Four members of the MATC Times staff traveled to the College Media Convention at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Here, we found like-minded student journalists, professors, and industry experts who were generous with their knowledge.

From March 4-7, I attended sessions and seminars that offered me and other student journalists tools that expanded our skill-set.

A session about investigative journalism was led by Professor Richard Craig of San Jose State University. He detailed the ways students can report on staff and school mismanagement.

Craig’s seminar recounted tales of angry professors and administrators who retaliated against students that brought attention to misappropriating funds and sexual misconduct. The Spartan Daily newspaper faced lawsuit threats, backlash, and captured national attention for their investigations.

Seeing the potential impact of a college newspaper reminded me of the power and responsibility that comes with being a journalist, even as a student.

Other sessions offered me various ways to improve my writing and beyond these sessions, meeting other student journalists and sharing our newspapers curated a true community experience.

I was inspired by both the ambition of those around me and by the intensity of New York City. Times Square is home to many legacy media headquarters; seeing staff walk in and out of the New York Times building was nothing short of surreal.

New York City is built on stories, and journalism keeps them alive.

I returned to Milwaukee with keepsakes — not fridge magnets or I Love New York shirts, but with knowledge and a sense of empowerment.

I returned home and felt like a journalist.