Approximately 75 eighth-graders from Sierra Middle School’s media magnet program visited the NMSU journalism department Friday, Jan. 18.

Two groups of 35-40 students each stopped by Milton Hall to learn about journalism and related media careers, learn about the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at NMSU, and also engage in a hands-on activity designed to help students discover whether they have what it takes to be real-life news reporters.

Some of the topics covered in the presentations included the role and importance of the free press in a democracy, the First Amendment, media ethics, media bias and writing news leads.

Photo: Darren Phillips speaks to a room full of eighth-graders about journalism and press freedom Friday, Jan. 18, at Milton Hall. (Photo by Racheal Tovar)