ATHENS, Ohio (Nov. 10, 2008) – Twenty-one students in the Ohio University Multimedia Society took a weekend trip to New York City Oct. 24-26 to network with alumni and visit multimedia companies.

“Visiting New York was a great experience because the students were exposed to every aspect of multimedia; a corporate firm, a large creative firm, a newsgathering institution and a small firm,” said Sam Girton, assistant professor in the School of Visual Communication and Design and advisor for the OU Multimedia Society, who accompanied the students.

Andy Phillips, the group’s president, came up with the idea to visit New York, and,with Girton’s help, contacted alumni and set up tours for the students. Philips said it made sense to check out the city because it’s the “mecca” for the multimedia major.

 “After visiting in New York, I definitely know what type of company I’d like to work for, what to expect when I’m applying for jobs in New York, and just how to gauge what life would be like in the city,” said Phillips.

The group of 21 students spent three days in NYC and visited MTV Networks/ViaCom, Razorfish, the Associated Press and MCD Partners. They also had the chance to visit the sights and have dinner with alumni.

The group first visited MTV Networks/Viacom, where VisCom alumni Mark Malabrigo, BFA ’82, and Adam Wilson, BSVC ’07, set up a presentation and tour for the group. At Razorfish the students got to tour the firm as well as discuss possible job opportunities and internships thanks to alumnus Eric Mayville, BSVC ’07. The group learned how the news media is changing at the Associated Press. While at MCD the group met with alumni Victor Vasquez, BSVC ’076, and got to experience how a small firm works.

For more information and photos from the trip visit Sam Girton’s blog at http://www.samgirton.com/nyc.html and the OU Multimedia Society blog at http://www.ilovemultimedia.com/blog.