Stress balls and suits were not the norm at the Harvard-Radcliffe Media Jobs and Internships Fair yesterday.

Clad in jeans, khakis and sweaters, several hundred students roamed Agassiz Hall picking up pamphlets and chatting with representatives from more than 40 media companies, including the Associated Press, George Magazine, NBC and Woods Entertainment.

The fair, the first of its kind at Harvard, was organized by Harvard-Radcliffe Television (HRTV), HRTV Filmmakers Network, HRTV Multimedia, Quad Sound Studios, the Harvard Independent, WHRB and The Crimson.

More than 100 students arrived at the four-hour fair within the first 20 minutes.

The event's coordinator, HRTV Events Manager Odoi Odotei '97-'98, attributed the interest to a growing student demand.

"[There is] definitely a need on campus for media jobs," Odotei said. "[There are] creative individuals who want to see themselves in here."

Recent graduates and students attending the fair echoed Odotei's sentiments.

"You can see from this that you can do other things with a Harvard degree," said Abim E. Thomas '96.

"Before, you only thought of law school, banking, med school, consulting and B-school," Thomas said. "Advisers and OCS encouraged you to think that if [you didn't select one of] those five options, then you were wasting [your degree]."

Travis D. Williams '97 said the fair is important because it reflects new trends in the workplace.

"I wish I had this before," Williams said. "I'm a senior now and don't have access to internships. [The] media's exploded in the last 10 years, and the direction of jobs are very different from the career fair."

Among the busiest tables at the event were Woods Entertainment, National Geographic Television and MTV Animation.

Company representatives said they were surprised by the high turnout.

"I ran out of handouts three times over," said John M. Francis, associate producer of National Geographic Television.

Francis said at least 100 students had approached him for information.

Company representatives said students were most interested in internship opportunities and general information about different fields.

Panel discussions at Agassiz Theatre and the Byerly Hall basement on topics ranging from radio to multimedia industries catered to students interested in specific fields.

"I liked the panels much better because they were divided into different segments," said Roy Kosuge '99, a Crimson editor who attended the TV Entertainment panel.

Some representatives expressed dissatisfaction with the event's structure.

"It seems like panels are moving a lot of people off the floor," said Joseph Benson, vice president of Rampion Visual Productions, a multimedia firm that presented at the fair.

"Suddenly everyone seemed to disappear,"Benson said. "Everyone who comes here should have the opportunity to talk to people as a group."

Leah Lamson, managing editor for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, said more extensive publicity is needed for future fairs.

"I don't know how they got the word out,"she said. "Here I am in central Massachusetts but I had to be contacted by a San Francisco colleague."

Student organizers said they hope to make the media fair an annual event in the future.

"I hope it's put on for years and years to come," Odotei said. "This is definitely time well spent."

Students and representatives said they support a repeat of the fair next year.

"I will absolutely be back with pleasure," said Kelly Macmanus, the director of Woods Entertainment's national internship program. "I started as an intern, so I know what it's like.