By Courtney Downs
Las Vegas Review-Journal opened its doors to College of Southern Nevada’s journalism students for tour of the printing press.
The tour was part of a special day planned for journalism majors by Jennifer Mitchell, journalism instructor and adviser of Coyote Student News, and Professor Michele Fogg. They wanted to create an opportunity for students to get to know the field of journalism more in-depth in addition to meeting their colleagues and professors.
On Nov. 18 the group of 11 students met with Mitchell to tour the facilities at the RJ including the massive printing-press machines that churn out millions of pages of print per year, according to Mitchell.
Following the tour the group met for a brown-bag discussion at Lorenzi Park, one mile from the RJ. There they discussed the major, journalism courses and state of the industry.
“I planned a tour of the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s printing press for CSN’s journalism majors to attend,” Mitchell said. “They were greatly inspired by the fast-speed and highly-efficient production that the RJ undertakes daily to print thousands of publications monthly. It was truly amazing.”
Las Vegas Review-Journal is currently Nevada’s largest newspaper with more than 550 employees, according to its website. With recent purchase by Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire mogul who owns The Venetian Las Vegas, the RJ upped its numbers by hiring several more journalists including investigative ones. This is good news for journalism majors looking for jobs in the near future.
Heidy Fernandez, CSN journalism major who attended, was happy to see the RJ flourish. It only cemented her feelings about studying journalism at CSN.
“The tour was actually very inspiring if you have an interest in journalism or just writing in general,” Fernandez said. “I think it was fun and informative and it inspired me to continue my education. It gave me validation that journalism is the career field I want to go into.”
At the end of the printing-press tour students had a unique opportunity to meet Publisher Blue Ash of Luxury Las Vegas magazine. It is produced by the RJ.
“It wasn’t planned to meet Blue Ash but the students, especially the ones who want to pursue the magazine business, were so excited to hear about the steps she took to become publisher of this beautiful publication,” Mitchell said.
“She was so great and inspiring,” Fernandez said. “She started at the Review-Journal years ago and she’s now a publisher. She was nice enough to give each of us the new issue of the magazine.”
Anneth Ortega, a journalism major who wants to work in the magazine industry, was ecstatic by the chance to meet Ash.
“Before the tour I already knew that I wanted to pursue the magazine industry,” Ortega said. “Meeting the publisher of Luxury magazine was just an exciting surprise. I will admit I was a little starstruck by Blue Ash.”
The experience was definitely inspiring for the students who attended and Professor Mitchell as well.
“I really hope Professor Mitchell and Professor Fogg continue to offer this tour,” Ortega said. “It was such a great and motivating activity.”
Coyote Student News at the College of Southern Nevada 