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.