Why would you want to attend SXSW? To help answer that question, we requested testimonials from former SXTXState participants and were impressed with the enthusiastic responses. Some were blown away by what they learned, some met valuable contacts and some even said it changed their career direction and life. Read in detail what participating in the SXTXState.com project meant to these graduates and students:
Jordan Cooper – Market Strategist, Umbel
The interpersonal skills I developed through being forced out of my comfort zone during that Spring semester are directly helping me in my current role. Being exposed to high-level sessions across multiple industries will also benefit me moving forward. The program itself was the reason I applied to graduate school at Texas State in the first place, and I look back on that decision with zero regrets. The class pushed me further than I thought I could go, and helped me find myself along the way.
SXTXState was an amazing opportunity for me. I came to graduate school to gain more advanced skills and experience in the communications field, and the SXTXState project made me more confident that I would leave this program fully ready to start my career. This experience was a huge confidence boost because I was pushed out of my comfort zone to interview strangers, to try and experience new ways of creating content, and to work at a very large and popular conference with many important, famous, and professional people. It’s an amazing feeling to see my achievements from this experience because I truly pushed myself to do things that may have been uncomfortable and hard but I had the ability to succeed.
I’m currently in my last semester of graduate school and I’m interning at a marketing firm in Austin. When I applied and interviewed with them, I highlighted my work and experience from the SXTXState project. Just knowing what I’d accomplished and the portfolio material I have from this project, I was very confident with myself and the skills that I have, which led me to have a great interview. I’ve realized that the boundaries that were pushed and the work ethic I gained through the SXTXState project have stayed with me and every day at work I feel confident and influential.
The SXTXState project pushed me past limits and gave me hands-on experience that I’m very proud and thankful to have experienced.
Charles Duoto, SJMC Graduate
When I graduated with my undergraduate degree, I felt as though the School of Journalism and Mass Communication still had a lot to offer me. To be frank, this class was easily one of the biggest reasons I even considered getting a graduate degree.
I firmly believe that taking the SXTXState course helped accelerate my development as a journalist, blogger, and content producer in numerous ways. I worked on vital skills needed for mass media careers in the future, from editing both video and articles, to mastering content management systems and running social media accounts, to reporting in the field under deadline pressure.
One of the biggest challenges, as well as one of the biggest benefits, was getting out of my comfort zone and being forced to interact with strangers. I think this is a realization that every graduate student would take away from the SXTXState Project. After all, this is a reporting project, so you had to get over your fear of talking to and reaching out to people to gather interviews. Once I learned this lesson, my confidence in my reporting abilities really began to grow.
The opportunities to experiment with new technologies and make connections can’t be understated either. Every one of the attendees at SXSW was somebody willing to learn and share information about the topics that I was interested in. I can only remember how excited I was when I got to interview Yosun Chang, an augmented reality expert, about the hundreds of hacks she had created.
Cindy’s guidance and leadership was a constant inspiration during the SXTXState Project. If I could report on the conference under her direction again, I certainly would.
Dylan Lochridge-Fletcher – SJMC Graduate Student and Home AppleCare Advisor at Apple
As cliché as it may be, being a part of the SXTXState program is an eye-opening experience! This program really tests everything you have learned as a journalism student mixed with real world experience. Before becoming a member, I was unsure of my people and journalism skills. One of the hardest parts of the project is reaching out to strangers via email and social media and hopefully having them grant you an interview. As I reached out to more people and started interviewing them, it became easier, and I found myself becoming comfortable sparking conversations and leading interviews.
SXSW and this project gave me to opportunity to see panels from Cecile Richards, Gina Rodriguez, John Hanke, Christina Tosi, Buzz Aldrin and interview some of these celebrities as well. Besides just seeing celebrities, I was able to hear from many visionary and inspiring women in tech! From the Taco party to the Texas State Innovation Lab, there were so many networking opportunities in addition to interviewing panelists.
SXTXState not only forces you to produce the best content but to also master video skills, photography, web design and writing on a deadline. Before this project, schoolwork just felt like schoolwork but instead this project became the real deal and felt more like an internship where I could see the fruits of my labor.
I couldn’t think of any other way I would rather spend my spring break than meeting professionals and listening to people in my field with my same interests. I could have been on a beach with my classmates, but I would rather take that break from school and use it as a learning experience with the SXTXState team.
Breanna Salinas – SJMC Student
If I could describe my experience at SXSW as a SXTXState member in one word, it would be life-changing. Being a part of a project like SXTXState gives you the skills and real world experience that no other course could offer a student. Before applying for the course, I was intimidated and nervous because I didn’t think I would be a good candidate for the project at all. Instead I took a leap of faith, applied anyway and never regretted the decision since.
For me, this course really got me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow from a student to a professional in the tech and digital industry. Because of SXTXState, I have developed skills in creating stories out of an experience, producing video content and taking photos for a multimedia article all while meeting deadlines (and having lots of fun). Before this project, I could not spark a conversation with a stranger to save a life, and now I find myself engaging in more conversations than I’d like to admit.
It’s only been a semester since I finished SXTXState, and because of this project, I nailed an internship with a social media marketing agency doing what I love. I am forever grateful for the opportunities this project has given me and to Cindy who guided and shaped us into the professional communicators we are today.
Sara Shields – SJMC Instructor
At first, the idea of spending my spring break in Austin, TX didn’t sound like something I would normally do. But, thankfully I took a chance and applied for the SXTXState Project, and I am so happy I did! I became so close with the graduate students that were part of this project and I’ve made connections with professionals that will benefit future career paths. I was challenged to step out of my comfort zone and interview professionals that inspire me and that work for companies that I dream of being a part of. This project was definitely the highlight of my college career. I didn’t just make friends, network with professionals, attend interesting panels, and even a few social events here and there, but I had an incredibly fun time while doing it all! If I could, I would do the SXTXState Project over and over again!
Candace Brusuelas – SJMC Instructor
This course was a fast way to get a ton of experience in many different aspects of the mass communications field. I’ve had reporting experience and didn’t expect to learn a whole lot – but I learned how to use social media for an organization, how to take/post videos on social media and YouTube, how to plan coverage for such a big event, and the basics of analytics.
Jordon Brown – SJMC Adjunct Faculty & UT PhD Student
The SXSW Interactive Festival 2014 in March was the most amazing week of my life, and there is not enough space on this blog for me to list all the ways that it affected me. I got the opportunity to attend it as part of a class that focuses on this conference experience.
On the first day of Interactive, Hugh Forrest, the director of the conference, gave a talk about how to maximize your experience at SXSW. One of his key points was to embrace serendipity, and go with whatever opportunity presented itself to you. Ironically, I wasn’t in the room for these words because I had been invited last minute to a taco lunch and was standing outside the event trying to get in. This was how I treated my SXSW experience.
Before SXSW started, I got some advice: “Say yes to everything.”
Those were the words I would live my SXSW by. I went out every night and met new and interesting people. I met a guy who built a fusion reactor in his basement. We had dinner together. In what other world could that happen?
SXSW wasn’t just about the people I met and the fun I had, even though I had quite a bit. I also learned a lot. I focused a lot on politics, and attended multiple panels discussing the Wendy Davis filibuster from the previous summer. I saw people from the Texas Tribune, activists, and political operatives all discuss the role that media, especially digital media, played in the activism during the special sessions of the Texas Legislature.
As an outspoken advocate of the power of Twitter, even some of the entertainment panels I attended had valuable lessons. A panel on Twitter humorists and a panel with Seth Meyers both talked about the importance Twitter plays in new job markets. Writing is an essential skill, and quick, sharp writing on Twitter is quickly becoming a new test for employers.
I also got to witness the personal power of Twitter as I live-tweeted every event I went to. It was a wonderful experience to interact with people and watch other people’s reactions to panels as they unfolded.
There was a moment during Edward Snowden’s talk via teleconference from Russia where I seemed to find all of the answers I have been searching for. Where suddenly I felt like I had a clear direction and path to take. It was a moment that I had heard others talk about, but was surprised when it hit me.
I cannot thank Texas State and the SXTXState program enough for this amazing opportunity.The more hands-on experience you can get in your field the better you will be. Whether it guides you in a new, exciting direction, or confirms where you’ve already been going, the best way to experience life is to do it.
Aisling Niestroy – Marketing Specialist, Mensor
Being part of the SXTXState project was a rewarding and challenging experience that I will never forget. I learned more in one semester than I thought possible, and am forever grateful to have been chosen to work with Cindy Royal and several other colleagues. Working on a project of this nature allowed me to wear many hats and forced me to stop relying only on the skills in my comfort zone. Attending Interactive was life changing, and being around so many intelligent, creative people who shared in my passions was a constant reassurance I have chosen the right path.
Priscillia Seelan -Digital Content Curator MMI Broadcasting
I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into when I signed up for the SXTXSTATE project. I felt that I wasn’t as ‘digitally savvy’ as the rest of my course mates were, but I am so glad I did and even more grateful that I was chosen to participate in this project. No only did it open up my eyes to what we as communicators need to embrace not just to be effective communicators of the future but also to just stay relevant. The SXTXSTATE project also puts you in a unique position to network with speakers at SXSW which, if done right, could lead you to other opportunities career wise. Definitely one of my most favorite experiences of the entire grad program and most beneficial too!
Carl Clark
There is nothing like learning by doing and at SXSW that’s what get to do. You get to work with an exceptional group of your peers, and as a reward you not only get to report on the future, you get to meet heroes. (Note: Carl got to meet and interview, John Grunsfeld, three-time Hubble Astronaut and head of Science Mission Directorate at NASA.)
Megan Kilgore – Marketing & Communications Manager, KERA Dallas
The SXTXState project was unlike any other experience in my education. It gave me the opportunity to combine my journalism, marketing and digital media skills into one project that’s now the capstone of my graduate portfolio. I also got to see and even speak with some amazing thought leaders in the tech and media industries. What other project gives you the opportunity to Skype with the editor of TIME, hear the inventor of the World Wide Web speak, party with the head of WNYC’s data news team and have barbecue with the host and writers of an FX comedy show? Now that I’ve graduated, I carry what I learned from the SXTXState project with me in my professional work, and I hope to have my own panel at SXSW Interactive 2014.
Brittany Black – Employee Communications Manager at Epicor Software
I gained so much from the SXTXState project and the SXSW experience. Being involved with the project is something I will never forget. There are so many influential people at your fingertips and you are able to learn so many amazing things; not only about what’s going on in the industry but also about yourself and your future goals. The project allowed me use all aspects of my journalism skills and jam pack them into one amazing week. It really was a great way to end my graduate career and I would encourage everyone to participate. You won’t regret it.
Emily Lyons – Digital Communication Freelancer
The SXTXState project is a unique opportunity to put skills learned in the program to practical use. I enjoyed the opportunity to both work on design aspects of the project’s site as well as do a lot of interviewing and writing. The coverage you’ll do gets real readership from people across the world, and it’s so fun to get to put your mark on a project that’s covering one of the largest tech conferences in the nation.
Sarah Garcia – Account Executive, BMF Media
I can’t stress just how big of an impact being a part of the SXTXState project has had on my education and career paths. At the time I was just excited to attend SXSW, but my involvement with the project introduced me to connections I wouldn’t have otherwise made, connections that ultimately played a huge part in securing my current position at SXSW Interactive. The project was a great opportunity to learn and apply an invaluable skill set, and it has been very exciting to see those I went through the program with rise through the ranks in our local tech scene.
Sara Peralta – Senior Marketing Associate, NPR
SXTXState is THE accelerator for aspiring communicators. When I joined the project, I was already an experienced communicator with years of significant professional experience, but had not achieved many of my career goals yet. The SXTXState project provided me a platform to engage with leaders in technology and journalism, but also to make significant career connections. The last six months have proven to be only the beginning of the yields of my SXTXState experience.
First, I landed my current position with one of Austin’s top nonprofits based on my work with SXTX. My boss was thoroughly impressed with my work (video and blogging) done at SXSWi and with the national attention I gained through that (ex. my work being profiled in Fast Company and by Storify). I would not have had the skills, nor the confidence to even apply for my job, if not for SXTXState.
Second, I have gained personal connections with leaders in the Austin community. For the SXTXState project, I interviewed high-profile communicators Dave Neff and Shane Guiter for my preview of their panel on public media. Three months later, I was sharing a panel with Dave and Shane as fellow nonprofit communicators at the June Social Media Club meeting. The connections I have gained have allowed me to raise my professional profile and begin achieving my goal of becoming a leader in the nonprofit community.
The overall yields of the SXTXState project have been overwhelming. I have achieved so many of my career goals in the last six months that I struggled to accomplish in the last four years. In the coming months, I look forward to achieving even more of my goals as a result of my participation. For a driven, ambitious and entrepreneurial student, SXTXState is an unparalleled experience and provides limitless opportunities.
Jon Zmikly – Senior Lecturer at TXST SJMC
I’ve attended SXSW and worked on the SXTXState.com site since Cindy spearheaded the project in 2008, and it completely changed the direction of my career. Not only did SXSW Interactive open my mind to the most cutting edge innovations from some of the most influential minds in the world, but every year I was more inspired to innovate and experiment myself. Being a part of this project is the most invaluable and relevant experience you can get in the SJMC program.
Dale Blasingame – Senior Lecturer at TXST SJMC
It’s safe to say the SXTXState project changed my life. It completely altered what I hoped to get out of grad school, and it changed the course of my career. To me, SXSW is all about learning – and there’s no better way to learn than by covering as much of the conference as possible. It’s a rare chance to see, listen and interview the top names in the tech world – and I am so incredibly grateful that opportunity was presented to me by the SXTXState project.
Dee Kapila – Manager Functional Architecture at VISA
Participating in the SXTXState project provides valuable experience to students in the Mass Comm school, no matter where their academic focus. I learned more by covering the events of SXSW in one week than I did at full semester-long internships. Having to produce multimedia content that’s competitive in a sea of coverage along with the intense pressure to meet tight deadlines are two of the most important experiences a student can have. It may seem too cliche to mention, but until you’ve experienced this type of environment you can’t develop the necessary muscles needed to excel in the “real world.” SXTXST allows you to flex these muscles in a boot camp sort of way. Additionally, covering an event as “press” gives you access to sessions, people and conversations you wouldn’t normally have as a regular attendee. I’ll always remember the project as an exhausting and rewarding part of my student experience.
Maira Garcia – Digital News Editor, Culture, New York Times
As a former participant in the SXTXState project, I can’t say enough how much I gained from the experience. It’s a lot of work, but the skills you learn – blogging, video production, coding, among others – and the people you meet will be invaluable. I can think of no other project that gives you the opportunity to report on (and likely meet) the tech professionals that are shaping the future of the industry.
Josh Shepherd – Strategic Account Manager, YouEarnedIt
The SXSW experience proved to be an exciting and eye-opening experience. You are thrust into the middle of like minded, open minded and driven people all trying to change the direction of the interactive world. The amount of people you can chat with and discover only leads to a renewed sense of passion in the industry. There is something completely recharging and special about the experience. That experience has led me to my current position and to friendships with people across the world.
Doug Seliger – Web Developer at NFP Advisor Services Group
The SXTXState project was pretty much the defining point of my graduate school career. Over the course of four hectic, exhausting, exciting days, I got to meet people and see things I never would’ve had the opportunity to otherwise. I made connections that helped me get my foot in the door when it was time to start my career. This project is an incredible opportunity for anyone even remotely interested in the industry.
Nicole Martinez – UX Content Strategist, Exxon Mobile
I was part of the social media team in 2010 and was in charge of keeping our social media channels up to date and engaging before, during, and after SXSW Interactive. What I loved most about this project was that it encouraged my fellow grad students and I to take risks, think on our feet and try new things. For 4 fast-paced days, our team attended panels and events, interviewing tech and media experts and putting the newest tools and apps to work to produce exciting event coverage. No lecture or in-class exercise could even come close to the hands-on experience I gained through this project.
Two years later, I continue to reap benefits — not only through the connections I made there, but also from the diverse portfolio of work I created while doing this project. It’s something I continue to add to and often rely on for portfolio samples and job interviews.
Andrew Waldrup – Senior Product Manager at Spredfast
SXSW was amazing for me. It started with the Statesman Social Media awards where I met the winner, Josh Williams, CEO and cofounder of Gowalla. He later became my boss when I joined the Gowalla team a few months later. I really enjoyed engaging with the most influential people in the industry and the immersion into the tech culture left me wanting more. It’s an experience I’ll never forget and proved to be life-changing
Shannon Delaney – Social Media Manager at Bankrate
Being a part of the SXSW project was definitely the most rewarding experience of my graduate school career. I was able to meet some awe-inspiring people in the tech and journalism field, while being right in the middle of the incredible experience that is SXSW Interactive. The reporting aspect ignited a passion for writing and journalism that hadn’t previously been there. I feel that this project, with its melding of technology, reporting and social media, significantly prepared me for the position I have today. While I’m glad to have graduated, I would love to be able to participate in the SXSW project again!
Lewis Knight – Assistant Professor at Southern Wesleyan University
I participated in varying degrees in three SXTXState projects. Most importantly, the projects introduced me to the growing interactive program of SXSW, that is by far much more innovative and exciting than the other parts of SXSW. It also allowed me to meet some of the pioneers of emerging media. It allowed me to see the latest innovations in digital media, and I was afforded an opportunity to practice my digital media skills. This was more than a class project. It was a class in the practical field where we used the latest innovations to tell stories about the latest innovations and innovators in media.
Ashley Hebler – Web Developer, Fans 1st Media
The SXSWi project really solidified why I’ve been taking new media classes and what I hope to find in a career. The experience is a full immersion of everything we talk about in class with people who are highly influential in the industry. Being surrounded in a sea of techies, professionals, and other students was so rewarding and such a great learning experience. Whether it was a panel about social media, marketing, or just tech in general, I feel like I walked out of every panel with some inspiration to advance my career endeavors. Covering the event gave me an excuse to ask questions and approach people with insight into the industry. I am so thankful for the opportunity of getting to participate in SXSWi.
Carly Smith Hohl – Project Management Director at Trademark Media
Going to SXSW Interactive as part of the SXTXState team opened my eyes to a world that I hadn’t experienced outside the classroom. It’s one thing to discuss the emerging trends and implications of technology with your classmates, but it’s a completely different experience to be surrounded by people from all over the world, discussing how technology has and will influence the way we live. I think it’s crucial to get out of the classroom and really immerse yourself in an area you’re passionate about. Through the SXTXState project, I was able to talk to professionals from a variety of backgrounds, hone my writing skills (while on a deadline), and think strategically about how technology affects our world.
Jacqueline Baylon – Multimedia Associate, Legal Aid Society of NYC
I was fortunate enough to have been a part of Cindy’s graduate class which introduced me to one of the coolest and biggest conferences around: SXSW. At first it was a bit overwhelming because there were loads and loads of panels and presentations about all kinds of diverse topics. But I was hooked after attending a few panels. Everything Cindy had talked about in class all of sudden came full circle, and at that point, I knew taking her class was one the best decisions I had ever made. The SXSWi project was amazing, because that automatically gave me an excuse to go up to the panelists afterward and learn more about them as well as possibly making a contact that would last forever, or least a very long time. The project also allowed me to use the skills I had been learning all along. I practiced my interviewing skills, writing skills and shooting and editing skills. Going back to the conference is great because not only do I learn what the latest trends in technology are, but I get to mingle with the most innovative thinkers out there. Not to mention, I look forward to it because it’s an automatic reunion. My love for digital media stemmed from taking Cindy’s online media design graduate class, which introduced me to SXSWi.
Kiana Fitzgerald – Associate Editor, Complex Networks
SXSW Interactive was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. It’s truly something that you have to see and experience to believe. I’ll admit: when I arrived at the Austin Convention Center on that first day and couldn’t find an exhibit hall to save my life, I was petrified. But as the day progressed and the weekend rolled on, I found myself growing more and more ecstatic – ecstatic to listen to some of my heroes of the tech world first-hand; ecstatic to be surrounded by such a large and awesome group of people who were just like me and couldn’t get enough of the environment; and ecstatic that I didn’t have to pay to be there! Using the SXTXState.com project as a platform to improve upon my web development and reporting skills was the perfect way for me to begin my new media career. This project gave me the opportunity to meet some very important people and showcase my abilities as a journalist during a time of astounding digital innovation. The Mass Communication program at Texas State is unprecedented in so many ways, and its students are incredibly lucky to have the chance to participate in something that’s so essential to the tech industry. Those who are ready and willing to commit to a semester of preparation will find themselves in a weekend of fast-paced fun come March.
Demond Adkison – Marketing Manager at Clear Technologies
The SXSWi project is the perfect project for graduate students who may be unsure of which direction they want to go with their degree. When you go to SXSWi it can seem a bit daunting but everyone there is very friendly, and they are just as interested in everything as you are. You are able to see a wide array of panels, which could help you figure out what field you want to go in after you graduate. Once you take in your first few panels you will begin to get the hang of it all. It was one of the highlights of my last year of grad school, and I would do it again in a second. This project has made me want to go to SXSWi from here on out.
Susan Raybuck – Wimberley Valley Radio
The SXTXState.com project in March this year was an incredible learning experience. It gave us a taste of what it would be like if we were employed by a news media organization: filing stories on a deadline, arranging and videoing interviews on the fly, uploading video content and stories to our website, integrating content with Storify, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other media tools, promoting traffic to our content, following leads, teamwork and more. The exposure to some of the brightest minds, creative entrepreneurs in a variety of fields was inspirational.
The opportunity to cover SXSWedu and much of SXSW Interactive was the absolute greatest learning experience of my entire educational career. I made a beeline to our graduate adviser’s office the next time I was on campus to tell her what an outstanding experience it had been and how impressed I have been at the quality of the graduate program in Journalism and Mass Comm. I was quietly pleased before this last semester, but I’m now just a huge fan thanks to the SXTXState.com experience.
Our grad students are coming out with better background and skills than at many institutions and are getting hired. That’s a true measure of the quality of our new media program. The SXTXState.com experience and other similarly valuable experiences Dr. Royal has incorporated in her classes, especially Advanced Web Design, is a major reason why that is true.