A day of hands-on learning, new experiences and connections brought Western Slope students together at CMU’s Media Innovation Day.
“When I went to the NFL, I knew how to edit; I knew how to design; I knew how to write. I had all these tools that I learned here at Mesa,” said Colorado Mesa University (CMU) alumnus Justin Platt in his keynote speech at the 2026 Media Innovation Day.
On Sept. 24, CMU’s Mass Communication program held its annual Media Innovation Day, where high school students from all over the Western Slope came to interact with notable alumni, professors and current students in the Mass Communication program. More than 10 high schools attended, with more than 100 students looking to expand their knowledge of videography, photography, design, broadcasting and journalism.
The day opened with Mass Communication students checking in and registering participants before they made their way into the Meyer Ballroom. CMU welcomed alumnus and Emmy-nominated producer Justin Platt to present. Platt explained how his own lived experiences have guided his successful career in the NFL. Platt is currently a content programming associate where he edits and distributes live-game highlights, press conferences and breaking news to various platforms, such as NFL+ and NFL.com.
“Follow what you're interested in and do it here,” said Platt. “I had fun every single day I was at CMU.”
Platt described CMU as a premier communications program because it offers hands-on experience outside of the classroom. He also touched on how CMU prepared him for his NFL career.
Once Platt was done speaking, the students were able to explore workshops that each focused on a certain subject in the Mass Communication field. One workshop focused on the student media organizations accessible to CMU students on campus, such as The Criterion, MavMedia and Horizon Magazine. This workshop allowed high school students to meet the CMU student leaders of these organizations and find out more information on the role they play around campus each day. Another workshop, From CMU to the Big Leagues, brought in notable CMU Mass Communication alumni who used their degree to secure great jobs in the media industry. These were only two out of the six workshops offered in the early morning session.
After the first round of workshops, students went on to explore more media topics such as Lights, Camera Too Much Action, where Instructor of Mass Communication Greg Mikolai went over the key components of a film camera and how to operate one. Students could have also visited an entire workshop dedicated to the construction and design of yearbooks.
“I think an event like this for the Mass Communication program gives us an opportunity to provide not only professional development and networking for our students, but to also develop the next generation of student journalists,” saidAssistant Professor of Mass Communication Laurena Davis, PhD. “And that’s why we invite students from all over western Colorado to share in this experience and, you know, learn from each other.”
High school students from all throughout the western side of the state were able to grow in their media interests. The event was fully put on by the Mass Communication program from professors to students.
CMU’s Mass Communication program allows for hands-on learning and gives its students a real taste of what it is like to work in the media industry. At Media Innovation Day, high school students from the area were able to see that and join in on the action for a day.