Junior Haley Wilson recently attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC), held this summer in Washington D.C. The conference was hosted by George Mason University (GMU) and ran through July 14 to July 19.

The WJMC is a program that allows students from all over the country to get the inside scoop on the newest, up-to-date platforms used in journalism and media.

The conference itself included media experts from around the country who spoke with students about their journalism related careers and how they have evolved over the years. A few of the media experts who spoke included personalities such as Sonya Gavankar, who hosted ABC, CBS, PBS, QVC, and the Puppy Bowl. C-SPAN creator Brian Lamb gave a few insider tips for upcoming journalists, as well as investigative reporter Steve Berta, who served a crucial role, reporting on the recent Larry Nassar case.

Students listened to three or four speakers each day, and after each speaker presented students would discuss what they learned and how they could apply it to their future careers in journalism.

“What I grasped from what the speakers said is that journalism is what you make of it and there’s something for everyone. I also learned that it doesn’t matter what people think of you as long as you’re getting the truth,” Wilson said .

Wilson attended the conference because she her wish is to develop a career in the journalism field in the future.

“I want to be a news anchor or news writer when I grow up and going to the WJMC strengthened that passion of mine,” Wilson said. “I want to start my career at a local news station and end up as a national news writer.”

In their free time students who attended the conference also had the opportunity to visit national monuments, the Holocaust Museum, and the National Mall.

“I absolutely loved it. It was one of the best experiences in my life and I made friends that I’ll never forget,” Wilson said.