KU journalism students to connect with employers at 2026 career fair

The University of Kansas’ Stauffer-Flint Hall is home to the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications in Lawrence. The journalism school will host its annual Career Fair on Oct. 8. Photo by Adeline Raebel.

Journalism students at the University of Kansas will have the opportunity to connect with potential employers during the journalism school’s Career Fair on Oct. 8.

The event will bring about 25 companies from across the journalism, digital marketing and advertising industries to campus.

Steve Rottinghaus, career and outreach coordinator for the journalism school, said students should focus on making meaningful connections with employers.

“Try to make three or four meaningful conversations,” Rottinghaus said. “Put yourself in a position where you can follow up with that company, and then the ideal success would be it could lead to an internship or job.”

The career fair also gives students an opportunity to explore career paths they may not have previously considered.

Rottinghaus said some students discover opportunities in areas such as research and data analysis that they did not know were available with a journalism degree.

More than 300 students attended last fall’s career fair, setting a record for attendance.

Rachel Rummerfield, a journalism student who has attended multiple journalism school career fairs, said the events are especially helpful for students who are from outside the area.

“I’ve gone to multiple of the journalism school career fairs, and I think they’re a great opportunity, especially if you’re like me and you’re from out of state,” Rummerfield said. “You can just make really great connections with local businesses and also people with your same major and interests.”

As the journalism industry evolves, students have opportunities to pursue careers across a growing range of fields. The career fair gives students a chance to learn about those opportunities and connect with potential employers.

The career fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8 in the Stauffer-Flint Hall lobby. Students will also have the opportunity to have professional headshots taken by a photographer at the event. For more information about the companies attending the career fair, visit the KU J-School Career Fair website.