PROGRAM LOGISTICS
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Week 1: March 30 – April 1, 2021, 6 – 9PM ET
Week 2: April 6 – 8, 2021, 6 – 9PM ET
The WJMC Virtual Experience will allow students to participate in live speaking events with journalists, small breakout sessions with other students and program staff, and written and video content. Students will be given access to a personalized virtual community to participate in the program.
The program will begin each day with an opening by the Program Director to introduce the topics and speakers for the evening and will conclude with an overview of the evening’s curriculum and work to be completed before the next day.
The program schedule is a draft. All program participants will have access to a detailed schedule with program speaker and staff information.
DRAFT PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Live Speaking Events
Student participants will engage with experienced professionals in the fields of journalism and media through live, interactive speaking events throughout the program. Students are encouraged to ask questions and get the information they want to better understand the dynamic field of journalism.
Collaborative Spaces
Several spaces exist within the Virtual Experience community where students are encouraged to interact with program staff and with each other. Students will have access to a chat feed shared program-wide, and they will also have smaller group spaces to discuss speaker presentations and learning topics.
Learning Content
While live events and collaboration are key components of the WJMC Virtual Experience, students will also have access to content that will enhance their time at the program and round out their overall learning. Specific content information can be found in the Program Content section.
ONLINE COMMUNITY
Community Access
The community is accessible through a login and password. Program participants will receive instructions to activate their community login following registration. Students are strongly encouraged to access the community before the start of the program and reach out to staff with login issues or questions.
Safety and Security
The safety and security of the students participating in the WJMC Virtual Experience is the top priority of program staff and of George Mason University. All students who access the community are expected to abide by the WJMC Code of Conduct. All staff who access the community must adhere to George Mason University’s Code of Ethics and are required to pass a criminal background check.
TECHNOLOGY
The program community and live speaker content are best experienced using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox on a desktop or laptop computer.
The live speaker events will be provided using Zoom software. Students are encouraged to become familiar with Zoom prior to the event to ensure the best program experience.
Tech help will be available prior to and throughout the conference. Registered students can reach out to program staff for technical assistance.
