STATE CONVENTION
SCHEDULE NOTE: If you are interested in a Saturday tour of the UA campus, the Digital Media Center or the Office of Student Media, let Meredith Cummings know upon arrival or during the ASPA Board meeting. At 1 p.m. on Saturday, advisers should see Cummings for where to report for tours.
FRIDAY, FEB. 17 FERGUSON STUDENT CENTER 8 A.M. 9 A.M. 10 A.M. – NOON 10 A.M. 11 A.M. NOON 1 P.M. 2 P.M. 3 P.M. 4 P.M.
REGISTRATION AT FERGUSON THEATER WELCOME AND KEYNOTE ON-SITE COMPETITIONS SESSION 1 SESSION 2 LUNCH ON YOUR OWN SESSION 3 SESSION 4 SESSION 5 CLOSING AWARDS CEREMONY
SATURDAY, FEB. 18 REESE PHIFER HALL 9 A.M. 10 A.M. 11 A.M. NOON 1 P.M.
SESSION 1 SESSION 2 SESSION 3 LUNCH ON YOUR OWN TOURS
ON-SITE COMPETITIONS YEARBOOK COPY, CAPTION WRITING
BALLROOM
NEWS WRITING
BALLROOM
FEATURE WRITING
ROOM 3115
SPORTS WRITING
ROOM 3114
EDITORIAL WRITING
BALLROOM
EDITORIAL CARTOONING
BALLROOM
BROADCAST STAND-UP
BALLROOM
NEWSCAST (ANCHOR)
BACK OF BALLROOM
SPORTSCAST (ANCHOR)
BACK OF BALLROOM
YEARBOOK LAYOUT
REGISTRATION TABLE
NEWSPAPER LAYOUT
REGISTRATION TABLE
LITERARY MAGAZINE LAYOUT
REGISTRATION TABLE
PHOTOGRAPHY
INSTRUCTIONS IN PACKET
LITERARY MAGAZINE POETRY
BALLROOM
LITERARY MAGAZINE FCTION
BALLROOM
LITERARY MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATION
BALLROOM
The Journalism Education Association has scheduled Scholastic Journalism Week for Feb. 19-25, 2017. How you help promote this week is entirely up to you. We hope that your involvement and that of your students will serve to raise community consciousness regarding the benefits of scholastic journalism. Your students will learn from both the promotion and their celebration of an event holding major significance for them.
For ideas, visit JEA’s Scholastic Journalism Week page on jea.org, download a handy resolution template, check out last year’s Scholastic Journalism Week Facebook page or follow @ScholasticJWeek on Twitter. Don’t be afraid to tweet any of your own ideas using the hashtag, #SJW2016.
FRIDAY
KICKOFF
9 AM
Welcome Meredith Cummings, MJE Director, Alabama Scholastic Press Association Dr. Cory Armstrong Department Chair, Journalism & Creative Media
KEYNOTE
GETTING WHERE YOU WANT TO GO
MATT FORD
9 AM
Matt Ford is a video production coordinator and producer for BuzzFeed, where he also worked previously as a writer and editorial assistant for BuzzFeed News. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from The University of Alabama. While there, he was an editor of The Crimson White and covered racial segregation in UA’s Greek system. He currently lives in New York.
SESSION I
10 AM
How to write for broadcast, led by Hannah Ward, Room 3700/Forum (BR) Are you confused about what a script should look like, length and broadcast jargon? This session will help you learn how to write a professional broadcast script. Reading makes better writers, led by Dr. Dianne Bragg, Room 3111 (ALL) To become a better writer, you must read good writing. Learn to find good writing, and writers, and learn from their expertise. Cover craft, led by Alicia Clavell McCall, Room 3107 (LM) How do you create the perfect cover for your literary magazine? What about the perfect cover blurb? We’ll take a look at some successful magazine covers and blurbs; then, we’ll craft our own! Make some noise, led by Kane Belew, Room 3104 (YB) Don't assume last year's marketing plan will be successful this year. Every year is different, change it up! See what other yearbook staffers across the country are doing to sell more books and control the message. Leave with a handful of fresh ideas to disturb the space and sell more than last year! For advisers only: Finding and selecting great editors in chief, led by Phillip Caston, Room 3519 (ADV) What formulas and character traits should you look for in selecting the top leaders of your staff? This session will explore those, as well as how you can know students will follow through.
SESSION II
11 AM
ASPA Board meeting, led by Meredith Cummings, MJE and Connie Nolen, Room 3125/302 Anderson Room (ADV) The annual State Convention meeting for the ASPA board. All advisers are welcome and encouraged to attend. New officers will be elected. Equipment, gadgets, good sound and stabilization, Led by Andrew Richardson, Room 3700/Forum (ALL) Not sure what type of mic you need for that shot? Have no idea where to get the best camera for your needs? This session will help students and teachers brainstorm equipment that is in their range, whatever the needs. Help Wanted: Desperately seeking submissions, led by Alicia Clavell McCall, Room 3107 (LM) Brilliantly crafted creative writing magazine seeking submissions for next issue. Work must be creative, original, and most importantly submitted tonight by midnight because we are on a strict deadline and have zero submissions! —Seem familiar? Learn how best to seek, log, and sort the slush pile of literary submissions. Then, get ready to write! Getting off the ground and on the air, led by Dr. Chandra Clark 3519 (BR) Take your broadcast from morning announcements to the next level. Basics of newswriting, led by Brad Fisher, Room 3111 (NP, YB, MUL) Let’s start at the very beginning! Every great publication starts with great writing. Come and learn how to make your writing pop off the page. Recruiting, led by Phillip Caston, Room 3108 (ALL) Employ tactics to make your program more appealing to students. Use unconventional methods to attract them. Caston wrote about this topic for JEA’s magazine and he has stats to back it up. In 2015, applications to his yearbook program jumped 123 percent, and again last year 19 percent more. Hear from a teacher who must turn away about half of the people who apply. Coverage that counts, led by John Cutsinger, Room 3104 (YB) Discover ways to get more readers in your book with verbal and visual strategies. There’s no doubt your readers love to see themselves in photos and in words, not to mention love secretly counting the number of times they are in the yearbook. I’ll share countless ways to get more memories out of your book by getting more readers in.
LUNCH ON YOUR OWN
NOON
POST TO SOCIAL MEDIA WITH
#ASPA80 TWITTER @ALASPA INSTAGRAM @ALABAMASPA FACEBOOK ALABAMA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION WEB ASPA.UA.EDU
SESSION III
1 PM
Page design: The good, the bad and the ugly, led by Edwin Stanton, Room 3114 (NP) Designing newspapers is an artform, you can’t just slap copy and photos onto the page and hope for the best. Learn how to layout pages the right way to create great newspapers. Finding unique stories to cover, led by Phillip Caston, Room 3108 (ALL) Many student media tend to regurgitate old stories. This session will show you how to find really interesting stories about your school’s students. How to be a better anchor, led by Jack Royer Room 3700/Forum (BR) Have the desire to make it in the broadcast industry? It takes hard work, great writing and building relationships within the community. Get some tips and tricks on how to get your foot in the door and succeed in the biz. How to hook readers with a lead, led by Dr. Scott Parrott Room 3519 (NP, YB) Did you know it takes less than 10 seconds to lose the reader? Learn to create killer ledes to keep your readers hooked throughout the entirety of the story. The role of social media in our everyday lives, Led by Dr. Elliot Panek, Room 3111 (ALL) In this session, we bring together our experiences and scientific research to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of social media. When does social media help us to support one another and achieve our goals, and when does it distract us or hurt our chances of reaching our full potential? This session will help students think about how to manage their social media use so that they can get the most out of their use of personal communication technology. i heart my liTErAry Magazine, led by Alicia Clavell McCall, Room 3107 (LM) We’ll discuss how to build a collaborative spirit for your literary magazine staff. We’ll establish parameters for having crucial conversations, facilitate communication and decision-making, and face some fun team-building challenges. Who’s SID and how can he help me?, led by Brian Ogden, Room 3115 (YB, NP, MUL, BR) An overview of the sports information director (SID) and how to make stories out of stats and game notes. Think theme, led by John Cutsinger, Room 3104 (YB) It’s never too early to begin theme development for your 2018 yearbook. Building storytelling character is essential to having a theme concept that speaks directly to your readers. Come learn how to tell the story that only you can tell from cover and endsheets to theme-specific packages and spreads.
SESSION IV
2 PM
Understanding diversity in reporting, led by Dr. Jennifer Hoewe, Room 3111 (YB, BR, MUL, NP) As a journalist, the news you present influences the people who read, watch or listen to it. Similarly, you are influenced by the media you consume. In this session, we’ll consider the news’ impact by discussing how groups of people are represented in the news and how to improve these portrayals. Building your brand: Audience connection and magazine marketing, led by Alicia Clavell McCall, Room 3107 (LM) How do you keep in constant contact with your readers? Are you using social media effectively? Are you making the most of your promotional materials? This session will focus on building a connection with your readership through marketing. Standup style, led by Reshad Hudson, Room 3700/Forum (BR) This session will help you to tackle the challenges of shooting great standups and voiceovers. Both are an art that require both smooth delivery and emphasizing the key points in the story.
SESSION IV (CONTINUED) Athlete Answers, led by Brian Ogden, Room 3115 (YB, BR, MUL, NP) “It was a good game.” “We left it all on the field.” This session will help you learn how to avoid cliche’ answers, or players shutting down when being interviewed. Connecting with the community, led by Phillip Caston, Room 3108 (ALL) This session will focus on how to partner with community entities, mainly local government, to increase your students’ portfolios and experience. In 2016 Caston’s yearbook staff won an international marketing award, alongside Fortune 500 agencies, for a project for the town of Mt. Pleasant, SC. Red hot, led by John Cutsinger, Room 3104 (YB) Take it from the professionals who know all the tricks and trademarks for branding design. Fonts, color, spacing and other graphic details are just waiting for you to adopt and adapt. A large sampling of the latest and greatest trends in print design will be explored.
SESSION V
3 PM
Journalism ethics: A guide to using philosophy and psychology, led by Dr. Jennifer Hoewe, Room 3111 (YB, BR, MUL, NP, ADV) Journalists often have to decide how to report in a way that will expose the truth while also minimizing harm. They have to weigh the implications of their personal biases while being independent and professional. In this session, we’ll use basic philosophy to understand how to make informed decisions. We’ll also discuss the psychological processes involved in making those decisions. Developing a staff manual, led by Macy Dye and Lindsey Wilhite, Room 3014 (ALL) Publication handbooks are a key aspect of a strong staff environment. Compiling the basics of journalism and specific style of your publication in a manual can help reduce stress for students and teachers. Providing staffs with a handbook will aid them in making the best publication or broadcast possible. Graduates of William R. Boone High School, home of the award-winning Legend yearbook, will walk you through what a helpful staff manual should contain. First Amendment help, led by Phillip Caston, Room 3108 (ALL) He’s not a lawyer, but he did lead a heated First Amendment battle at his school – and won. This session will walk you through how to handle sensitive issues with the administration and what steps staffs can take. Lit mag grab bag, led by Tyler Chestnut, Room 3107 (LM) Got problems? Let’s help each other brainstorm solutions! A lit mag pro will moderate and assist staff and teacher with problems specific to literary magazine.
AWARDS Dr. Chris Roberts Emcee
FERGUSON THEATRE
4 PM
Kane Belew, CJE, is a representative of Walsworth Yearbooks. His career in sales started as a student at The University of Alabama working at The Crimson White Newspaper. In addition to helping students create awesome yearbooks, Belew shares yearbook sales tips with students to attain revenue goals with confidence.
Dr. Dianne Bragg is an assistant professor in the Journalism & Creative Media Department at The University of Alabama Department. She holds a Ph.D in mass communication, with a concentration in history, and an MA in journalism. Dr. Bragg teaches several classes including Mass Communication Law and Journalism History. 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.
Phillip Caston is the yearbook adviser at Wando High School in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. He has 11 years of experience advising yearbooks and newspapers at Wando and J.L. Mann High School in Greenville, S.C. Caston has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, and he previously worked as a cops reporter for the Charleston Post and Courier before beginning a teaching career. Caston received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University, where he served as the editor in chief of the university’s student newspaper. He has produced two SC Scholastic Journalists of the Year, and in 2012, Caston was named SC Adviser of the Year. Also in 2012, his newspaper staff won the Joseph W. Shoquist Freedom of the Press Award for its successful battle against administrative censorship. In his free time, Caston enjoys cooking barbecue, ghost hunting (seriously), and spending as much time at the nearby beaches as possible.
Tyler Chestnut is a graduate of the Department of English at the University of Alabama, where he is now pursuing a master’s degree in Secondary Education. He has worked with a number of literary magazines at the University, and has a particular passion for teaching poetry and the poetic essay at the middle and high school level. He lives in Tuscaloosa with his Rabbit’s Foor fern, Fuzzy.
Dr. Chandra Clark is an assistant professor at The University of Alabama. She teaches introductory and advanced broadcast news, producing, performance, and new media marketing classes. Chandra started in a television station when she was 16 years old as a volunteer and her passion for broadcast journalism has developed following a career as a senior producer at the ABC affiliate in Birmingham, a freelance producer, and a broadcast media marketing specialist for the Capstone. Chandra has produced a series of award winning videos relating to how broadcast television and radio played a role in the deadly April and May 2011 tornadoes in Tuscaloosa and Joplin plus Hurricane Sandy’s devastation along the East Coast. She’s currently working on a documentary about legendary football coach Gene Stallings. Chandra believes in learning in action and enjoys working with nonprofits, companies, city, and community leaders in Central Alabama. In the last five years, she and her students have helped more than 40 clients learn to take control of their message and use traditional and social media to help brand themselves better to the community.
Seasoned with experience and inspiring with expertise, Senior Creative Account Manager John Cutsinger shares his 43 years of yearbook planning and production with staffs nationally. At national conventions, at workshops and in one-on-one staff think tanks, John follows professional verbal and visual communication trends and translates those into yearbook strategies. John’s staffs built legacies of CSPA Crowns and NSPA Pacemakers. His staff members won countless individual state, regional and national awards. As a scholastic journalism advocate, John has been honored with CSPA’s Gold Key; NSPA’s Pioneer, Medal of Merit and Friend to Scholastic Journalism; SIPA’s Distinguished Adviser and Dow Jones National Journalism Teacher of the Year.
Macy Dye is a senior at The University of Alabama majoring in journalism and communication studies. During her time in college she has written for Dateline Alabama and The Crimson White. She was a media relations intern at Three W International and a copy desk intern at The Tuscaloosa News.
Alicia Clavell McCall is founder, publisher, and editor of an annual electronic and print publication: Southern Women’s Review. She has almost two decades of experience in magazine publication and serves as a full-time UAB Collat School of Business faculty member. McCall is also a two-time winner of the UAB Barkesdale-Maynard Poetry Prize and a Hackney Award winner. She has published in venues such as Red Truck Review and Birmingham Arts Journal. Email her at aliciaclavell@gmail.com.
Dr. Jennifer Hoewe is an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism & Creative Media at The University of Alabama. Her research examines the effects of news media consumption on individuals’ attitudes and behaviors as well as public opinion. She teaches news writing and reporting, political communication, journalism ethics, media effects and research methods. As a University Graduate Fellow, she completed her Ph.D. at The Pennsylvania State University.
Reshad Hudson is a nightside reporter for WBRC FOX 6 News. You can catch him on WBRC FOX 6 News at 9 and 10 Monday through Friday. He joined the WBRC FOX 6 News team in August of 2016. He graduated from The University of Alabama as a double major in broadcast journalism and political science. He got his first job in Dothan, Alabama at WDHN News 18. There he covered local and state politics as well as the court. Some of his favorite things to do include traveling, listening to live music, eating at new restaurants and hanging out with his friends and family. During football season you can find him cheering on the Crimson Tide. In college, Reshad was a staff member for the Million Dollar Band and attended numerous games. He also witnessed the Crimson Tide winning back to back championships in 2011 and 2012. He chose to get into the news business because of his passion for meeting people and storytelling.
Dr. Scott Parrott is an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism & Creative Media at the University of Alabama. Before entering academia, he worked as a reporter and editor for Southern newspapers owned by the New York Times Regional Media Group.
Brian Ogden graduated from The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in December 2016 and is now attending graduate school at UA in the sports management program. He is in his third year working in the Crimson Tide’s athletics communications office, and began working as the hockey club’s director of media relations in June 2016 with the creation of the team’s first media guide. The Argyle, Texas native plans to pursue a career in sports information at a Division-I institution or in media relations at the professional sports level.
Dr. Elliot Panek studies the uses and effects of digital media from sociological and psychological perspectives. He has published research in top-tier academic journals on the topics of social media and narcissism, texting while driving, media addiction, and media use and political polarization. His research has been covered by The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Time.com, and The North Korea Times. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Alabama, teaching courses on digital media and culture, research methods, and film history.
Andrew Richardson is the Program Manager for the Innovation Team in the College of Continuing Studies at The University of Alabama. Andrew is a jack-of-all trades with skill in video and audio production, web development, and technology. As an undergraduate, he worked at Alabama Public Radio and as the Multimedia Editor and Producer at The Crimson White. He has worked at UA in multiple professional communication roles for about six years, and he holds a B.A. in Communication and M.A. in Higher Education Administration.
Dr. Chris Roberts has sat where you’ve sat, right there in the Ferguson Center, back when what is now the Alabama Scholastic Press Association elected a student president. Now he’s an associate professor at his alma mater, where he teaches classes, focuses on credibility and ethics, and runs graduate studies for the Department of Journalism & Creative Media. He was sports editor of his hometown weekly newspaper while a student at Jacksonville High School, where he also covered sports and worked in radio. He was a reporter and editor at newspapers in Alabama and South Carolina after graduating from Alabama, and then earned a doctoral degree at the University of South Carolina before coming back to Alabama.
Jack Royer is a weeknight anchor on WVUA 23’s News @ 10 and a reporter. He has been with WVUA 23 since June 2015 and studies broadcast journalism in The University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences. In November 2016, Jack became the youngest permanent anchor of a weeknight newscast in the history of the Birmingham television market. Jack grew up in the news business, learning from his father, Mike Royer, a veteran news anchor in Birmingham, Alabama, and WVUA 23’s current Managing Editor. With more than a decade of exposure to the news business, Jack’s experience has kindled his passion for telling honest and fair stories that impact the people of Alabama. At a young age, Jack’s work and passion for journalism has already been honored with awards from the Associated Press, Alabama Broadcaster’s Association, The Hearst Foundation and the Broadcast Education Association. Jack’s profile of Former Alabama Football Coach Gene Stallings won a 2015 Telly Award. Besides covering stories that impact Alabamians, Jack has enjoyed contributing to WVUA 23’s special broadcasts like the Alabama Homecoming Parade and Crimson Tide Kickoff. Jack Royer can be seen weeknights on WVUA 23 News @ 10.
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 Daily-Citizen 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.
Hannah Ward is a nightside reporter for WBRC FOX6 News. She joined the WBRC FOX6 news team in July of 2016. She graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in telecommunication and film and started her career with several internships while in school in Tuscaloosa including WVUA-TV, T-Town TV, and WHNT News 19 in Huntsville. In Huntsville, Alabama she worked as a reporter/producer at WHNT News 19, a CBS affiliate. Hannah was recognized by the Alabama Associated Press for her coverage on Christmas Day flooding that impacted several areas in North Alabama. For that coverage, she received an award in the “Best Spot News Story” category. After two years at WHNT, Hannah and her husband decided to make the move to Birmingham to further both of their careers. Hannah was very pleased to accept a position at WBRC FOX6. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys any and all outdoor activities. Hanging out with her friends and big family as much as possible. Hannah and her husband love spending time with their yellow lab Charlie. Some of Hannah’s hobbies include cooking, running, scuba diving, and arts and crafts.
Lindsey Wilhite is a senior at The University of Alabama graduating in May with degrees in visual journalism and communication studies. During her time in college Lindsey has designed for The Crimson White, written for Dateline Alabama and The Odyssey Online and interned with Reel Media Group and The Lost Child Radio.
WANT MORE FUN?
JOIN US THIS SUMMER!
THE LONG WEEKEND: JUNE 2-4 MULTICULTURAL JOURNALISM WORKSHOP: JUNE 2-11 FOR MORE INFO GO TO ASPA.UA.EDU
THANK YOU SUPPORTERS Dean Mark Nelson and the C&IS Dean’s Office Dr. Cory Armstrong, and the Department of Journalism and Creative Media Crechale Stevens and Sue Givens Department of Advertising and Public Relations Department of Communication Studies The C&IS Graduate Program C&IS Ambassadors Steve Diorio and the staff of WVUA-TV 23 Paul Wright, Mark Mayfield and the Office of Student Media
Miller Fitts Lauren Meadows Cara Walker Savannah Bullard Christopher Edmunds Deanne Winslett Peyton Shepard Jason Frost Andrea Mattei Michael Pearce
PATRONS Alabama Press Association Alabama Broadcasters Association Center for Community Based Partnerships Jostens Yearbooks Walsworth
BOARD MEMBERS 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, Stanhope-Elmore High School
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