Tuscaloosa Fall Regional Workshop program

Meredith Cummings has over 20 years of experience in print, web and multimedia reporting. She is Immediate Past President of the Society of Professional Journalists Alabama Professional Chapter, President of Alabama Media Professionals and adviser for the Capstone Association of Black Journalists.

She is a member of SPJ’s Journalism Education Committee and is the lead organizer for TEDxTuscaloosa.

Cummings currently writes for al.com, where her blog won first place in the 2015 National Federation of Press Women contest. In 2016, she won first place in the same contest in the writer-photographer category. Cummings has worked at newspapers and websites in Alabama, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York and Florida. She directs the National Elementary School Press Association, the Alabama Scholastic Press Association and the Multicultural Journalism Workshop at The University of Alabama. In that capacity, she works with K-12 students around the country to help them start and improve broadcast, newspaper, magazine and multimedia journalism through training, workshops and a mentoring programs for teachers.

Caroline Gazzara joins the ASPA team this year as a first-year graduate student at The University of Alabama. She recently completed her bachelor of arts in sports journalism with a minor in anthropology at the University of Alabama. Gazzara will take on the role of program assistant for ASPA. Previously, Gazzara was a copy editor at The Tuscaloosa News from April 2015 to August 2016. She also was an intern for the sports department at The Tuscaloosa News and a staff reporter for Alabama’s The Crimson White. Gazzara is the proud ‘mommy’ to three adorable cats who love lots of attention and fill up her phone with photos. She enjoys cooking with her boyfriend and watching soccer.

Alex Hauser is a senior at The University of Alabama majoring in visual journalism. Hauser is ASPA’s visual coordinator. She participated in ASPA throughout high school at Northridge. She works as a graphic designer on campus and started her own photography and design firm with her fiancé. She’s getting married in December and consumed with planning her wedding. When not working, she can be found watching Disney movies and playing with her dog, Buzz Lightyear.

Amy Sullivan is a graduate student at The University of Alabama. She also received her bachelor of arts degree at Alabama in visual journalism with a digital media art minor. In 2015, she received the honor of being named The University of Alabama’s Most Outstanding Visual Journalist and was a finalist for the Society of Professional Journalists Region 3 Mark of Excellence Award for “General News Photography” in the large school (10,000+ students) category. She will graduate in spring 2018.

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 full-length books and six chapbooks, with subjects ranging from Craigslist Missed Connections, to 8-bit videogames, to dragons, to computer viruses, to NBA Jam.

Chip Scarborough is a reporter for WVTM 13 News, covering the major news of the day in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. He joined the NBC station in October 2014 after spending several years at WTOK-TV in Meridian, Mississippi, anchoring the station’s weekend newscasts and reporting during the week. Scarborough is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor of arts in broadcast news. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and yes, watching the news.

Christopher Edmunds is a multimedia journalist from Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to entering the journalism master of arts program at The University of Alabama, he worked as Art Director of Druid City Living and Crimson Magazine, both based in Tuscaloosa. He specialized in digital media while working at 5280 Magazine in Denver, Colo. He also gained multimedia experience in the sports world by working as a writer for PitcherList. com, a fantasy baseball website based in New York City. His work has been featured in The Tuscaloosa News and The Selma Times-Journal. With strong family ties to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans, Edmunds’ scholarly research at Alabama focuses on media use during natural disasters, including hurricanes and tornadoes.

Cindy Todd retired in May after advising yearbooks at (Austin) Westlake High School and (Canyon) Randall High School for 25 years. Her students earned CSPA Gold Crowns, NSPA Pacemakers and Best of Show and top state awards. A frequent workshop speaker, Todd received the 2012 H.L. Hall National Yearbook Adviser of the Year, 2008 Max Haddick Texas Journalism Teacher of the Year, 2010 TAJE Trailblazer, 2013 CSPA Gold Key, 2013 NSPA Pioneer and 2013 JEA Medal of Merit. Todd will become the Texas Association of Journalism Educators Executive Director in June 2017.

Dr. Dianne Bragg is an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Creative Media at The University of Alabama. She teaches a variety of classes including mass communication law and regulation, history of journalism and the First Amendment, mass communication theory, and journalistic principles. Her research interest areas are 19th-century newspapers, in particular the antebellum era. She serves in leadership positions with several academic organizations, including the American Journalism Historians Association and the Symposium on the 19th Century Press, the Civil War, and Free Expression.

Drew Taylor is a reporter with The Tuscaloosa News where he covers education and community news. He previously worked at the Montgomery Advertiser where he and colleague Rebecca Burylo were recognized by the Alabama Associated Press Media Editors group for best education coverage in the state. He also worked at the OpelikaAuburn News covering crime and courts. Taylor is a native of Birmingham and a graduate of the University of Alabama.

Edwin Stanton is the lead page designer for The Tuscaloosa News sports desk. Stanton grew up in Homewood, Alabama, before receiving a degree in journalism at The University of Alabama. After graduating in 1996, Stanton started his career at the DailyCitizen News in Dalton, Georgia, shortly after he took a job at The Dothan Eagle as the prep editor for three years. Stanton joined The Tuscaloosa News in 2006.

Emmalee Molay is a senior at the University of Alabama who will graduate in December with a journalism degree with a concentration in sports news and information track.

She is originally from southwest Florida, and therefore loves to fish and go to the beach.

Emmalee also enjoys serving the community by volunteering at places like the Boys & Girls Club. Other than sports, she finds happiness in spending time with her friends, cooking, listening to music and watching YouTube videos. Emmalee would like to wish a Roll Tide to all, and to all a Roll Tide.

Dr. George Daniels, assistant dean for the College of Communication and Information Sciences, has been a member of faculty in the Department of Journalism and Creative Media since 2003. An associate professor of journalism, Daniels worked as a tv news producer in three media markets including Richmond,Virginia; Cincinnati, Ohio and his most recent station in Atlanta. He also served briefly as radio news anchor and producer.

Daniels is certified by Journalism Education Association as a Master Journalism Educator (MJE). He’s a native of Richmond, Va. and a cum laude graduate of Howard University.

He received his master of arts degree and Ph.D. in mass communication from The University of Georgia. You can follow his updates on Twitter at @BamaProducer.

Greg Screws co-anchors WHNT News 19 at 4, 6 and 10 p.m. If there is a topic that requires an opinion, Greg will give you one. His favorite saying is “Right or wrong, I am rarely in doubt.” Screws is from Hartselle and graduated from The University of Alabama then worked at WCFT television before moving to WVTM in Birmingham. From there, Greg traveled to Richmond, Virginia to WRIC television then back to Huntsville, where he did sports and morning television for eight years. After 25 years in television, Greg had the itch to take a sabbatical and worked for 15 months with United Way of Madison County. He later returned to WHNT.

Jack Royer is a student reporter and anchor who has been with WVUA 23 since June 2015. He studies broadcast journalism at The University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences. Royer’s work and passion for journalism has been honored with awards from the Associated Press, Alabama Broadcasters Association, The Hearst Foundation and the Broadcast Education Association. Royer’s profile of former Alabama Football Coach Gene Stallings won a 2015 Telly Award. In addition to covering stories that impact Alabamians, Royer has enjoyed contributing to WVUA 23 special broadcasts like the Alabama homecoming parade and crimson tide kickoff.

Joey Chandler is an award-winning sports journalist. Before arriving at The Tuscaloosa News, Chandler worked at a number of Ohio dailies, including The Mount Vernon News, Chillicothe Gazette and Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum. She was a 2015-16 APSE Diversity Fellow. An Ohio native, Chandler graduated from Ashland University and majored in journalism and sport communication. Chandler wrote her first sports story in the second grade when her brother’s high school basketball team advanced to the Final Four. She’s been writing ever since.

Kaylin Bowen is a 2016 graduate of the University of Alabama currently pursuing a master of arts in journalism at The University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences. Her chosen research field is media effects and body image. She is focusing her thesis on the effects of female characters in comic books on readers. She has worked for the Tuscaloosa News, Dateline Alabama, and the Greenville Standard.

Bowen is working as a teaching assistant for news writing and advanced magazine writing. She enjoys Netflix binges and reading fantasy novels in her free time.

Marian Powell was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama during the blue-collar days of the Magic City. After attending Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville she married and became the devoted mother of four children. Her entrepreneurial self emerged after her children were older, which afforded her the opportunity of opening a few small businesses. Being active in children’s ministries and enjoying six grandchildren and one great grandson has kept her life full of fun and childlike fantasy. Writing is now added to her list of interests.

Marquis Munson is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a major in sports journalism. He has had the opportunity to intern and work in sports media on and off campus. He started writing for the student newspaper, The Crimson White, on its sports staff, working as a contributing writer and staff reporter. He also has worked for the student radio station 90.7 The Capstone and hosted various radio shows. Munson has had internships with Alabama Public Radio, The Tuscaloosa News and Tide 99.1. He is also a co-founder and lead NBA writer for Dixieland Sports.

Stan Diel is a doctoral student in the College of Communication & Information Sciences.

He spent 25 years as an editor and reporter at newspapers and news organizations including The Arkansas Gazette, The (Rochester, N.Y.) Democrat & Chronicle, The Birmingham News and al.com.

Savannah Bullard is a freshman at The University of Alabama, studying journalism and political science. Bullard participated in ASPA throughout high school and is the 2016 recipient of the Rick Bragg Award for Feature Writing. She works as a graphic design intern on campus. She travels home often so she can snuggle with her mom and her cat, Ronald Reagan.

Rebecca Griesbach is a freshman at The University of Alabama majoring in journalism with minors in liberal arts/social innovation and leadership. She writes for The Tuscaloosa News and was named ASPA’s 2016 Journalist of the Year.

MEREDITH CUMMINGS DIRECTOR, ALABAMA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION DR. CORY ARMSTRONG CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM AND CREATIVE MEDIA

LARS ANDERSON

THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT

Lars Anderson is a senior writer at Bleacher Report. A 20-year veteran of Sports Illustrated, Anderson is a New York Times best-selling author of seven books, including The Mannings, The Storm and the Tide and Carlisle vs. Army. Anderson, an instructor of journalism at The University of Alabama, lives in Birmingham with his wife, April, and their son, Lincoln.

Design talks, led by Cindy Todd Room 3700/360/Forum Good design helps tell the stories of the year. Let’s look at how the pros and yearbook staffs from across the country do it.

The power of descriptive writing, led by Dr. Dianne Bragg Room 3107/300/Mortar Board Even in this social-media savvy age there is nothing more powerful than using the written word to paint a picture for readers.

Learning the power of language and the importance of planting the reader in the front row remains the foundation of good writing.

Why community journalism is important, led by Drew Taylor Room 3106/358/Sparkman Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a fun run or community event? Learn about interviewing and writing stories focused on the community.

Rule of thirds and framing, led by Amy Sullivan Room 3115/313/Anderson Society Taking photos is easy. Taking good photos that intrigue the viewer? Now that takes some talent. Rule of thirds and framing are both vital to having interesting photos.

Less is more: Lit mag layout and design, led by Christopher Edmunds Room 3110/307/SGA Presidents A look at design elements of literary magazine and journals and some practical advice for designing and laying out your own lit mag.

Every sport underneath the sun, led by Emmalee Molay Room 3108/301 Get outside the football rut and get out of your comfort zone. Football may be the biggest fall sport but baseball, basketball, soccer and more are also tons of fun to cover.

Radio killed the video star, led by Marquis Munson Room 3114/312/Morris Mayer Many Americans listen to podcasts. In fact, the same number of Americans use Twitter. The world of radio and podcasts appeal to large numbers of people on the go.

Get in formation, led by Alex Hauser Room 3103 Slay your design. Learn simple tricks that can takes your work to the next level. We’ll also look at the pros and cons of various design programs and how to use them to make your job a lot easier.

Developing a critical eye, led by Dr. George Daniels Room 3104 Join us as we look at some broadcasts from your peers. What’s good? What’s better? You’ll never look at a broadcast the same way again.

Advisers’ roundtable, led by Meredith Cummings Room 3125 Anderson Room Advisers and chaperones, join us for a brief update on ASPA happenings and business. Stick around afterward to share challenges, questions and resources with other teachers.

Copy editors are heroes too!, led by Edwin Stanton Room 3110/307/SGA Presidents Like to read stories and edit articles? Learn from a copy editor about ways to make your copy clean – and how to spot those errors before they become mistakes.

Be an action hero, led by Cindy Todd Room 3700/360/Forum “With great power comes great responsibility.” You may not be Spider-Man, but that press pass does give you the power and the responsibility to capture images that transform your pages. Channel your inner Peter Parker as we reveal the secrets of taking compelling action photos while on assignment. Step out from behind that shadow and assume your true identity.

What to ask, how to ask it and quality sound bites, led By Chip Scarborough Room 3104 Chip had perfect attendance all four years of high school, but wasn’t present to receive his perfect attendance award. You won’t find out nuggets like that without knowing how to ask the right kind of questions. This session will help fine tune on-camera interviewing techniques.

The book as object, led by Brian Oliu Room 3114/312/Morris Mayer In this session we will talk about the process that goes into running a small literary press and literary journal, including how to put an emphasis on creating a literary object that both reflects upon and honors the work inside, as well as develop bonds with the community through literature.

It’s not all about college sports, led by Joey Chandler Room 3115/313/Anderson Society Learn about taking stats and how to create a well-written game story.

Multimedia is not as hard as you think, led by Stan Diel Room 3108/301 An intro to online tools that are easy to learn but will give you professional-level results. Students will see how news industry leaders use new media and will be introduced to apps that they can use to help tell stories using images, text, video, sound, maps and data.

So you want to win an award?, led by Alex Hauser Room 3103 Do you want recognition from your peers? Do you like winning cash? Come find about all the great awards ASPA offers seniors. Get tips and tricks from the 2013 ASPA Journalist of the Year on how to beef up your skills and prepare your portfolio for competition.

More than meets the eye, led by Cindy Todd Room 3700/360/Forum Great photos deserve great captions and add important information to the moment captured by the photographer. This session will take the stress out of writing great captions.

How to write a game story, led by Joey Chandler Room 3115/313/Anderson Society We live in a must-have-it-now world. Learn some tips and tricks from a seasoned pro for writing a well-written game story on a quick deadline. #goals, led by Savannah Bullard Room 3107/300/Mortar Board Whether you’re a newsroom leader or someday want to be, this class will tackle almost any issue you might face as a leader in the newsroom. Come prepared to ask questions and enjoy some great, real-life stories from an award-winning student journalist.

Writing a book in the middle of life’s madness, led by Marian Powell Room 3114/312/Morris Mayer This writer and former magazine owner talks about what it takes to write and publish a book – and how to get it done while still having a life. Bring questions!

Great doesn’t happen on the first time, led by Jack Royer Room 3104 It takes practice to improve your on-camera presence. Work with a broadcast pro from WVUA-23 to polish your style.

How to get it done in a day, led by Marquis Munson Room 3108 You only have 24 hours, and college can be overwhelming. This session will help you figure out how to get your laundry done and ace those tests. Start planning now so you can be prepared.

Dean Mark Nelson and the C&IS Dean’s Office Dr. Cory Armstrong, and the Department of Journalism and Creative Media Crechale Stevens and Judy Davis Department of Advertising and Public Relations Department of Communication Studies

The C&IS Graduate Program Steve Diorio and the staff of WVUA 23 Paul Wright, Mark Mayfield and the Office of Student Media Miller Fitts Lauren Meadows Cara Walker

Alabama Press Association Alabama Broadcasters Association Center for Community-Based Partnerships

Lars Anderson Cindy Todd Dr. Dianne Bragg Drew Taylor Amy Sullivan Christopher Edmonds Emmalee Molay

Marquis Munson Alex Hauser Dr. George Daniels Meredith Cummings Edwin Stanton Chip Scarborough Brian Oliu

President Connie Nolen; Pelham High School, Pelham Past President Melissa Dixon; Oak Mountain High School, Birmingham Vice President Renee Quaife; Sparkman High School, Harvest Secretary Capri Day; Hillcrest High School, Tuscaloosa Member at large, Mobile; Barbara Bateman, Murphy High School Member at large, Montgomery; Susanne Harrison, StanhopeElmore High School

Joey Chandler Stan Diel Savannah Bullard Rebecca Griesbach Marian Powell Jack Royer

Member at large, Auburn; Beth Antoine, Auburn High School Member at large, Birmingham; Melissa Dixon, Oak Mountain High School Member at large, Huntsville; Michelle Sisson, Lee High School Director Emeritus Marie Parsons Director Meredith Cummings Program Assistant Caroline Gazzara Visual Coordinator Alex Hauser