Some Syracuse University students from the Newhouse Schools of Public Communications recently got some major journalism experience at the Empire Winter State Games.

As the games were in the spotlight, a group of young journalists were behind the scenes to document it all.

What You Need To Know

  • The 45th Empire State Winter Games were recently held in the Adirondacks with Syracuse University students serving as working media

  •  Students say the real-world experience is something they not only want, but need as they will soon begin to enter the workforce

  •  Students served as photographers, social media content providers, reporters and more

“I can think about making pictures all day, but I really like, talk about it, but actually making the pictures, there's nothing like it,” SU Newhouse student photographer Malcolm Taylor said.

Taylor was one of 20 Syracuse University Newhouse students in Lake Placid and elsewhere in the Adirondacks for those games. They were getting that real-world experience as working media.

“When they go out in the field and they get a chance to, actually apply what they've learned, and do it in a real setting on deadline,” SU Newhouse School executive editor Jon Glass said.

From maintaining the website, updating results and posting articles, the students took on a ton of responsibility. Some even got to profile the athletes.

Riley Fay worked as an audio reporter.

“Every person, every athlete that's here, every spectator, they have a specific angle or story that is worth telling or helping them tell in a way,” Fay said.

Stories from these Empire Games were shared across the state, literally.

“I think people read newspapers and stuff like that. I think, nowadays, a lot more people are on social media and definitely people of all ages,” senior Evan Krukin said.

Krukin helped bring these games to life through platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.

“I don't think there's anything quite as tasteful as being on the scene, because you can literally see what works and see what doesn't work in real time, in real fast,” Krukin added.

Representatives of the Empire State Winter Games say the pairing of students and the event is a match that in turn, helps the games grow as much as the students. They say they hope it’s a relationship that lasts.