a senior from Woodstock, Georgia, pursuing a degree in communication with a concentration in multimedia journalism, said.

Bruce Clark, a senior from Buford, Georgia, pursuing a degree in communication with a concentration in multimedia journalism, serves as editor-in-chief of the Vanguard, UNG's student newspaper. He appreciated Conti and Brennecke's efforts to connect students with journalists who emphasized the hands-on nature of the profession.

"It was a really good experience to hear from distinguished professionals in the field," Clark said.

Chaz Mullis, a senior from Sautee, Georgia, also pursuing a degree in communication with a concentration in multimedia journalism and deputy editor-in-chief of the Vanguard, appreciated both the networking and insights gained at the conference.

"The most beneficial part of the conference was the reiteration of the fact that prior experience reigns supreme in the industry," Mullis said. "Having an internship under my belt gave me assurance, especially since internships are hard to come by."

Brennecke said she and Conti aimed to help students realize their conference attendance cost them nothing but time and provided great connections.

"What we want all of our students to understand is there are opportunities out there, and there are people who are excited to help students enter whichever career they want," Brennecke said. "When a networking opportunity comes your way, that's not something to pass up. That's something to run toward."

Conti said the event can be a starting point for UNG students.

"Going forward, we are going to encourage our students to join AAJA so they can attend these types of events," Conti said.