Acton

FIRST BOARD-ELECTED PRESIDENT SERVES DURING AN ERA OF UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE AND CHANGE.

AS THE FIRST board-elected president, Jeanne Acton took the helm at a time of unprecedented challenge and change.

The COVID-19 pandemic, declining revenue sources and bylaw revisions might have been daunting, but Acton, who was journalism director of Texas’ University Interscholastic League, one of the nation’s largest scholastic journalism organizations, said the NSPA/ACP board was revitalized, and the organizations prospered.

The bylaw revision came about at the suggestion of Elisia Cohen, director of the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota, who was then president of the board. The new bylaws called for the board to elect the president from its membership.

“It’s a good change,” Acton said. “The president will always be someone who has current connections to high school or college media.”

The bylaws established the president and president elect will serve two-year terms and will alternate between a NSPA representative and an ACP representative.

“The leadership team will come at things a bit differently now because we will always have someone who has a hands-on, real-experience approach in the mix,” Acton said. “The transition should be smooth because the president will stay on the board for an additional two years as past president and consultant.”

While the leadership roles of the board have changed, the makeup of the board has remained relatively the same, which gives consistency to NSPA/ ACP, she said. Much of the board has worked with Laura Widmer, executive director, and Gary Lundgren, associate director, for several years, and Acton said the board supports them.

“Gary and Laura are servant leaders who are responsive to the membership needs,”

Acton said. “It’s easy for the board to support them because they are 100 percent invested in the success of NSPA and ACP.

“I look forward to going to Minnesota for meetings because of the relationships we have. I love the closeness of the board — and the fact we can have fun as well as frank discussions. There are still challenges ahead, but the organization is in a good place.”

With the economic loss of face-toface conventions, Acton said the forward thinking of Widmer and Lundgren kept the organization going strong.

“Surviving the pandemic was our greatest challenge. Laura and Gary were creative, flexible, tight with the budget and developed new revenue streams,” Acton said. “Media is constantly changing, and they did a fabulous job of staying current and helping student staffs stay current, too.“

In addition to the virtual scholastic and collegiate national conventions, NSPA/ACP staff created workshops and programs to serve constituents.

“Even when awards ceremonies were virtual, they were exciting,” Acton said. “Online conferences and new contests like Clips and Clicks helped students stay current with techniques and trends while benefiting the organization with a new revenue stream. That meant NSPA/ACP could help other student media organizations through collaboration and partnerships.

“These are uncertain times and all the student journalism organizations need to support each other if we are to survive,” Acton said. “NSPA/ACP has been in a position to support groups in a way that keeps them solvent.”

When Dallas County Schools found they were not able to serve as the sponsoring agency for the Gloria Shields Summer Workshop, the workshop directors reached out to NSPA to become partners, Acton said. Although the pandemic has curbed enrollment these last two years, the workshop has grown, and the future is bright for this strong collaborative effort. The executive board supports more collaboration with organizations because that strengthens all of us to serve students and teachers better.”

Other partnerships have been formed with related student media groups. A new agreement reunited ACP with College Media Association, after a oneyear hiatus. A three-year partnership was formed with College Media Business and Advertising Managers, and, on the West Coast, the California College Media Association and the Journalism Association of Community Colleges are now partners for ACP spring conventions.

In July 2022, Quill and Scroll merged with NSPA to create a stronger national honorary organization.

“I think the partnerships we are forming will become our greatest legacy. We need journalism and we need to help it survive — to grow, get better and stronger. We must start educating at a young age to help students understand ethical journalism. Without journalism democracy dies,” Acton said.

NSPA’s mission supports student journalism through education and recognition, she said.

“Giving awards to schools and individuals validates student work and best practices,” Acton said. “I don’t know exactly what the future holds for NSPA and ACP, but I know it will be good for student journalists. Laura and Gary are such a great team and will continue to grow the organization to provide invaluable services for our students and advisers.

“Scholastic journalism will be stronger because of them.” n

Leading From The Heart

The president’s job includes more than leading board meetings and making difficult operational and financial decisions. Whether presenting an NSPA Pioneer Award to long-time Texas adviser Lori Ogleebee (left) or waving to family at home on FaceTime with a student receiving an award (below) — Jeanne Acton is an enthusiastic ambassador for NSPA/ACP.

At The Podium

NSPA/ACP executive director Laura Widmer, welcomes students and advisers to the ACP awards ceremony at the 2018 National College Media Convention at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. Renewing the ACP partnership with the College Media Association, a group Widmer served as president from 1991-93, was a priority. ACP and CMA hosted separate convention in 2016, but reunited in 2017.

Bearcat Journalists

Recognizing her eight years of service as a member of the board of directors, Laura Widmer, executive director, presents Ann Visser with a plaque at her last meeting. They became lifetime friends as staff members on the Tower at Northwest Missouri State University, home of the Bearcats. Their yearbook adviser was Linda Puntney.

Dynamic Duo

In 1977, a young Laura Widmer joined the Tower staff at Northwest Missouri State University. Nearly 50 years later, Linda Puntney, her yearbook adviser, remains a valued mentor and cherished friend. In 2016-17, Puntney served as JEA interim executive director at the same time Widmer was named NSPA executive director — providing a unique opportunity for the friends to work closely together again. As a final act, they brought down the house, or at least concluded the Seattle convention, with their famous journalism tune — “There’s no ism like journalism, like no ism I know.”