While our site is run by graduate students, we are not the only Bobcats that will represent Texas State at South by Southwest this year. Select undergraduates from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will help SXSW cover the event.
Last Wednesday, Social Media Manager Chris Cantu and Senior Web Editor Jordan Roberts talked to the group about the upcoming event, which will be the second time it has occurred. The project is to help SXSW cover the wide-range of events that occur.
“This helps us out. This is an extraordinary project, and this will be our second year doing it,” Roberts said. “While we have all of our own departments of photography, video, marketing team, staff people that are in various events, South By is a giant, ever evolving beast of festivals, showcases, sessions.”
Although the majority of the team are new students, there are some returning students from last year. Luis Seijo said the experience allowed him to see the other side of a festival, as well as, learning how to obtain various media content.
“I got to meet a lot of people. I got to experience kind of what it is like to be on the other side of a festival,” Seijo said. “I got to learn a lot press stuff and just collecting media and content and stuff like that.”
The new students can expect a wide range of things and experiences with people from across the world in film, music and technology. Roberts said they students should have a lot of fun and meet a lot of different people.
“I think it is going to be a fun, wild rollercoaster of a ride and they can expect to see a lot and meet a lot of people,” Roberts said.
New student Kyla-Krista Ong said she is excited to experience South By, as she has never been. She also said she knows it will be busy, but that is what she is looking forward to.
“Just being at South By, I’ve never been,” Ong said. “I know there are a lot of cool things that go on and lots of things happen and its really exciting. I know it will be really busy, but just being in that atmosphere, that community is something I am just really looking forward to.”
Luckily, the new students will have the returning students there to help them and give them any advice they may need.
“Bring comfortable shoes, makes sure you are getting rest and not being afraid to just kind of sit and take a breather because it’s a lot to take in at once. It is an exciting time, but pace yourself,” Seijo said.