Fall Regional Workshop Sept. 27 2017
Tuscaloosa Ferguson Student Center
welcome 9 a.m.
Keynote Maacah Davis
Meredith Cummings Director, Alabama Scholastic Press Association Dr. Cory Armstrong Chair, Department of Journalism and Creative Media Born in Cameroon, and raised between Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ghana before living in the US, Maacah Davis is just another Magical Black Girl trying to maximize her personal and creative capacities. As the founding independent publisher of Birmingham's first fashion magazine, she leads the publication's business strategies and creative identities. She has been profiled by The Birmingham Times, Create Birmingham, WBHM, Weld, the Collat School of Business, Vox.com, and Popsugar; and, she has worked as a brand ambassador for Pepsi, Adobe, and Chevrolet. In 2017, she shared the TEDxBirmingham stage with 11 of the city's most active game changers. Maacah has led workshops hosted by the Birmingham Education Foundation, and spoken about entrepreneurship to students of the Science and Technology Honors College at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has spoken about building Birmingham's fashion identity, diversifying fashion photography and publishing, and being a girl boss at the following events: Girl Talk 2016 at Miles College; Design Week Birmingham Rapid Fire by Pecha Kucha; 'Magazine Dreams' Panel at the Bloganista Minicon, hosted by one of Birmingham's Top 40 under 40, Javacia Bowser; Young Women's Empowerment Conference 2015. She hopes to one day take a food tour of the world--so, when she's not working on building a media empire, she can sometimes be found eating her way through Birmingham.
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Key 10 a.m.
LM - Literary magazine NP - Newspaper MUL - Multimedia BR - Broadcast YB - Yearbook ALL - All media
Session 1
How to score a great sports story, led by Marquis Munson, Room 3115 (NP, MUL, BR, YB) A professional sports reporter 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. Standing out in the broadcast world, led by Andrea Matei, Room 3104 (BR, MUL) We’ll tackle small things you can add to your newscast that will make a big difference, and review some examples. And let’s not forget – good writing skills are the backbone of a good story! Features vs. news: The Dos and Don’ts, led by Susan Newell, Room 3107 (NP, MUL, BR, YB) When writing news and features, it helps to examine the writing of award-winning professionals. This session will teach you to use thorough reporting, description, and compelling leads to tell your story well and pull in your readers.
Delight with design, led by Mary Inglis, Room 3700/Forum (YB, NP) Your media readers want the whole package to go with their stories. Give them a sophisticated design and they will read! Photography, led by Lane Stafford, Ferguson Theater (ALL) Get photo tips and tricks, show off your photography skills regardless of your skill level. Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Led by Kate Risk, Room 3114 (NP, MUL) What to write: We’ll look at various school newspapers from around the country to see what other schools out there are doing. We’ll also learn the “Rule of Eight” to judge news value and find what makes a story worth writing. Outside the box, led by Emmett Christolear, Room 3108 (LM) How to incorporate multimedia and nontraditional genres into your print and online journal.
11 a.m.
Session 2
Fall ASPA board meeting, led by Meredith Cummings, ASPA Director, Anderson Room/3125 This meeting is open to all advisers. Don’t worry if you can’t stay the whole time. Dropping in and out is fine. Come meet other advisers, hear the latest ASPA announcements and business and relax with other teachers. Photo photo!, led by Mary Inglis, Room 3700/Forum (NP, MUL, BR, YB) Most good photos happen for a reason. Come see how to give your readers the very best that you can shoot looking through the camera lens.
Session 2 continued
Get critiqued!, led by Andrea Matei, Room 3104 (BR) A news producer is the one who chooses what exactly goes into a newscast and what doesn’t. Bring a newscast or different stories, and get feedback and tips to take back with you. Interviewing 101: How do I ask good questions?, led by Kate Risk, Room 3114 (NP, MUL, BR, YB) What to ask and how to ask it! Students will learn the importance of the 5W’s and an H along with interviewing etiquette. Lit mag looks good!, led by Brian Oliu, Room 3108 (LM) Want to fine tune your lit mag skills? Let’s talk about the aesthetics of your book (and make a fun journal while we’re at it).
Multitask with multimedia, led by Mary Kathryn Carpenter, Room 3115 (MUL, BR) Learn how to add a different angle to your publication with various multimedia options. We will examine different ways to present infographics, photos, videos, sound bites and other multimedia elements online. Team building, led by Emmett Christolear, Room 3108 (ALL) A crash course on utilizing your team’s resources and personnel.
Noon
Session 3
New advisors roundtable, led by Susan Newell, Anderson Room/3125 This session is for new advisers who need help, or want to share tips, tricks, challenges and triumphs. Caption that! Mary Inglis, Room 3700/Forum (NP, MUL, BR, YB) Should you state the obvious? Make the picture worth 1,000 words through thorough caption writing. Get out there and be heard, led by Mark Mayfield, Room 3104 (ALL) Don't let your age deter you! While you are still in middle and high school you can put work out there that will get you noticed. Hear from a former New York magazine editor and freelance journalist about how to get noticed now, as well as how to prepare for college media. All Write, all write, all write!, led by Kate Risk, Room 3114 (NP) News writing, opinion writing, feature writing, sports writing, columns, reviews, satires, AND MORE: all going into one newspaper. Learn how, here! Creating the flow, led Emmett Christolear, Room 3108 (LM) Learn how to set the pace and rhythm of your journal. Multimedia magic, led by Mary Kathryn Carpenter, Room 3115 (ALL) Are you looking for ways to produce better multimedia packages for your website, or promos for your media? This session will demonstrate how to use video, audio, interactive graphics, infographics, slideshows, timelines and more to tell engaging multimedia stories.
Mary Kathryn Carpenter is a graduate of The University of Alabama where she studied visual journalism and minored in general business. She served as photo director for Alpine Living Magazine, communications assistant for the College of Arts & Sciences, and as an intern at The Natchez Democrat and The Tuscaloosa News. She is the recipient of the UA Visual Journalist of the Year award for 2015-2016. She is currently director of Vida Magazine, a graduate research assistant for the Office of Undergraduate Research, and is seeking her MA in Journalism at The University of Alabama.
Emmett Christolear is a graduate of the University of Alabama in Birmingham, where he served as a student editor for Aura Literary Arts Review. For the past two summers, he has taught magazine production at the Ada Long Creative Writing Workshop for high school students hosted by UAB.
Meredith Cummings, MJE, has over 20 years of experience in print, web and multimedia reporting. She is Immediate Past President of Alabama Media Professionals and the Society of Professional Journalists Alabama Professional Chapter. She advises the Capstone Association of Black Journalists. She is a member of SPJ’s Journalism Education Committee and is lead organizer for TEDxTuscaloosa. In 2017 Cummings won first place in the personal blog category in the National Federation of Press Women contest and second place for opinion writing. She currently writes a blog for al.com and medium.com. Cummings supervises Editing and Digital production for UA's Department of Journalism and Creative Media in the WVUA-TV newsroom, a professional commercial TV station. In 2014 she was awarded the James Frederick Paschal Award, given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Advisers Association that honors state or regional school press association officials who have distinguished themselves in the field. Mary Inglis is a veteran of scholastic journalism. She has advised yearbook for 30+ years in Florida, where she received the Morty Schaap award for Journalism Teacher of the Year in her state’s district. She has attended state, regional, and national conventions with students who have won awards in both writing and design. She feels her strength is trying new ideas her students bring while adhering to the basics of the journalism discipline. Inglis is the past chair of the Southern Interscholastic Press Association and its recognized Endowment Speaker for 2017.
Andrea Matei produces the 6 p.m. news for WVUA 23, located right inside the BryantDenny Stadium. She graduated from The University of Alabama with a bachelor's in journalism. She first discovered her love for broadcast news at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, where she was one of the students to launch PATS-TV. Andrea has a long history with ASPA. She participated in workshops throughout high school, took part in the Multicultural Journalism Workshop in 2010 and volunteered while she was in college. Andrea is German and has lived in the U.S. since 2002. She enjoys traveling, cooking, listening to music and watching football (both European and Alabama).
Mark Mayfield serves as editorial adviser in the Office of Student Media at The University of Alabama, following a long career in magazine and newspaper journalism. He is a former editor-in-chief of four major home design and art magazines, including House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Southern Accents and Art & Antiques. He also worked for more than 10 years as a reporter and bureau chief for USA Today. He is author or co-author of three books—The Spaceflight Vault: A History of NASA's Manned Missions, Southern Style, and Crimson Domination: The Process Behind Alabama's 15th National Championship.
Marquis Munson graduated from the University of Alabama in May with a major in sports journalism. He works as a producer for Tide 102.9 and writes for FanSided. com. He previously worked in sports media on and off campus. He wrote for the student newspaper, the Crimson White on its sports staff as a contributing writer and staff reporter. He also worked served as assistant sports director for the student radio station 90.7 the Capstone, hosting various show topics including football, basketball and classic hip-hop. He has had internships with Alabama Public Radio, The Tuscaloosa News, and Tide 102.9.
Susan Newell, MJE and NBCT, has advised award-winning scholastic newspapers and yearbooks. She is Alabama’s JEA Director, has served as a SIPA board member and as ASPA president. She is an Alabama Advisor of the Year, a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Special Recognition Advisor and Distinguished Advisor, and an ASNE Reynolds HSJ Institute fellow. She is a JEA mentor and welcomes new Alabama advisors to become mentees.
Brian Oliu is an Instructor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Alabama. He is also the Director of Slash Pine Press, an undergraduate internship where students organize literary events around Tuscaloosa as well as design and edit chapbooks from a national call for submissions. He is the author of four fulllength books and six chapbooks, with subjects ranging from Craigslist Missed Connections, to 8-bit videogames, to dragons, to computer viruses, to NBA Jam.
Kate Risk is a first-year graduate student at the University of Alabama. She is working towards her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration. She is currently the Operations Coordinator for UA’s Graduate School Programs. Her dream is to work with colleges and universities on their accreditation and assessment. Kate has worked with ASPA for the past four years and loves working with students who have a passion for writing.
Lane Stafford is a senior studying visual journalism at the University of Alabama. She has been a photographer for the University of Alabama Service Learning Magazine and Alpine Living. This year she had the honor of being named the University of Alabama's Outstanding Visual Journalism Student. Lane has also written for the Crimson White and Alice Magazine and interned on the copy desk at The Tuscaloosa News. She is in the Honors College and a member of the Gold Key Honour Society. Lane has a passion for travel and visual media. She traveled to New Zealand with Alpine Living and took photography courses in London in the Summer of 2016. Her dream job would take her around the world. She will be starting graduate school in the spring to pursue her master’s in journalism.
Thank you to Our Friends! Patrons
Alabama Press Association Alabama Broadcasters Association
Supporters
Dean Mark Nelson and the C&IS Dean’s Office Dr. Cory Armstrong, Chair, Department of Journalism and Creative Media Sue Givens, Crechale Stevens, Diane Shaddix, and the Department of Journalism and Creative Media Department of Advertising and Public Relations Department of Communication Studies Steve Diorio and the staff of WVUA-TV 23 Paul Wright, Mark Mayfield and the Office of Student Media Nayeli Pineda Lauren Meadows Miller Fitts All of our wonderful session leaders!
Thank you to Our ASPA BOARD MEMBERS: Renee Quaife: President, Sparkman High School, Harvest Capri Day: Vice President, Hillcrest High School, Tuscaloosa Barbara Bateman: Secretary, Murphy High School, Mobile
Members at Large:
Birmingham: Connie Nolen, Pelham High School Montgomery: Gina Aaij, LAMP High School Mobile: Lindsey Koen, McGill-Toolen Catholic High School Huntsville: Michelle Sisson, Lee High School Auburn: Beth Antoine, Auburn High School Director, Meredith Cummings Program Assistant, Lane Stafford Director Emeritus, Marie Parsons