SIPA 2015 Convention Program

Free Feb. 27- March 1

the

press SIPA 2015

Southern Interscholastic Press Association http://sipa.sc.edu • http://schopressonline.org p: 803.777.6284 • e: schopres@mailbox.sc.edu School of Journalism and Mass Communications • University of South Carolina

Convention overview Weekend Highlights Friday 7:30 p.m.

Opening Session Marriott Carolina Ballroom Presiding: Nicholas Byrne

SIPA president Welcome: Amy Medlock-Greene

SIPA chairperson Keynote: Maria Fabrizio

WordlessNews.com Introduction of 2015 Student Officers Introduction of 2016 Student Officer Candidates and Presidential Candidates’ Speeches

Saturday 7:30 a.m.

Adviser Business Breakfast Marriott Capital I – sponsored by Jostens

Saturday 11 a.m.

Marriott Carolina Ballroom Keynote: Erin McClam NBCNews.com

Saturday Noon Adviser Awards Luncheon Marriott Capital I - sponsored by Balfour Luncheon address: Karen Flowers Awards Presentations

Saturday 7 p.m.

SIPA Convention Banquet Marriott Carolina Ballroom Presiding: Anderson Scull

SIPA vice president Awards & Scholarships Presentations

Sunday 11 a.m.

Awards Presentation Marriott Carolina Ballroom Presiding: Michaela Baker

SIPA member-at-large Announcement of New Officers SIPA’s Got Talent! Winners BC On-the-Spot Feature Winners BC Individual Anchor Winners Grammar Challenge Winners TOP & Quiz Bowl Winners Carry-in & Writing Contest Winners SIPA Evaluation Awards Scroggins Awards Winners Adjournment until March 4, 2016

Friday • February 27, 2015 3 - 7 p.m.

Registration – Marriott Carolina Pre-function Area 5 - 7:30 p.m.

Exhibit Area Open – Marriott Carolina Pre-function Area 7:30 - 8:45 p.m.

Opening – Marriott Carolina Ballroom

Maria Fabrizio Keynote

Introduction of Student Officers

Introduction of Student Officer Candidates 9 - 10:30 p.m.

Exhibit Area Open – Marriott Carolina Pre-function Area 9 - 9:45 p.m.

Class Sessions 9 - 9:45 p.m.

CJE test study session – SIPA Suite 9 - 9:45 p.m.

Quiz Bowl preliminary round – Marriott Palmetto Ballroom 10 - 11:30 p.m.

SIPA’s Got Talent! & Ice Cream Social – Marriott Capital Ballrooms Midnight Quiet Time Begins Saturday • February 28, 2015 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Adviser Business Meeting, Continental Breakfast, & Advisory Council

Election – Marriott Capital I (sponsored by Jostens) 8 a.m. - 3 p.m..

Exhibit Area Open – Marriott Carolina Pre-function Area 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Magazine, Newspaper & Yearbook Idea Swap Area –

Marriott Carolina Pre-function Area 9 - 10:45 a.m.

Class Sessions 11 - 11:45 a.m.

Erin McClam Keynote – Marriott Carolina Ballroom Noon - 1:30 p.m. Adviser Awards Luncheon – Marriott Capital I

Address: Karen Flowers, SIPA director

(sponsored by Balfour Publishing Co.) 2 - 4:30 p.m Class Sessions Competitions 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Newspaper & Yearbook TOP (Team Onsite Production)

Coliseum 3008 & 3012 – make sure to catch the SIPA shuttle 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Broadcast TOP Contest – Marriott Capital IV 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Review Writing Session and Contest - Marriott Alumni Room 2 - 4:30 p.m.

Broadcast Individual Anchor Contest – Coliseum 4026 –

make sure to catch the SIPA shuttle 3 - 3:45 p.m.

Grammar Challenge – Marriott Ballroom C 4:45 - 5:45 p.m.

Quiz Bowl Rounds 1-4 – Marriott Capital I Adviser Activities 1:30 - 6:30 p.m.

SIPA Endowment Silent Auction – Marriott Palmetto Ballroom 2 - 2:45 p.m.

Endowment Fund Meeting – SIPA Suite 2 - 2:45 p.m.

Advisory Council Meeting – Marriott Capital I 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Convention Banquet – Marriott Carolina Ballroom

Award & Scholarship Presentations 8:30 - 11:30 p.m. SIPA Endowment auction – Marriott Palmetto Ballroom 10 - 11 p.m.

Student Officer Elections – Marriott Capital Ballroom Midnight Quiet Time Begins Sunday • March 1, 2015 7:30 - 9:30 a.m.

SIPA Executive Board Meeting – Marriott Palmetto Ballroom 9 - 9:45 a.m.

Class Sessions 10 a.m.

Quiz Bowl Rounds 5-7 – Marriott Capital I 10 - 10:45 a.m.

Class Sessions 11 a.m. - Noon Awards Ceremony – Marriott Carolina Ballroom

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

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Friday keynote speaker Friday night: Maria Fabrizio

Advertisers

Wordless News creator speaks to attendees about blog

• Herff Jones, Inc. • J&S Printing, Inc. • Quill & Scroll • School Newspapers Online • School Publications Company • USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications (Ad created by 2012 SJMC graduate Judith Webster)

Exhibitors • Balfour Publishing Company • Center for Collaborative Journalism at Mercer University • Herff Jones, Inc. • Jostens Printing & Publishing • Picaboo Yearbooks • Savannah College of Art and Design • School Paper Express • Temple University • University of Alabama • USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications • Walsworth Publishing

Sponsors Saturday Adviser Breakfast Jostens Printing & Publishing Saturday Adviser Lunch Balfour Publishing Co. Adviser Bags Balfour Publishing Co. SIPA Shirts Herff Jones

Flyers • Picaboo Yearbooks • Temple University • University of Alabama

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Usually illustrator and designer Maria brand manager for a local church.

Fabrizio’s first glimpse of her studio comes While it doesn’t make money, the blog has before the sun is even up. Her alarm rings opened doors for her. She spent a week with in the early-morning hours – roughly 4:45 National Public Radio working for them and a.m. – to work on her blog. Wordless News is is now a weekly contributor for the science a blog Fabrizio started in which she creates section of NPR’s website. an illustration to depict a major headline from Working with Wordless News has also that day’s news. spawned talk of developing an app “I don’t shower.

As an editorial illustrator, I for her subscribers. She has written I get dressed and a book that should be out in March. never express my personal leave out the back “I wish it was just pictures. It opinion. But it’s great to be would have been way easier,” she door,” Fabrizio said. able to interpret something said laughing. “It’s about the process.

“I come in [my studio], that someone’s reported on It’s more a daily, weekly exercises turn on the lights and and communicate that again you can do to keep you out of just start working. I visually. read the news and ruts…I hope it’s helpful and it’s welllisten to the news received. It’s really about creative simultaneously. I’ll exploration.” look on Twitter Working with her blog has also for big headlines and find the article I think given Fabrizio the opportunity to travel to is best. Then I start sketching. I just go with speaking engagements across the country. whatever I think is strongest and work through And that’s just what she’ll do at SIPA. it.”

This year’s theme “Free the Press” is She got the idea for the blog in February something that directly impacts her work at 2013 when she posted a picture illustrating Wordless News. the pope’s retirement. Now the blog has She said that she usually tries to stay away around 4,000 subscribers to the daily emails. from sites leaning toward a political party like She says she has a passion for it because she Fox News or MSNBC, but those stories she loves creating things and illustrating. finds are written by journalists exercising their “I love being able to go to bed feeling like First Amendment right— like those at NPR, I finished something,” she said. “I think it forces CBS News, the Washington Post, The New me to take the time to explore conceptually York Times and Time.com. and experiment. If I had that time dedicated Without exercising that right, there would to client work, I may not be able to explore be no Wordless News. and figure out what I’m really good [at] and “As an editorial illustrator, I never express what I’m passionate about.” my personal opinion,” Fabrizio said. “But it’s And, like all artists, she loves to see great to be able to interpret something that what other people think of her work. After someone’s reported on and communicate all, it was the influence of people that that again visually or say something in she respected that convinced her to start a completely different way; it’s a good Wordless News. challenge. Journalists are expressing their right “Any day that I do one and think, to the First Amendment, and I get to do that ‘This is not so great. I wish I could change too.” everything about it,’ I always get an email She said her journey to illustration wasn’t from a stranger that said, ‘I love this today,’ straightforward, and she never thought she’d or ‘I shared this with my fourth grade class.’ be doing what she’s doing now, but she’s Knowing people are still following it, and happy doing it. teachers are using it in their classrooms, I feel “The saying is true: quality over quantity, a sense of pride that I’m doing something that but the more you do, you’ll be better at it. people care about,” Fabrizio said.

Just being diligent and disciplined and just But there is a little problem with just doing keep doing it. Even if it sucks, visualize your the blog: it doesn’t make any money, so she end goal and have a Nike anthem and keep workw for different clients around Columbia doing it.” like the Nickelodeon Theatre, and is the - Collyn Taylor, SIPA Assistant

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SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Saturday keynote speaker Saturday morning: Erin McClam NBCNews.com senior writer, former high school journalist shares experiences at SIPA Convention Since Erin McClam worked on his high had a clip file to show to the AP when I was school newspaper staff in the 1990s, trying to get hired. To spend two or three scholastic journalism has changed as much as months surrounded by people who were it changed his life and career. But McClam making a living at this thing I loved to do, said the key to success in journalism has not that was incredible. I was already in love changed – reading great journalism. with journalism, and the internships probably “For me [writing] was a little like learning made me fall in love with journalists.” to play the piano by ear,” McClam said in McClam was hired by the Associated an email. “You know what the music sounds Press when he graduated. like, and you peck “A couple of weeks after I away at the 88 graduated, I started on Dec. keys until you can 27, 1999, all anyone cared mimic that sound. about for that first week was You read enough Y2K stories,” McClam said. of that stuff and After 13 years of editing you start to know and writing for the AP, instinctively what McClam moved to NBC a news story looks where he is now a senior and feels and writer for NBCNews.com. sounds like. There’s “My job is usually to report no substitute. Read and write on whatever the Photo courtesy of Erin McClam all the time.” big stories of the day are,” That has he said. “So that means most been McClam’s days I get to work at 7 a.m. trick since working on his school paper, The and have no idea what I’m going to have Stinger, at Irmo HS (Columbia, S.C.), through written about by 4 p.m.” college to starting at the Associated Press.

According to McClam, what has not “I was lucky enough to have four years changed since his time in high school is the of journalism classes available to me [in high threat to a free press and First Amendment school] so I started when I was a freshman.” rights. McClam believes the convention He remembers deadline nights in high theme “Free the Press” applies to both school, physically mounting the elements of professional and scholastic journalists. the paper together, cutting pictures out with “Journalists at every level are confronted an X-Acto knife, and going home satisfied by people who, for whatever reason, politics even later than midnight. or ideology or whatever, are trying to stop “I did as many jobs as I could — writing, them from committing journalism,” he said. editing, even cropping photos, which I’m sure “Someone is always trying to stop the press. nobody has to do anymore,” McClam said.

Your particular battle may be small or large, McClam’s high school journalism adviser but you will have to fight the battle.” and current SIPA and SCSPA director, Karen As the Saturday morning keynote speaker, Flowers said, “It’s such a joy for me to read McClam said he hopes to discuss the value the things he writes now and know that he of reading and tell about some of his own got his start in high school journalism. I saw in journalistic mistakes. He said heexcited to him, at the beginning, an enthusiasm that was be back at the event that helped inspire his pretty rare in students.” career and hopes to do the same for the next McClam graduated from the University generation of journalists. of Georgia with a degree in journalism and “There was something almost romantic a minor in political science. While attending about listening to people who were actually UGA, he had a string of internships that getting paid to do what I wanted to do,” he helped prepare him for his career. said about SIPA. “I can’t speak for the students “I did internships all three summers in who go today, but for me it was such a help college,” McClam said. “The most immediate to sit and listen to the pros.” thing was building clips. When I graduated, I - Karie Grace Duncan, SIPA Assistant

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Convention Information Hotel Bills Each adviser must settle his or her school’s bill at checkout. Room service and long distance phone calls add to the bill. The hotel cancels access to pay-per-view movies in all rooms occupied by students. If students wish to watch a movie, they must go to the front desk and use a credit card.

Discipline Quiet time will be observed from midnight to 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Advisers must make sure students observe these hours. SIPA staff and hotel security personnel will be patrolling the hotel each evening.

Possession of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or any weapons will not be tolerated.

• All delegates must wear their SIPA nametags throughout the convention while in the hotel or the Coliseum.

• Students should conduct themselves with discretion in the hotel and in the city. Their behavior is a reflection on SIPA, scholastic journalism and individual high schools.

• Advisers should know where students are at all times.

• Each student should be accompanied by at least one other convention delegate when outside the hotel.

• Students should not be outside at night without an adviser or chaperone.

Rudeness to other hotel guests or hotel employees; misuse of or playing on the elevators; excessive noise in hotel rooms, halls or other public areas; misuse or destruction of hotel property; and all behavior that is dangerous or inappropriate is not acceptable.

Student Elections Only one person from each school may campaign for an office.

The elected officers are president, vice president and two members-at-large.

Only presidential candidates will give speeches during the opening session Friday evening. Speeches should be no longer than four minutes.

Voting will take place during the dance Saturday from 10 - 11 p.m. in the Capital Ballroom. Each SIPA member publication staff in attendance at the convention may appoint ONE voting delegate.

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STAFF SPIRIT. Because you share goals and spend so much time together, your staff may feel more like a family than a class or club. With activities to get to know each other better, suggestions for strengthening staff ties and ideas for inevitable celebrations, yearbookdiscoveries.com with its showcase, blog and resources has something for everyone.

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JESSICA DANIEL

jmdaniel1@herffjones.com

GARY FRENCH

gfrench270@aol.com

BRANDI MOSS RENNA RODERICK bbmoss@herffjones.com

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015 STEVEN WALLACE DEVON SWALE

SHANNON SPAULDING

rlroderick@herffjones.com sdspaulding@herffjones.com dpswale@herffjones.com svwallace@herffjones.com

Pre-convention workshops

Friday, Feb. 27 1 - 5 p.m. • @ USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications BROADCAST BOOTCAMP Stella McCombs, Stratford HS Need a quick and dirty bootcamp on all things broadcast? Find out the basics of how to produce stories for the visual electronic medium. Content will include mini-lessons on interviewing, writing scripts for the ear, recording audio, shooting stories and editing for airing. You will even learn a few things about FinalCut Pro! FREE YOUR MIND: READING MASS MEDIA Ernest Wiggins, University of South Carolina Become a better journalist by becoming a better reader. To engage with and create messages in mass media, you must first know how to read other messages. This workshop will provide a quick trip through mass media history and teach the keys to reading media messages – how words, colors, shapes create meaning. Using this knowledge, students will create logos for a local music label using just three common shapes and will participate in other group design exercises.

GOOGLE DRIVES YOUR WORK Amy Medlock-Greene, Dutch Fork HS

•ADVANCED INDESIGN: FREE FROM CONSTRAINTS Stephen Stanton, senior graphic designer, Dixon Hughes & Goodman For advanced students/advisers only.

Already have a little experience with InDesign? Take your InDesign and design skills to the next level by learning tricks and advanced layout techniques from a pro. Students/advisers must have experience with InDesign and page design rules. Our instructor also will teach some Illustrator components.

MULTIMEDIA STORYTELLING Chris Waugaman, Prince George HS Stories are not just told in one medium. Journalists today need to know how to tell a story through multiple platforms. This year’s Dow Jones News Fund Adviser of the Year will show you how to tell the same story through different media avenues. He will show examples from student and professional work and teach students how to formulate a multiplatform plan. Participants will look at current examples to determine how they can be told as a print, online, broadcast and yearbook story – using all the tools in a multimedia journalist’s toolbox.

Google Apps are your one-stop FREE shop for keeping your staff organized and collaborating harmoniously. We will explore in-depth the features of Google Docs, Google Forms, and Google Calendar. We will also talk about ways to integrate data from Google Sheets into your publication and how to use Google Slides to present new material to your staff. With examples from her newspaper and broadcast staffs, our instructor will offer tips and tricks for creating, sharing, and managing documents and creating a workflow that will take much of the frustration out of organizing your staff. Both beginners and current users will benefit from this workshop.

NOTE: Registrants will need a Google account to participate (free to create at https://accounts.google.com/SignUp).

PHOTOGRAPHY & PHOTOSHOP Lewis Zeigler, University of South Carolina

INDESIGN – Feel free to email questions you want answered or topics you

Think next year’s book can wait? No way! Planning for the 2016 yearbook begins when you finish the 2015 one. Bring pages in progress for the 2015 book that you want to have critiqued and begin brainstorming for ideas for 2016. It’s never too early to start planning for next year.

want covered ahead of time to Leslie Dennis at schopres@mailbox.sc.edu.

•BEGINNING INDESIGN: FREE THE PAGE Valerie Kibler, Harrisonburg HS For beginners only.

Need help jumping into InDesign? Want to learn some basic design tips? This workshop covers what you need to know if you are just beginning to connect with InDesign and page design/ layout.

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Get photo tips and tricks, show off your photography skills and use Photoshop in this hands-on workshop. Participants will take photos in and around the School of Journalism. After the shoot, our pro will teach you tricks in Photoshop to help improve those photos.

Bring a camera and adapter cords to download photos onto the computers. You can also bring a jump drive with other photos to work on. Photos may be selected from this session to be featured on the SIPA website and Facebook page.

YEARBOOK: START NEXT YEAR NOW! Mary Kay Downes, Chantilly HS

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Friday night schedule

Friday, Feb. 27 The camera is rolling...now what? (BC) A stand-up is much more than just talking in front of a camera.

Learn the skills and creativity needed for a reporter stand-up.

Students will see example of several different types of stand-ups and will leave with tips and tricks for their next news package. .

A.J. Chambers Capital II

7:30 - 8:45 p.m.

Opening Ceremony (ALL) Ballrooms A-H • Welcome – Nicholas Byrne, Student President

Digital storytelling (DM) Get dozens of ideas on how to get the most from your media outlet through apps, websites and social media tools beyond the usual outlets. From print to video, you will leave with oodles of resources to explore and use when you go home.

Erinn Harris Capital III

• Keynote – Maria Fabrizio, Wordless News • Student Officer Candidate speeches

9 - 9:45 p.m.

Creating an integrated school news network (ADV/DM) Why have seven people covering the same story? Learn how to marshal your resources in a smarter, more efficient way by integrating your media programs into one all-day newsroom.

Nina Brook & Jenny Proctor Ballroom A-C Keynote Q & A: The creative process Your work is more than just the final product – it’s how you get there. Find out how to get your ideas out and create a product that will grab people’s attention.

Maria Fabrizio Ballroom D-E Covering breaking news like the pros (or better!) (NP) Senior newspaper students, along with their adviser, will host a discussion-style forum on how to cover breaking news that impacts your school. The discussion will focus on Pine Whispers’ coverage of the death of ESPN personality Stuart Scott - an alumnus of their school - and other events over the past few years that brought regional and national attention to their school paper and yearbook.

Steve Hanf, Sam Doughton & James Tatter Ballroom F-H

You can be a design diva, too! (YB) With the fundamentals of design, rookie yearbookers can master the use of layout space with a working knowledge of dominance, unity, element placement, spacing and more! We will also explore how to expand coverage to get the most out of each spread while staying true to our “look” and theme.

David Patrick Capital IV Quiz Bowl Preliminary Round (REG.) All registered Quiz Bowl teams should report promptly to take the qualifying test and go over rules. The eight teams with the highest scores will compete Saturday. *The top scoring teams will be posted by 9 a.m. at the registration desk* Palmetto Ballroom CJE test study session SIPA Suite

10 p.m.

Student Ice Cream Social (ALL) SIPA’s Got Talent! competition Capital Hall

KEY FOR SESSIONS ADV Advisers Only ALL All Students & Advisers

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BC Broadcast DM Digital Media GRM Grammar

MG Literary Magazine NP Newspaper P Photography

REG Pre-registered SNR Senior Track YB Yearbook

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Student media symposium

Why student media?

Administrator symposium All sessions will take place Saturday in the Marriott Alumni Room near the front entrance of the hotel except for the panel discussion after lunch, which will take place in Ballroom C. Advisers registered to attend the convention are welcome to attend any symposium session.

Schedule of events 9 a.m. – Alumni Room Introduction and keynote – Dr. Al Leonard, principal, South Pointe HS 9:15 a.m. – Alumni Room Administrator’s point of view – Beverley Bowman, principal, Nation Ford HS 9:30 a.m. – Alumni Room Building a Winning Journalism Program – Brenda Gorsuch 10:05 a.m. – Alumni Room Incorporating honors and meeting high standards – Brenda Gorsuch and Cindy Koon

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

10:20 a.m.

Break 10:30 a.m. – Alumni Room Examining the First Amendment – Chris McDonald, lawyer & former high school journalism adviser 11:15 a.m. – Alumni Room Table conversation breakout session Noon – Capital I Advisers awards luncheon in Capital I 1:30 p.m.-2:15 p.m. – Ballroom C Panel discussion – Building solid relationships between administrators, advisers and students

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Saturday class schedule

Saturday, Feb. 28 8 a.m.

Advisers business meeting & continental breakfast (ADV) All registered advisers are invited to eat, meet and greet with other advisers from the Southern region. Advisory Council members for 2015-2017 will be elected.

Sponsored by Jostens Capital I

9 - 9:45 a.m.

Recruit like your competition (ALL) Don’t just “hope” a superstar student walks into the journalism room – count on it. See proven methods and discuss ideas designed to succeed for all sizes and situations. See how to use parents and alumni to recruit. Why should sports teams and music programs snag all the super star talent?

Dean Hume Ballroom A-B Appease & please: What judges want (MG) Let’s face it, among the student body, administration, adviser and judges, you are not going to make everyone happy. But you can come close. Find out what judges look for in awardwinning magazines while staying true to your magazine’s purpose – pleasing the student body and your staff.

Beth Fitts Ballroom C Improving publication photography (P) This session for photographers and non-photographers asks the simple question, “Are you satisfied with the quality of images in your publication?” If the answer is no, then this is the session for you. Discuss ways to step up everyone’s game and create compelling, storytelling images.

Mark Murray – SIPA Endowment speaker Ballroom D Staff bonding (ALL) This session will discuss the importance of having a close staff, how it will improve production and how to become a closeknit group. It will include games, events and other activities to motivate the staff and keep the bond strong.

Brittney Butler, Kevin Mobley, Tiernan O’Neill & David Ragsdale Ballroom E

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Writing for new media (DM) Multimedia and interactive journalism are two of the biggest trends in journalism today. This session will examine these trends and show writers some great (and often free) resources that can help them create engaging online content.

Dr. Catherine Ramsdell Ballroom F-G College work: Alternatives to student media (SNR) Students should take advantage of every opportunity to get their name and work published in college, but school-sponsored media is not the only way to build a resume. Three college students will tell you how you can use your journalism skills in alternative-style internships and jobs, whether it’s through the athletic department or at a video game company.

Richard Lipkin, Beth McNamara, Isabel Posada & Collyn Taylor Ballroom H The eyes have it (BC/NP) The key to a great interview is right at your fingertips...and eyes... and feet! Learn why body language is an important aspect to good communications. Great for broadcast and newspaper students (or all staff members who conducts interviews!).

Karin McKemey Capital II Designing with the Bull’s Eye effect (YB) Need a place to start designing your pages? The Bull’s Eye technique is a great way to begin when you’re starring at that blank page. This class will give you a framework to start designing your pages along with a checklist of all the items a good design should have. If you’ve ever been at a lost about where to begin, this session is for you.

Jim Channell Capital III It’s the little things (ALL) Come to this session to hear almost three dozen specific suggestions aimed at improving your reporting, design and staff dynamics. Adjusting the little things may be all it takes to transform your paper or newsmagazine.

Jon Reese Capital IV

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Saturday class schedule

Saturday, Feb. 28 10 - 10:45 a.m.

Coaching writers (ALL/GRM) With new media platforms at every turn, the need to communicate with staff and the critically important connection between the editor and the writer/reporter is paramount. Learn how to organize the reporters and the editors into a positive, proactive group while building staff unity and pride.

Dean Hume Ballroom A-B The killer lead (ALL) It’s the most valuable real estate in journalism. We’ll talk about what works and what doesn’t, and how to write a first paragraph that grabs the reader and never lets go. The classic five W’s, the one-liner, the anecdote – we’ll cover them all.

Erin McClam Ballroom C 1 The power of light (P) Photographers use light as a painter uses oils or watercolors.

Understanding the characteristics of light is the first step in using light effectively in your photographs.

Mark Murray - SIPA Endowment speaker Ballroom D Covering the same story again...and again (BC) Tired of covering homecoming and other stories the same way year after year? Learn how to enliven your coverage of yearly events by viewing actual high school stories that will teach you ways to find the real stories behind the events.

Justin Fabiano Ballroom E Speed dating: Get the necessary information (YB) Interviewing skills are important when meeting that dream date.

The same skills are needed when writing that perfect caption.

Learn the keys to getting the information needed to write the best captions for your publication.

Jessica Daniel, Brandi Moss & Devon Swale Ballroom F-G Alternative writers: Find them & engage them (MG) Not everyone published in the lit mag has to be on staff. Find ways to get quick, creative submissions to give variety to your audience and invigorate your magazine.

Charlotte Wood Ballroom H

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Mobile journalism (DM) This session will cover the top five (or more) apps you HAVE to have to be a successful mobile journalist. Voice Record Pro, Videolicious, iMovie, Garage Band & Audio Memo (and there’s more, I’m sure) will allow you to create content on the spot for your publications.

Erinn Harris Capital II The ethics of editing quotes (ALL) Quote editing has tripped up even professional journalists.

Learn the clearest and most ethical way to edit quotes.

Adam Ragusea Capital III Beyond the interviewing basics (ALL) “Duh” questions get lifeless responses. Discover techniques that are sure to elicit powerful anecdotes, useful stats and charged reactions. You’ll also hear the best three words to start any interview. Bonus: Learn to decipher your interviewee’s body language!

Jon Reese Capital IV

11 - 11:45 a.m.

Keynote speech (ALL) Ten things I wish I’d known in high school Erin McClam Ballrooms A-H

Noon -1:30 p.m.

Advisers awards luncheon Sponsored by Balfour.

Capital I All registered advisers and special guests are invited to this luncheon.

Luncheon address: “Check the bylines? Sure. What are they?”

Karen Flowers

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Saturday competition schedule

Saturday On-Site Competitions Afternoon sessions continue on page 13. Students participating in on-site competitions – broadcast anchor, broadcast TOP, newspaper TOP, yearbook TOP, grammar challenge and Quiz Bowl – are on a different schedule.

1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Yearbook TOP Competition (REG) All yearbook TOP teams should report promptly with necessary materials. No one will be admitted after the contest begins.

Coliseum 3012 Newspaper TOP Competition (REG) All newspaper TOP teams should report promptly with necessary materials. No one will be admitted after the contest begins.

Coliseum 3008 Broadcast TOP Competition (REG) All broadcast TOP teams should report promptly with necessary materials. No one will be admitted after the contest begins.

Marriott Capital IV Review Writing Contest (REG) All contestants should report to the Alumni Room to attend a review writing session then review a specified event. Bring a laptop, tablet or paper to write on.

Marriott Alumni Room

2 - 4:30 p.m.

Broadcast Anchor Contest (REG) All contestants should report promptly, dressed to go on camera.

Coliseum 4026

3 - 3:45 p.m.

SIPA Shuttle Bus Schedule Shuttles will run between the Marriott Hotel and the Carolina Coliseum (School of Journalism and Mass Communications).

Pick up and drop-off points will be on the Hampton Street side of the Marriott Hotel and the Blossom Street entrance of the Carolina Coliseum. To board the bus students will need to show the SIPA representative their competition tickets.

Shuttles will run at the following times: Departure 1:15 p.m. from hotel to Coliseum (TOP participants only) 1:45 p.m. from hotel to Coliseum (BC Anchor Contest participants only) 3:30 p.m. from Coliseum to hotel (BC Anchor Contest participants only) 4:15 p.m. from Coliseum to hotel 4:30 p.m. from Coliseum to hotel 4:45 p.m. from Coliseum to hotel 5 p.m.

from Coliseum to hotel

Grammar challenge (REG) All contestants should report promptly.

Marriott Ballroom C

4:45 - 5:45 p.m.

SIPA Quiz Bowl Semi-Finals Eight teams will compete for the final rounds. .

Marriott Capital I

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SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Saturday class schedule

Saturday, Feb. 28 2 - 2:45 p.m.

How to avoid yearbook’s top 10 mistakes (YB) Despite all the blood, sweat and tears, yearbook veterans know it’s inevitable. You will make some mistakes, and most of them were avoidable. This session will take you through yearbook’s top 10 mistakes and how to avoid them.

Meghan Percival Ballroom A The down & dirty dozen (BC) If you want to produce solid broadcast stories, you need to employ 2 tips. We’re talking sources, reporting approaches, shots and storytelling technique. Let’s figure out how to impress your viewers.

Jon Reese Ballroom B Editing: Lean & mean (ALL/GRM) Editing is so much more than where you put the commas. We’ll talk about balance, taste, style and, most important, clarity.

We’ll discuss how to slim down your copy to say more with less, especially the words you’re using all the time and almost never need.

Erin McClam Ballroom D Let’s do a photo story! (P) All those photos on the basketball spread? Together, they tell a story about the team this year. Start thinking about that collection as a photo story and the images the staff (yearbook or newspaper) selects will fit together in a much stronger way Mark Murray – SIPA Endowment speaker Ballroom E Your publication is your brand (ALL) This design-driven session explains how implementing consistent branding standards across your publication’s print, web and social media platforms can maximize the engagement you receive from your reader base.

Stephen Stanton Ballroom F-G Storytelling that ain’t boring (ALL) Learn the secrets of great storytelling that will transform your stories into copy that readers just can’t put down.

David Knight Ballroom H

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Advisory Council meeting Capital I How do you frighten political strongmen? Teach journalism! (ALL) A USC journalism professor will talk about the importance of free speech in the context of his experiences last October in Russia. Authorities there raided and shut down a workshop he was leading on investigative reporting. He will discuss his arrest and the role in media in society.

Randy Covington Capital II Sports columns (NP) Issues exist at all levels in the school setting, yet the sports column is often the most abused or the most misunderstood aspect of high school publications. Learn how to use the sports column to not only increase issue awareness in the school setting, but also to build circulation and awareness.

Dean Hume Capital III

2 – 6:30 p.m.

SIPA Endowment silent auction Palmetto Ballroom

3 – 4:30 p.m.

Creative coverage in non-traditional yearbooks (YB) Learn valuable tips to ensure adequate coverage in five traditional yearbook sections when creating a chronological, non-section or two/three section book. Organization and creative combinations are the key to success.

Mary Kay Downes Ballroom A Reporting the sensitive issues of diversity (ALL) In the past year, the news has been filled with events dealing with race and communities’ relationships with the police force.

High school journalists need to do a good job covering racial issues while keeping ethical dilemmas at bay. This session will help all students write about sensitive topics in racial issues.

Dr. Karla Kennedy Ballroom B

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Saturday class schedule

Saturday, Feb. 28 3 – 4:30 p.m.

Ten tips for starting & maintaining your website (DM) Have you been trying to get your website off the ground, but something always comes up to delay you? Are you intimidated with all of the working parts that you have to learn for maintaining a site? This session will provide 10 great steps to take to get your site up and running and keep it going.

Chris Waugaman Ballroom D Photoshop workflow (ALL/P) Consistency! That’s the key to improving the reproduction of photographs in the publication. Come experience the magic of what a simple workflow can do for your staff. Discussion will also include organization of digital files and management of images for the staff.

Mark Murray – SIPA Endowment speaker Ballroom E Introduction to vector design (ALL) Students will learn best-practice methods of vector design creation and implementation. This class includes a comprehensive overview of the vector illustration and editing capabilities found within Adobe Illustrator and InDesign. Students are encouraged to bring a laptop with the Adobe Creative Suite installed.

Stephen Stanton Ballroom F-G Producing 101 (BC) There’s more to broadcast than just being on camera. Working behind the scenes to organize a show is what keeps viewers from changing the channel. Learn from a professional producer how to stack a show and how to bump “teaseable” stories throughout the broadcast.

Justin Fabiano Ballroom H

Literary magazine A-Z (MG) As the name suggests, we’ll cover everything relevant to the production of a holistic literary magazine: who makes the tough choices, who makes the easy ones, how does it all come together and more. We’ll explore ideas and concepts to make production smoother, and we’ll talk about how to find (or solicit) cool, creative ideas to give your magazine a kickstart.

Ethan Crane, Louise Platter & David Ragsdale Capital III

7 - 8:30 p.m.

Convention banquet SIPA scholarships and awards Carolina Ballroom

9 - 11 p.m.

Student dance rave in Capital Ballroom Member publications should cast their ballots for SIPA student officers by 10:30. Ballots can be handed to a current SIPA student officer or a SIPA staff member at the dance or in the Diplomat room.

SIPA Endowment auction in Palmetto Ballroom Advisers, special guests and speakers are invited to the live portion of the auction. Silent auction results will be announced throughout the live auction. All proceeds support SIPA’s Endowment Fund.

Power columns (NP) Great personal columns can change your readers’ lives. Bad ones are a waste of paper. Get tips on writing the great ones.

David Knight Capital II

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SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Sunday class schedule

Sunday, March 1 7:30 – 9 a.m.

SIPA Executive Committee meeting Palmetto Ballroom

9 – 9:45 a.m.

The sordid relationship between politicians & the press (ALL) This session will teach you how politicians use the media and how reporters get their stories. Hear real stories from a former Florida legislator and current journalism adviser on the difference between what people need to know and what politicians want them to hear.

Carl Zimmermann Ballroom A-C Creating award-winning literary magazines (MG) Come discuss what it takes to create an All-Southern, Crown or Pacemaker literary magazine while looking at examples from past Crown winners.

Mark Murray – SIPA Endowment speaker Ballroom D Video (didn’t) kill the radio star (BC/DM) Video segments and online storytelling are not just about the visual. Using audio recording to create great podcasts and videos should be a priority for your staff. Learn how to maximize your reporting with great sound from an adviser and former college DJ who has revived radio production at his school.

Chuck Walker Ballroom E Finding story ideas (NP) Unfortunately, most of the time stories do not just land in your lap, on your desk or in your email. Journalists have to hunt for the ideas that get printed in the paper or online. Learn how to find the angle and the story in your school and community.

Lori Reaser Ballroom F-H It’s all about the people (NP) Every person has a story, and it is your job to find it and tell it. Features are about more than just the quarterback or prom queen.

Susan Newell Capital II

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Theme: It’s about the why (YB) The best themes are not just a catchphrase, and it’s not just a graphic: it’s the WHY you do everything. Examine what happens when theme drives your decision-making process and everything in your book serves a purpose.

Meghan Percival Capital III Multitask with multimedia: Storytelling on various platforms (DM) Learn how to add interest and a different angle to your web articles with various multimedia options. Find out different ways to present infographics, photos, videos, soundbites and other multimedia elements on an online platform.

Aneesa Conine-Nakano, Susanna Conine-Nakano, Christina Kurian & David Ragsdale Capital IV

10 – 10:45 a.m.

Guerillas in the mist (ADV) Your journalism army is only as good as the generals who lead it. See how this adviser and former editor-in-chief himself breaks down formulas and personality traits to find the best editors in his program. There actually is a science to picking the best editor-in-chief – a method that produced two South Carolina Journalists of the Year.

Phillip Caston Ballroom A-C Introduction to Lightroom (P) This quick overview will introduce you to Adobe Lightroom – a strong alternative to outfitting your computer with Adobe Photoshop for you publication work.

Mark Murray – SIPA Endowment speaker Ballroom D How to score a great sports story (ALL) A former professional sports reporter who now advises print, online and yearbook will teach students how to write stories that will appeal to even those readers who rarely turn to the sports pages. Find the story within the story, develop sources and build relationships to get good quotes and maintain objectivity despite having to cover classmates.

Steve Hanf Ballroom E

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Sunday class schedule

Sunday, March 1 10 – 10:45 a.m.

All eyes are on your work! How to prepare for judging & critiques (YB) You want to put your best foot forward when submitting your publication for review. Learn how to present your work so the person providing a critique can understand your program and your publication. A veteran judge and “critiquer” will share her thought processes as she reviews a publication.

Mary Kay Downes Ballroom F-H Tackling sensitive subjects (ALL) Controversial subjects are difficult to tackle. Backlash and consequences are always at the back of the mind. Attend this session and see how one high school staff has taken a stand against their board of education and learn how to sack those controversial issues.

Erin Coggins Capital II

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Money talks (ALL) Does your publication struggle to make ends meet? This session will provide ideas and methods for generating revenue when your publication budget is tight.

Melanie Huynh-Duc Capital III Digital portfolios: Get you and your work online (DM) All students should be building their own personal websites that reflect a portfolio of their own experiences. Digital portfolios are great tools for state and national Journalist-of-the-Year competitions, scholarship applications and personal promotion.

Michaela Baker & Amy Medlock-Greene Capital IV

11 a.m.

Awards Ceremony Awards (See page 21) Carolina Ballroom

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Convention speakers Michaela Baker is a senior at Dutch Fork HS (S.C.). She is the editor-in-chief of their newsmagazine, The Renaissance, and the producer of “The Silver Screen Report.” She serves as the Member-at-Large for the SIPA student board.

Nina Brook is director of the Convergence Media magnet program in Richland School District 2 (S.C.). She helped establish the program at Richland Northeast HS after a 20-year career in newspapers, television and public relations.

Brittney Butler is a senior at Clarke Central HS (Ga.) and has been on the school’s Odyssey newsmagazine staff since her sophomore year. This year she is the print managing editor and strives to encourage the growth of her staff members on a daily basis.

Phillip Caston advises the yearbook and teaches journalism at Wando HS (S.C.). He previously advised the yearbook and newspaper at J.L. Mann HS (S.C.) and was named the 2012 Reid Montgomery Adviser of the Year.

A.J. Chambers is the “Wave TV” adviser at Summerville HS (S.C.). He more than over 10 years of freelance film experience and eight years of teaching experience.

Jim channell is the South Carolina representative for Walsworth Yearbooks. He has worked with the schools for 26 years and has been a part of the Walsworth family for 16. Jim’s dedication for helping students comes from his parents who were both high school teachers for 38 years. His passion is encouraging others and helping them to succeed.

Erin Coggins, MJE, has taught journalism for 13 years, advising newspaper and yearbook at Sparkman HS (Ala.). She has been the Alabama Adviser of the Year five times, a DJNF Special Recognition and Distinguished Adviser, and a CSPA Gold Key recipient. She also serves as public relations director for her school.

Anessa Conine-Nakano is a freshman at Clarke Central HS (Ga.) and is the webmaster for ODYSSEY online. She enjoys using multimedia and writing about local news. She wants to improve how online stories are formatted by including more interactive multimedia.

Susanna Conine-Nakano is the first editor-in-chief of ODYSSEY online at Clarke Central HS (Ga.) and has served previously as web master and digital managing editor. Last summer she participated in a seven-week summer immersion program at Google through the national Girls Who Code program.

Randy Covington teaches media ethics and visual storytelling for the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications. As director of Newsplex, the University’s newsroom of the future initiative, he works worldwide with journalists and strategic communicators. Before joining the J-School faculty, Covington served as news director of WIS in Columbia from 1991 to 2001.

He previously worked in news management positions for television stations in Philadelphia, Boston, Louisville and Houston. Covington started his career in journalism as editor of his high school yearbook in Anderson, Ind. Ethan crane is a senior at Clarke Central HS (Ga.). His career as a student journalist covers the majority of his time as a high school student. He works on both the newsmagazine and literary-art magazine staffs and has received recognition for his work on both publications.

Meredith Cummings, journalism instructor at The University of Alabama, is president of the SPJ Alabama Professional Chapter and directs the National Elementary School Press Association, the Alabama Scholastic Press Association and the Multicultural Journalism Workshop at UA. Her blog, The Up Beat, won second place nationally in the National Federation of Press Women contest in 2014.

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Jessica Daniel began her journalism career as the editor-in-chief of her high school yearbook and still has nightmares about grease pencils and triplicate papers. Today as a yearbook representative for Herff Jones, her passion revolves around helping schools tell the stories of their year. She made yearbook her life so that her yearbook advisers wouldn't have to!

Sam Doughton, a senior who serves as co-editor-in-chief of Pine Whispers, is in his fourth year in the journalism program at R.J. Reynolds HS (N.C.).

Doughton plans to major in journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Doughton also plays baseball and is a member of the school's a cappella choir.

Mary Kay Downes, MJE, has advised the Odyssey yearbook at Chantilly HS (Va.) for 24 years. She holds the JEA Medal of Merit, NSPA Pioneer, CSPA Gold Key and SIPA Elizabeth Dickey Award. A National Yearbook Adviser of the Year and a VHSL Hall of Fame inductee, Downes serves on the SIPA and VAJTA boards.

Justin Fabiano works as a content associate and producer at the SEC network in Charlotte, N.C. A former high school journalist at Stratford HS (S.C.) and SIPA president, Fabiano graduated from USC with a degree in broadcast journalism. He has worked in sports television since graduation and previously worked for ESPN in Bristol, Conn.

Beth Fitts, MJE, has served as the Dow Jones National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year and the director of the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association. She has received the NSPA Pioneer Award and the James F. Paschal Award from CSPA. She was named an All-American Adviser by NSPA and an All-Star Teacher by USA Today and has also received the Elizabeth B. Dickey Distinguished Service Award from SIPA. Steve Hanf majored in journalism at the University of Illinois and worked as a sportswriter for 13 years before moving into the classroom. He currently advises the Pine Whispers newspaper and Black & Gold yearbook at R.J. Reynolds HS (N.C.) and continues freelancing for several publications. Hanf will receive JEA’s Rising Star Award in April.

Erinn Harris, CJE, has been a yerd (yearbook nerd) for the last 20 years.

She advises Techniques yearbook, tjTODAY newspaper, tjTODAY Online and “TJTV” at Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology (Va.). Her staff has earned a CSPA Silver Crown, an NSPA Pacemaker, Gold Medalist and All-American critiques. JEA named Harris a Rising Star in 2010 and a Special Recognition Adviser in 2014.

Carolyn Henderson, CJE, is a former teacher and yearbook adviser. She serves the greater Charlotte, N.C., area as a yearbook representative, and her Camp Carolina Summer Workshop at Myrtle Beach enjoys a reputation as one of the top workshops on the East Coast. All-American critiques.

Dean Hume has been teaching journalism and advising publications for 34 years. At Lakota East HS (Ohio), Hume advises the Spark, a Pacemaker, Gallup, Best of Show and Gold Crown winner. Hume earned a DJNF Distinguished Adviser award, the Ashland Oil Achievement award, a U.S. Department of Education Presidents Award, and a Texas Trailblazer award.

Melanie Huynh-Duc has advised Northwest Guilford HS’s (N.C.) newspaper since 2007 and received JEA’s Rising Star Award in 2011. Her students’ school newspaper, Northwest Horizons, was a finalist for the NSPA Pacemaker in 2011 and has received NCSMA’s Tar Heel Award in 2012 and 2013.

Dr. Karla Kennedy is the Scholastic Journalism Outreach Coordinator for the University of Oregon and serves as the executive director of the Northwest Scholastic Press Association. A former high school journalism adviser, Kennedy has co-authored two law journal publications and is very interested in continuing research in the area of student media law and First Amendment rights for students and student journalists.

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Convention speakers David Knight is the public information director for the Lancaster County (S.C.) School District. He also teaches broadcast journalism at Lancaster HS. Knight was named the first SIPA Endowment speaker at last year’s convention.

He has served as public information director for USC-Lancaster and as a student newspaper and literary magazine adviser for Spring Valley HS (S.C.). A favorite at journalism workshops across the country, he has received SCSPA's Scroggins Award, SIPA’s Distinguished Service Award and CSPA's Gold Key. Christina Kurian is a sophomore at Clarke Central HS (Ga.) and a first-year staff writer for ODYSSEY online. Her interests include photography, multimedia and broadcast, and she is committed to including these elements on an online platform.

Richard Lipkin is a former award-winning scholastic journalist and editorin-chief of USC's student newspaper, The Daily Gamecock. He has ventured outside the halls of student media and is currently a digital editing intern for JBGnews.

Stella McCombs has been the adviser for “Real TV” at Stratford HS (S.C.) for 13 years. She is a 1994 graduate of the University of South Carolina and a former news producer at WCSC. Karin McKemey spent years in front of and behind the camera at several local news networks including WAVY-TV10 (Norfolk, Va.), Armed Forces Radio & Television (Naples, Italy) and WSOC-TV (Charlotte, N.C.) before finding her current position as TV production teacher and “The Buzz TV” broadcast adviser at Fort Mill HS (S.C.). The show has won numerous honors, including four Pillars of Excellence awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and is part of the PBS Student Reporting Labs project where they received the “Most Outstanding Broadcast” Award in 2014.

Beth McNamara is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in public relations at USC and has been an intern at Flock and Rally: Events + Communications for a Brave New South and for the Children's Hospital team at the nonprofit Palmetto Health Foundation. Currently, Beth strategizes and implements social media campaigns and website development for minority businesses as a social media specialist at DESA, Inc. Amy Medlock-Greene, MJE, is the newspaper and broadcast adviser at Dutch Fork HS (S.C.). She serves as SIPA chair and was named the SCSPA Reid H. Montgomery Adviser of the Year in 2008. Her newspaper and broadcast staffs have earned numerous distinctions from SCSPA, SIPA, and CSPA - including SCSPA’s Best In State, SIPA’s Scroggins Award, and CSPA’s Gold Medal.

Kevin Mobley is a junior at Clarke Central HS (Ga.) and a member of the school’s newsmagazine staff, the ODYSSEY, for the past two years. Mobley’s work has earned him three superior ratings by the GSPA. His goal as a journalist is to share the personalities of CCHS and provide fair, accurate and balanced coverage.

Brandi Moss is a yearbook representative with Herff Jones. She has 27 years experience in yearbook journalism including being a former adviser, editor and staffer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s of public administration. .

Mark Murray – SIPA ENdowment speaker – currently serves as the Director of Technical Services and System Integration for the Arlington Independent School District in Arlington, Texas. Prior to that, he taught photography at Lamar HS in AISD. For the past 28 years, Murray has served as the president and now executive director for the Association of Texas Photography Instructors. Murray is a Joseph M. Murphy and Gold Key recipient from CSPA, a Pioneer Award winner from NSPA, has been awarded the Carl Towley Award and Medal of Merit by JEA, has been named a

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Trailblazer by the Texas Association of Journalism Educators, ILPC has named him one of 75 Texas Legends of Scholastic Journalism and ATPI has presented him with their highest honor, the Star of Texas award.

Susan Newell, MJE and NBCT, has advised award-winning newspapers and yearbooks for 29 years. She is JEA director for Alabama, a SIPA board member and a former ASPA president. She is an Alabama Adviser of the Year, a DJNF Special Recognition Adviser and Distinguished Adviser, and an ASNE Reynolds Institute fellow. She advises The Northridge Reporter newspaper.

Tiernan O’Neill is a junior at Clarke Central HS (Ga.) and has been a part of the Odyssey newsmagazine and the ODYSSEY online for three years. Currently he serves as the viewpoints editor and strives to accurately represent the student body of Clarke Central and to bring attention to national issues to the students through a local lens.

David Patrick is a senior yearbook sales representative for Jostens proudly serving the Midlands of South Carolina. He was awarded SCSPA’s Scroggins Award for outstanding contributions to South Carolina scholastic journalism in 2010.

Meghan Percival, CJE, teaches photojournalism and advises The Clan yearbook staff at McLean HS (Va.). The Clan has been recognized with the NSPA Pacemaker and CSPA Gold Crown. She received a Gold Key from CSPA in 2013 and was a 2014 JEA Distinguished Adviser.

Louise Platter is a senior at Clarke Central HS (Ga.). She is the editor-inchief of the Odyssey newsmagazine. She has been a writer for the magazine since her sophomore year. She has won several awards from GSPA and SIPA for her work with in-depth feature profiles and issue-based stories.

Isabel Posada is currently the marketing and communications intern at the South Carolina Department of Commerce. She is also the PRSSA social media director for the USC chapter and is frequently published in The State newspaper.

Jenny Proctor, CJE, is a journalism adviser at Richland Northeast HS (S.C.) and is in her 12th year of teaching journalism. She has experience with advising newspaper, yearbook and online media and has her National Board Certification in Arts and Communication.

David Ragsdale, CJE, has advised student publications since 2001 at Clarke Central HS (Ga.) where he advises the Odyssey newsmagazine, ODYSSEY Online, “ODTV” and Iliad literary-art magazine. His staffs have received top honors in critiques and competitions across the country. He was the GSPA Adviser of the Year in 2007 and was named an ASNE Reynolds Fellow in 2014.

Adam Ragusea is Journalist in Residence and Visiting Assistant Professor of Journalism at Mercer University’s Center for Collaborative Journalism, which unites a commercial newspaper, a public broadcaster, and an undergraduate journalism program in a “teaching hospital” model of journalism education and practice. Ragusea is often heard reporting stories for public radio shows. He also writes commentaries for the public media trade publication Current and contributes local reports to Georgia Public Broadcasting and The Telegraph newspaper of Macon, Ga. Dr. Catherine Ramsdell is a professor of writing at SCAD Atlanta. She has more than a decade of college teaching experience, and she has taught courses such as Writing for the Web, Writing of New Media, and Multimedia Journalism She also writes for popmatters.com, an online magazine of cultural criticism.

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Convention speakers Jon reese, CJE, advises the Carpe Diem newsmagazine, “The Dec” broadcast program and the 3ten.org website at Decatur HS (Ga.). He also coordinates the senior project and IB CAS program. Reese is Georgia's JEA state director, and he serves on the advisory committee of GSPA and SIPA. He is a 2013 ASNE Reynolds Institute fellow and has advised student media for 22 years.

Stephen Staton is the Senior Graphic Designer with Dixon Hughes Goodman in Atlanta, Georgia. He has worked in the design industry for 10 years. His work experience includes social media advertising, data analytics & visualization, and advertising, and corporate branding.

Devon Swale, CJE, found her love for journalism as the publications adviser at Eastside HS (S.C.). Currently a Herff Jones yearbook representative, Swale believes YEARBOOK MATTERS, and she loves that her passion is also her career. [@yearbookmatters] Elizabeth Swann, CJE, teaches journalism and creative writing at Nation Ford HS (S.C.). An experienced graphic designer, writer, and editor, her award-winning prose and poetry have appeared in numerous publications, including The Chicago Tribune, Southern Poetry Review, Atlanta Review, and storySouth, and her poetry chapbook, Port Desire, was published in 2014.

James Tatter, a senior who serves as co-editor-in-chief of Pine Whispers, is in his fourth year in the journalism program at R.J. Reynolds HS (N.C.). Tatter plans to the University of Michigan. Tatter also runs cross country and serves as president of the school’s fan club, the Reynolds Rowdies.

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Collyn Taylor is a sophomore print journalism student at USC and works in the scholastic press office. A former scholastic journalist, he now works as a sports writer for Spurs and Feathers, the official publication of the USC booster organization, The Gamecock Club. He covers Gamecock athletics football, basketball, baseball and any other sport the university offers.

Chuck Walker is the broadcast and yearbook adviser at Nation Ford HS (S.C.). He is the 2014 Reid H. Montgomery Adviser of the Year and the 2014 Fort Mill School District Teacher of the Year.

Chris Waugaman, MJE, is the 2014 DJNF Teacher of the Year and teaches journalism at Prince George HS (Va.), where he advises the newspaper, broadcast, online and magazine staffs. He is the director of VAJTA and serves on the SIPA board. In 2011, he was named a DJNF Distinguished Adviser, and in 2012, a Lowell Milken Center Fellow.

Charlotte Wood has been advising the Albemarle HS (Va.) Lantern literary/art magazine for the past 15 years. The Lantern has won many highest awards in various state and national-level publication critiques. She teaches Creative Writing 1 and 2,3,4 classes which are part of the Creative Writing strand of the AHS Arts and Letters Pathways.

Carl Zimmermann founded and advises the “UPC-TV” production program at Clearwater HS (Fla.). He was elected to Florida’s House of Representatives in 2012 as a representative for the 65th district. He was honored as journalism teacher of the year for the Tampa Bay region three times and 2003 Florida Journalism Teacher of the Year. Zimmermann started his career in the New York advertising world, performing as a production manager, copy chief and account executive.

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Distinguished Service Awards Elizabeth B. Dickey Distinguished Service Award Recipients Distinguished Service Awards are given to teachers, advisers and others who have contributed extraordinary amounts of time, talent and energy to SIPA. The award was renamed in 2006 to honor Elizabeth B. Dickey’s outstanding service to scholastic journalism.

Advisers, associate members, students or principals may nominate people for this award. Recipients of past Distinguished Service Recipients are Alice James ‘79 J. Grady Locklear ‘79 Col. C.E. “Chuck” Savedge ‘79 Dr. Albert T. Scroggins ‘79 Clark Chism ‘80 Fanny King ‘80 Marianne King ‘80 Dr. Regis Boyle ‘81 Hope Carroll ‘81 Ann Herlong ‘81 Eloise Howard ‘81 Dr. Dennis Jones ‘81 Charles O’Malley ‘81 Florence Hancock ‘82 Nancy Green ‘83 Betty Morton ‘83 Beth Dickey ‘84 Bruce E. Konkle ‘84 Patricia Hedden Wicker ‘84 Thomas Engleman ‘85 Carole Ford ‘85 Dr. Ruby Herlong ‘85 Dr. Reid Montgomery ‘85 Col. Joseph M. Murphy ‘85 Kay Phillips ‘85 Oscar Wetherhold “Tom” Reigel ‘85 Lilla Scroggins ‘85 Herb Sirota ‘85 Sam Garner ‘86 Dr. Jack Hillwig ‘86 Bruce Watterson ‘86 Ann Bartholomew ‘87 Hud Clark ‘87 Dorothy McPhillips ‘87 Shirley Moravec ‘87 Dr. John Butler ‘88 Mark Goodman ‘88 Ken Henderson ‘88 Alma Blythe ‘88 Earl Straight ‘88 Mary Ann Blaskowitz ‘89

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John Cutsinger ‘89 Betsy Owen ‘89 Richard J. Fitz ‘90 David Knight ‘90 Richard L. “Rik” McNeill ‘90 Karen H. Flowers ‘91 James F. Paschal ‘91 Carol Lange ‘92 Nancy Ruth Patterson ‘92 Susan Earley ‘93 Richard Johns ‘93 Margaret Johnston ‘93 Sylvia Daughtry ‘94 Brenda Gorsuch ‘94 Judy Hines ‘94 Dr. John Lopiccolo ‘94 Margaret Shearouse ‘94 Dr. Jack Dvorak ‘95 Linda Leatherman ‘95 Chuck Stone ‘95 Beth Hammond ‘96 Judith Price ‘96 Dr. Richard Uray ‘96 Robert Atwood ‘97 Mary Inglis ‘97 Nora Moulton ‘97 Lori Oglesbee ‘98 Martha Akers ‘98 Tom French ‘99 Judy Mulkey ‘99 Bobby Hawthorne ‘99 John Grisham ‘99 Tim Harrower ‘00 Carolyn Haldeman ‘00 John Hudnall ‘00 Patsy Towery ‘00 H. L. Hall ‘01 Martha Rothwell ‘01 Dr. Ronald Farrar ‘01 Will Felts ‘02 Margaret Sorrows ‘02

Christie Gold ‘03 Sharon Deibel ‘03 Kim Stokes ‘03 Carl Zimmermann ‘03 Pat Jackson ‘03 Julie Dodd ‘04 Mark Murray ‘04 Steve Row ‘04 Tamela K. Watkins ‘04 Beth Fitts ‘05 Rhonda Moore ‘05 Flip Schulke ‘05 Jane Speidel ‘05 Carolyn Terry ‘05 Gary C. Dickey ‘06 Martha Herring ‘06 Jack Kennedy ‘06 Amy Medlock-Greene ‘06 Ken Thornberry ‘06 Charles Bierbauer ‘07 Marilyn Chapman ‘07 Alison Shuman ‘07 Sandy Woodcock ‘07 Linda Puntney ‘08 Alan Weintraut ‘08 Bradley Wilson ‘08 Monica Hill ‘09 Stella McCombs ‘09 Jake Palenske ‘09 Joe Dennis ‘10 Valerie Kibler ‘10 Susan Newell ‘10 Kristi Gibbins ‘11 Jenny Proctor ‘11 Leslie Dennis ‘12 Chris Floore ‘12 Frank LoMonte ‘12 Mary Kay Downes ‘13 Deborah Gascon ‘13 Buck Ryan ‘13 Dr. Carol Pardun, ‘14

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Awards, scholarships & contests SCHOLARSHIPS J. Grady Locklear Scholarship The J. Grady Locklear Scholarship may be awarded at the SIPA Convention to a senior who meets the following criteria: 1. The student must be accepted by USC and meet USC’s scholarship guidelines.

2. The student must attend the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

3. The student must be a writer or staff member of a literary magazine.

4. The student must attend the 2015 SIPA Convention.

5. The student or his/her publication must be a member of SIPA. Col. C. E. Savedge Scholarship Col. C.E. (Chuck) Savedge was an important figure in scholastic journalism and deeply involved with SIPA. The School of Journalism and Mass Communications at USC has established this scholarship for an outstanding high school senior who meets the following criteria: 1. The student must be accepted by USC and meet USC’s scholarship guidelines.

2. The student must attend the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

3. The student must be a yearbook staffer.

4. The student or his/her publication must be a member of SIPA. 5. The student must attend the 2015 SIPA Convention.

The 2014 winner was Kaelyn Urena, Sun Valley HS (Indian Trail, N.C .).

Elizabeth B. Dickey SIPA Scholarship This scholarship will be awarded by the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications to an outstanding SIPA student during the convention.

Applicants must meet the following criteria: 1. The student must be accepted by USC and meet USC’s scholarship guidelines.

2. The student must attend the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

3. The student or his/her publication must be a member of SIPA. 4. The student must attend the 2015 SIPA Convention.

The 2014 winner was Nina Davis, Richland Northeast HS (Columbia, S.C .).

Col. C. E. Savedge Fellowship Fellowships will provide registrations for the Carolina Journalism Institute. Publication advisers who have never attended CJI are eligible to receive fellowships.

SIPA Endowment Regional Scholarship One scholarship will be awarded by the SIPA Endowment Committee to an outstanding SIPA student who will attend a school of journalism and mass communications at an accredited college or university in the SIPA region. The student must attend the 2015 SIPA Convention.

The 2014 winner was Hailey Disher, Stratford HS (Goose Creek, S.C .).

AWARDS Dr. Kay Phillips Administrator-of-the-Year Award This award is given to administrators who nurture the principles of scholastic journalism by supporting more than one publication, supporting the professional growth of the adviser and the educational growth of the students, as well as supporting academic standards. Advisers whose publications are members of SIPA may nominate an administrator at their schools. The 2014 winner was Theresa Johnson, principal of Chantilly HS (Va.).

Outstanding Service Award This award was given for the first time in 2010 as the Friend of Scholastic Media Award. This award goes to an individual who is not in the classroom but who has significantly supported scholastic journalism. Bill Rogers, executive director of S.C . Press Association, received the award in 2014.

Joseph Shoquist Freedom of the Press Award This award, named in honor of former Dean Joseph W. Shoquist, will be given periodically when an adviser and/or staff makes a strong stand for scholastic journalism.

Scroggins Awards The Scroggins Awards are given in memory of Dr. Albert T. Scroggins, director emeritus of SIPA. The following criteria must be met in order to qualify for the Scroggins Award competition: 1. The publication must have received an All-Southern rating.

2. The adviser and a staff member must attend the 2015 SIPA Convention.

The 2014 winners were Broadcast “Tribe Talk,” Wando HS

(Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) Magazine Iliad, Clarke Central HS

(Athens, Ga.) Newspaper Tribal Tribune, Wando HS

(Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) Online Media ODYSSEY online, Clarke Central HS

(Athens, Ga.) Yearbook Talismann, J.L. Mann HS

(Greenville, S.C.)

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

CONTESTS Broadcast Individual Anchor Contest Students will write a script from copy provided; then the students will read the script on camera.

The 2014 first-place winner was Hannah Elgradawy, James Island Charter HS (Charleston, S.C.). First runner-up was Aaron Joseph, Summerville HS (Summerville, S.C .).

Broadcast On-the-Spot Feature Contest Teams conduct interviews, shoot footage, edit footage and complete a three-minute feature package. The 2014 winners for Best Storytelling – “UPC-TV,” Countryside HS

(Clearwater, Fla.) Best Videography – “Tribe Talk,” Wando HS (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) Best Overall – “Tribe Talk,” Wando HS (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) Southern Regional Scholastic Journalism Quiz Bowl The qualifying round Friday night consists of a written, multiple-choice test. Questions will be on current events, journalism history, scholastic media law, AP style and terminology. The top eight teams will qualify for the Quiz Bowl rounds Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

The 2014 champion was Oxford HS (Oxford, Miss.).

TOP (Team Onsite Production) This contest is open to newspaper and yearbook students. They will interview, write, edit and design pages Saturday afternoon. The 2014 winners were NP Design Odyssey, Clarke Central HS

(Athens, Ga.) NP Writing The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS

(Irmo, S.C .)

NP Overall Tribal Tribune, Wando HS

(Mt. Pleasant, S.C .)

YB Copy The Archive, Richland Northeast HS

(Columbia, S.C .)

YB Design Warrior, East Bay HS

(Gibsonton, Fla.) YB Overall Warrior, East Bay HS

(Gibsonton, Fla.)

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SIPA Endowment Mission The Endowment Committee creates and implements strategies to generate revenue in support of scholastic journalism.

How To Donate • Checks can be made to the SIPA Endowment and mailed to SIPA, SJMC/USC, Columbia, S.C. 29208.

• Online donations can be made by visiting http://tinyurl.com/ SIPAendowment • During each SIPA Convention, a special auction for advisers and guests is held Saturday evening to raise funds for the Endowment.

Credit cards are accepted at the auction.

Endowment Fund Committee • Marilyn Chapman, Florence, S.C., co-chair • Mary Inglis, West Palm Beach, Fla., co-chair • Beth Dickey, Lexington, S.C. • Chris Floore, Macon, Ga. • Karen Flowers, Irmo, S.C. • Deborah Gascon, Irmo, S.C. • Brenda Gorsuch, Hendersonville, N.C. • Melanie Huynh-Duc, Greensboro, N.C. • Amy Medlock-Greene, Irmo, S.C. • Jenny Proctor, Lugoff, S.C. • Martha Rothwell, Statesville, N.C.

Adviser Recognitions

In Memory Recognitions

Students may choose to donate money to honor their advisers.

Advisers recognized have their names engraved on a plaque in the SIPA office.

Students and advisers may wish to make donations in memory of individuals. These individuals are also recognized on a plaque in the SIPA office.

Alberta Abercrombie Valerie Banks Amster Helen Browne Hope Carroll Lynne Collins Sylvia Daughtry Karen Flowers Mary Inglis Alice James Marianne King J. Grady Locklear Shirley Moravec Lori Oglesbee Betsy Owen Kay Phillips Herb Sirota Bruce Watterson

In Honor Students and advisers may wish to make donations in honor of an individual who has made a difference in their journalistic lives. These individuals are also recognized on a plaque in the SIPA office.

Andy Bosman Lewis G. Brierley Catherine Bouknight Brown Sylvia Daughtry-Brown and Joe Brown Morris Dees Elizabeth B. Dickey Gary Dickey Karen Flowers Melanie Huynh-Duc & Northwest Horizons staff Irmo HS Stinger Staff, 1999-2000 Debbie Jacobs Valentina & Sergei Korol Susan Morton Leonard Chris McDonald Martha Rothwell Becky Starnes

• Kelli Self, Asheville, N.C.

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• Margery O. Anderson (mother of Derek & Andrew Anderson) • Dr. Regis Louise Boyle (Executive Board member) • Billy Joe Breedlove (stepdad of Chris McDonald) • Joe & Catherine Bouknight Brown (parents of Beth Dickey) • Betty B. Cain (grandmother of Alison Shuman) • Walter Dennis (father of Joe Dennis) • Grace Ellis Douglass (mother of Kay Douglass Philips) • Leland Douglass (father of Kay Douglass Phillips) • DeDe Fitts (husband of Beth Fitts) • Richard Fitz (former adviser of The Haliscope) • Sandy Floore (mother of Chris Floore) • George & Helen Flowers (in-laws of Karen Flowers) • Debbie Garris (administrative assistant to the director of USC SJMC and friend to Scholastic Journalism) • Russ Gold (father of Christie Gold) • Ruth Kissiah Hall (mother of Martha Rothwell) • Beth Hammond (former adviser of The Laureate) • Mike Herring (husband of Martha Herring Anderson) • Elizabeth B. Hudson (mother of Karen Flowers) • James Nathan Hudson (father of Karen Flowers) • Clara Mae Jacobs (mother of Sylvia Daughtry) • Lawrence E. “Larry” Jacobs (brother of Sylvia Daughtry-Brown) • Evelyn Glass Langston (mother of Beth Fitts) • Dorothy E. Leonard (mother of Sharon Deibel) • Mr. & Mrs. James Perry Locklear (parents of J. Grady Locklear) • Logan McCombs (son of Shawn & Stella McCombs) • Johnny Morton (husband of Betty Morton) • Kathleen Murphy (Freedom HS Revolution staffer) • Bonnie Neely (friend of Sylvia Daughtry-Brown) • Joseph W. Penton, Jr. (father of Valerie Kibler) • Renee Ragsdale (mother of David Ragsdale) • O.W. (Tom) Riegel (former SIPA director) • Edith Robertson (grandmother of Leslie Dennis) • Flip Schulke (professional photographer) • Dr. Al Scroggins (dean and SIPA director) • Ruth Sherman (grandmother of Leslie Dennis) • Chuck Stone (University of N.C. professor) • Shaunee Vazquez • Exene Walker (mother of Brenda Gorsuch) • Pert Wall (friend of Sylvia Daughtry-Brown) • Doris Whalen (mother of Rich Whalen) • Francis John Wuzzardo (father of Kevin Wuzzardo) • David S. Yoakley (father of Mary Inglis) • Madge Yoakley (mother of Mary Inglis)

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

SIPA Endowment SIPA Endowment Used Book Sale

Lifetime Members $400

Used (and some new) books are on sale in the Marriott Pre-function area. Pay what you want. All proceeds go to the SIPA Endowment.

(after the convention, lifetime memberships go back up to $500)

SIPA Endowment Auction

• The silent auction will begin in the Palmetto Room after the Adviser’s Luncheon and will close at 6:30 p.m. You will get your paddles at the live auction. However, you will find paddle numbers posted in the Palmetto Room after the luncheon so you know your number in order to bid during the silent auction.

The silent auction will go on throughout the afternoon and evening on Saturday and you can to go to the Palmetto Room to bid on items as you have time.

SIPA Endowment Fund Memorial/Honor Donation Name of person you want to honor or remember with contribution: Please check: Honor Memorial Brief reason you are honoring/remembering this person (for our SIPA history):

Your name:

Please make check payable to SIPA Endowment Fund and mail to: Southern Interscholastic Press Association School of Journalism and Mass Communications University of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

Yvonne Allen Robert Atwood Vanessa Bump Brian Cole Sylvia Daughtry Lisa Dean Karen H. Flowers Steve Hanf Heather Hanks Erinn Harris Tara Hays Tressie Hays Ken Henderson Valerie Kibler Steve Lindgren J. Grady Locklear Deanna Martin Deborah Mayer Chris McDonald Rik McNeill Amy Medlock-Greene Melanie Menefee Lance Morrison Betty Morton Louisa Ogle Lori Oglesbee Betsy Owen David Ragsdale Shawn Risener Martha Rothwell Albert T. Scroggins Greg Spoon Stephanie Stone Beth Ward Chris Waugaman David Webb Rae Weinstein

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Who’s Who in SIPA Advisory Council

Executive Committee

SIPA Convention Staff

The Advisory Council meets during the convention and helps spread the word about SIPA during the year. The Council discusses the activities of SIPA and offers suggestions and assistance to the Executive Committee. If you are interested in serving, or if you have concerns that you would like the Council to address, please make sure to attend the Saturday morning breakfast and/or the Saturday 2 p.m. meeting.

The Executive Committee is made up of the chair, vice chair and secretary, student officers, their advisers and other people appointed by the director. The Executive Committee meets during the spring convention and once each fall.

The committee sets guidelines for judging and evaluating and handles SIPA business.

• Tom Weir USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications director and SIPA director

Alabama: • Erin Coggins, Sparkman HS (13–15) • Mary Morrow, St. Clair County HS (13-15) • Susan Newell, Northridge HS (13-15) Arkansas: • Beth Shull, Pulaski Academy, (13-15) Florida: • Heather Hanks, Bloomingdale HS (13-15) • Louisa Ogle, H.B. Plant HS (14-16) • Margaret Trautwein, Countryside HS (14-16) Georgia: • Desiree Tabor Carter, Dunwoody HS (14-16) • David Ragsdale, Clarke Central HS (13-15) • Jon Reese, Decatur HS (13-15) Mississippi: • Lee Mullen, Oxford HS (14-16) North Carolina: • Adrienne Hollifield, Charles D. Owen HS (13-15) • Steve Hanf, R.J. Reynolds HS (13-15) Oklahoma: • Dee Harris, Bixby HS (14-16) South Carolina: • Phillip Caston, Wando HS (13-15) • Brittny Meekins Ervin, J.L. Mann HS (14-16) • Deborah Gascon, Dutch Fork HS (13-15) • Jenny Proctor, Richland Northeast HS (14-16) • Chuck Walker, Nation Ford HS (13-15) Texas: • Melonie Menefee, Buffalo HS (13-15) Virginia: • Mary Kay Downes, Chantilly HS (14-16) • Sue Gill, Stafford HS (13-15) • Lori Reaser, Albemarle HS (14-16) • Charlotte Wood, Albemarle HS (14-16)

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Chair: Amy Medlock-Greene, Dutch Fork HS, S.C. Vice Chair: Coni Grebel, Lee County HS, Ga. Secretary: Stella McCombs, Stratford HS, S.C. Past Chair: Mary Inglis, Wellington HS, Fla. President: Nicholas Byrne, Clarke Central HS, Ga. Vice President: Anderson Scull, Richland Northeast HS, S.C. Member-at-Large: Michaela Baker, Dutch Fork HS, S.C. Appointed Members • Nina Brook, Richland Northeast HS, S.C. • Phillip Caston, Wando HS, S.C. • Erin Coggins, Sparkman HS, Ala. • Mary Kay Downes, Chantilly HS, Va. • Beth Fitts, Oxford, Miss.

• Brenda Gorsuch, West Henderson HS, N.C. • Steve Hanf, R.J. Reynolds HS, N.C. • Erinn Harris, Thomas Jefferson HS for Technology & Science, Va. • Valerie Kibler, Harrisonburg HS, Va. • Susan Newell, Northridge HS, Ala. • Meghan Percival, McLean HS, Va. • David Ragsdale, Clarke Central HS, Ga. • Lori Reaser, Albemarle HS, Va. • Chuck Walker, Nation Ford HS, S.C. • Chris Waugaman, Prince George HS, Va. • Charlotte Wood, Albemarle HS, Va.

• Charles Bierbauer USC College of Mass Communications and Information Studies dean • Karen Flowers SIPA executive director • Leslie Dennis SIPA scholastic press manager • Karie Grace Duncan SIPA student assistant • Lauren Harper SIPA student assistant • Rebecca Piner SIPA student assistant • Collyn Taylor SIPA student assistant • Ashley Ellison SIPA volunteer, Seneca, S.C. • Jarad Greene SIPA volunteer, Columbia, S.C. • B.P. Turner SIPA volunteer, Columbia, S.C.

Consultants • Meredith Cummings, Ala. Scholastic Press Assoc.

• Joe Dennis, Ga. Scholastic Press Assoc.

• Monica Hill, N.C. Scholastic Media Assoc.

• R.J. Morgan, Miss. Scholastic Press Assoc • Mark Murray, Arlington ISD, Texas

SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

SIPA’s 90th anniversary

SIPA History – The Beginnings Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) is the result of a desire to create something special, a reaching out to young people interested in the future of journalism, a gathering of kindred minds to share and improve upon scholastic journalism in the South.

These ideas came together in 1925 for SIPA’s founder, Roscoe B. Ellard, then head of the Lee Memorial School of Journalism at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

Nearly all records of the organization’s founding put the date as 1925, with the first convention held in April 1926.

Conventions continued annually until 1942, when travel restrictions and other war-time difficulties caused a suspension of activities until the 1946-47 school year.

Sponsored by the Lee Memorial Journalism Foundation to extend to high schools and preparatory schools in the South the high idealism for southern journalism that moved Robert E. Lee, when he was president SIPA Convention & Competition 2015

of Washington College (later named Washington & Lee University), to introduce the first collegiate training for journalism anywhere in the world.

Through SIPA, the Lee Journalism Foundation (made possible by the vision of General Lee and material assistance of southern editors and publishers) had united scholastic journalists from the southern states and the District of Columbia in a common organization. This organization has continued to grow so much that it has had to move twice to accommodate the demand for its services. SIPA celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2000 at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C., its permanent home.

At the time of its founding, SIPA’s purpose was to provide short-course session and an exchange of ideas on both editorial and business aspects of school publications. It continued to meet annually growing with enrollment and interest.

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“

“

In my chapter of Quill and Scroll Society, I have found a tight-knit family sharing the same passion for journalism as I have.

— Carley Lanich, Lawrence Central High School graduate

It’s an honor!

Quill and Scroll INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISTS

u o r J nali l o o s ch

High S

ts

Quill and Scroll has recognized and encouraged scholastic journalism and academic excellence since 1926. Its services include: Yearbook Excellence Contest (postmark deadline Nov. 1) International Writing and Photo Contest (postmark deadline Feb. 5) Blogging Competition (postmark deadline Feb. 5) Scholarships (postmark deadline May 11) News Media Evaluation (postmark deadline June 15)

@quillandscroll

quillandscroll.org

quillandscrollsociety

“One of the nation’s boldest journalism experiments.”

The New York Times

Digital Media Summer Camp • • • • • •

Build mobile apps Learn HTML, CSS & JavaScript Hone your writing & photography Improve your social media skills Try your hand at radio & video Work with award-winning editors & reporters

June 12–21, 2015 Rising 10th–12th graders 10 days, 9 nights on Mercer’s Macon, Ga. campus Full scholarships available (attend for FREE)

Hands-on Undergraduate Journalism Program & Media Changemaker Scholarship

The Center for Collaborative Journalism trains students by placing them in newsrooms where they work with professional journalists. Students graduate with portfolios of published clips (digital, print, TV and radio) that give them an edge in a changing job market. With our new Media Changemaker Scholarships, select students interested in journalism and media studies earn full-tuition scholarships.

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ccj.mercer.eduSIPA Convention & Competition 2015