Notebooks were open, and the clock was ticking as high school and middle school publications came together to collaborate on different journalism workshops. On Oct. 25, at Christopher Columbus High School, the usual Friday night lights gave way to the bright spotlight of the Media and writing landscape. Florida Scholastic Press Association offered their annual Media Day, where the students become the press, hoping to offer an unparalleled opportunity to learn directly from top-tier journalists, public speakers and newscasters.
All five Coral Gables Senior High school publications showed up with an ambition to learn from mentors of their choosing. Over 700 students from different middle schools and high schools showed up to learn about the secrets of journalism and media.
The event began as keynote speaker and newscaster Danielle Garcia shared her journey into the news industry and the media side of Journalism. What began as a simple lesson quickly became an inspiring and welcoming space for the young minds in attendance. Garcia shared that as a child, she was very energetic and uncertain about her future career path, never expecting to find herself in the world of news and broadcasting. She expressed her gratitude for the many opportunities and experiences that journalism and media have brought her. Her authenticity and enthusiasm resonated with the students, illustrating that success often comes from embracing one’s passions and remaining open to unexpected possibilities.
“Media Day was really a great first hand experience in which we got to take pictures and learn new things from professionals passing down their knowledge, making it more significant. The speakers truly sparked something in me, as they were all talking from their heart and explaining their experience,” sophomore Siena Van de Graaf said.
After two intensive sessions of workshops and presentations from industry spokespeople, the students took a break to recharge, enjoying Kona Ice and Sushi Sake fried rice together to relax, socialize and reset before diving back into learning the ins and outs of running successful publications. The students then returned to the sessions with fresh energy and enthusiasm. Over lunch, conversations centered around the lessons they had learned and the speakers who had inspired them. Many expressed excitement about applying new skills and ideas to their own publications, reflecting the lasting impact of the workshops.
During the session “The Transferable Skill Sets of a Journalist”, Laura Rodriguez opened up about her journey and the challenges she faced transitioning out of the news broadcasting industry. She shared how difficult it was to step away from a career she loved, but explained that her decision came from wanting to spend more time with her two sons, one of which has special needs. Rodriguez grew emotional as she spoke about the importance of family and balance, emphasizing that true success is not only measured by titles or deadlines, but by happiness and fulfillment. Now, as the Director of Communications & Community Affairs at Podhurst Orseck law firm, she feels grateful to continue using her storytelling and media skills in a meaningful way while prioritizing her family.
“During Media day, I took only classes related to my publication, which is the Cavaleon. I had already met one of the spokespeople, Jose Otero, and I vividly remember him being very attentive to the students and answering questions with simplicity,” freshman Alessandra Santos said.
Christopher Columbus News Network Live set up many activities that student Journalists could participate in, such as a photo booth featuring a rustic wooden backdrop strung with soft, glowing lights, to let attendees pose and have fun before getting professional. Participants posed in small groups, using a mix of formal smiles and playful poses and showing off their school pride in matching publication shirts and FSPA pride.
“I won third place for my Political Commentary writing and an All Florida for the comedic podcast with my friend. We defiantly won the podcast because we were funny and that is what the judges were looking for. Everything was raw and authentic and although that led to it sounding kind of unprofessional, that is what the judges liked, our clear chemistry on the podcast,” junior Luke Savage said.
Gables students celebrated significant success at the recent Media Day awards ceremony, collecting numerous honorable mentions across various fields. Among the highlights was the exceptional achievement of juniors Luke Savage and Andres Kardijian, who secured the All-Florida Second Place for their humorous podcast. What makes their win particularly noteworthy is that both students stepped outside their usual work to produce the acclaimed podcast, underscoring the remarkable creativity and adaptability of Gables’ student body.
“Learning from people who share the same passion as me as a Media member in the Cavaleon really inspired me to keep going and reminded me why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place. Seeing their creativity, dedication and drive motivates me to grow, take risks and keep improving my craft every day ,”said sophomore Ellie Bowden.
