By Jordan Reining

Sitting in the media tent at Bonnaroo, I was reminded of how far I have come since I first chose journalism at Middle Tennessee State University. Surrounded by other writers and photographers, the tent was full of energy as deadlines were met.  

The four-day festival is full of opportunities for MTSU students, including myself. 

Working under the university’s Marketing and Communications division, I helped create content for MTSU’s social media platforms. Along with providing coverage of the festival, we followed along with Sidelines, the student newspaper, and the production truck, which students ran in the College of Media and Entertainment. 

The experience is like no other. When I first joined the social media team, I did not know what to expect or what opportunities would lie ahead.  

Now, I just finished my second stint at Bonnaroo, though my job there was different this year. I had an amazing time hopping around The Farm. Going from the media tent to the ‘That tent’ to the ‘Which stage,’ I saw a little of everything. It was fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes look at how such a large festival is managed. While gathering footage of the Visual and Audio Production students, I saw their work first-hand. 

The days were long, and the heat was stifling. By the third day, I was dehydrated and sleep-deprived. I wouldn’t have it any other way. The long hours and the summer sun are all part of the Bonnaroo package.

At the start of every day, we made a game plan: the reels we needed footage for, the hours we were staying, and, of course, the performances we had to see. My favorite artists I got the chance to watch were Chappell Roan and Reneé Rapp. They were spectacular. 

My time at Bonnaroo this year was incredible, and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to go. Like last year, I left the festival grounds with a few realizations. First, my job is really cool. Second, I love working on the social media team but thrive in a setting that offers interviews, writing and editing. 

This year’s ‘Roo gave me much-needed experience with reels and posting for social media. It threw me out of my comfort zone. Much like the performances and the vibe that Bonnaroo brings, my time working was unforgettable. 

Covering events such as Bonnaroo for Instagram and gathering footage for videos is something I have fun doing, but I couldn’t help but think of last year, when I worked with MTSU Sidelines. Brainstorming story ideas, chasing down interviews across the camp and festival grounds, and feeling the pressure of a deadline is my element.  

I am about to enter my last semester at MTSU (if everything goes well), and I could not be more excited to see what this upcoming semester brings, but it is experiences like this one that will carry me far outside the classroom, long after I have walked across the stage. 
 
Jordan Reining is a senior majoring in Journalism.