FIU's The Beacon reports on "It's a Jungle Out There!"

Although lions, tigers and bears will not be roaming in this jungle, students will have a chance to prepare for the "vicious" world of communication with some "animals" in the field.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications, along with The Association for Women in Communications and AdScene, will be hosting "It's a Jungle Out There!," a communications survival guide, on March 27 from 11 a.m to 3:30 p.m in the BBC Ballrooms. There will be workshops with speakers in the fields of advertising, broadcasting, event planning, journalism and public relations, and a networking party to conclude the event.

Manuel Gutierrez, one of the creators of "It's a Jungle Out There!," said the purpose of the event is to offer students an in-depth look into the world of communications.

"The reason is so students can get first hand knowledge from working professionals," said Gutierrez, a senior majoring in advertising, and the vice president of web design for the Association of Women in Communications. "It's for [students] to get a real overview of their future careers. That is our main goal - everything extra is gravy - but if they can get that, than the job was accomplished."

Andres Almeida, president of AdScene, said the event will give students a hands-on experience.

"[It will] give students an opportunity to know what its like when you get out into the real world," said Almeida, a senior advertising major. "[Students] just don't want to get the textbook education because it's not enough - they want to get the real life education."

According to Gutierrez, the workshops are not meant to be lectures, but rather a "two-way communication from the students to speakers", including Lucho Durand, news assignment manager for CBS4, Kevin Kaminski, editor for Boca Raton Magazine and Phyllis Cambria, award winning event planner and author. There will be three sessions and four rooms and students can jump in and out as they please.

"The workshops will present invaluable information that [students] will get from working professionals and the opportunity to network with these people which is the most important to make a first impression," said Gutierrez.

This is the first time the event is being held, but Gutierrez said that AdScene plans to try and make it an annual activity. Also he defined the theme as an art.

"Communications is not a science, it's an art, and since that's the case we believe that from school to the actual career, it's a jungle," said Gutierrez. "You have to do more than just get that 4.0. You have to network, make sure that's the proper career you want, and most importantly make relations with working professionals."

There is no strict dress code for the event, but students should dress as if they are interviewing for a job. The event is free to all students and food and refreshments will be provided. Students not in SJMC are also encouraged to attend.

"Any student can attend because you might find something that you never thought you would be interested in, and all of a sudden you can have your eyes opened," said Almeida.