A Dream Come True” — Aiden Glendenning Gains Hands-On NHL Media Experience at Florida Panthers Workshop

Third-year STUdent Aiden Glendenning gained firsthand experience in professional sports media at the Florida Panthers Student Media Workshop held at the team’s Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale. 

 

Glendenning, who is studying Journalism and Digital Media and Creative Arts, participated in sessions with the Panthers’ top reporters, broadcasters, social media team, and PR staff. 

“It was surreal to be in the same room where the Panthers held their Stanley Cup press conferences, taking part in media scrums, and interacting with players and coaches—it was a dream come true,” said Glendenning, from Hillsborough, NB. 

 

Learn more about Journalism and Digital Media and Creative Arts at STU 

 

Glendenning applied the experience directly to his STU coursework, producing a video news segment for his reporting and broadcasting class and a photo essay for his digital photography course. 

 

“Being in that professional setting taught me things you can’t learn in a classroom, like navigating a media room and reporting on location,” he said. 

 

Career Clarity and Industry Insights 

 

Glendenning, a longtime admirer of journalists like Kyle Bukauskas (Sportsnet) and Mark Masters (TSN), described the workshop as a transformative experience.

 

“Seeing them in action and being in the same space made me realize how close we are as students to achieving our career goals.” 

 

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity stemmed from a bold email Glendenning sent during a family vacation last spring, requesting credentials to cover a playoff game. 

 

“I asked them to see if I could get credentials for Game 5 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning in order to do a school project—not really thinking much of it,” he said. 

 

Although the request wasn’t possible at the time, the Panthers invited him to their workshop—proving persistence pays off. 

 

Glendenning encouraged STUdents to seek out similar opportunities, emphasizing that boldness and STU’s support can lead to incredible experiences. 

 

“Don’t be afraid to reach out to organizations, even if they’re over 3,000 kilometers away,” he said.  

 

“You never know where it might lead.” 

 

Journalism and Digital Media and Creative Arts at STU 

 

The Journalism program equips students with essential skills in writing, presentation, and production, offering courses in podcasting, documentaries, and digital journalism to stay ahead of media trends.

 

The Digital Media and Creative Arts program blends theory with hands-on experience, allowing students to develop expertise in media literacy, editing, and communication while creating digital content such as videos, podcasts, and visual arts.