NHSJC Fall 2025 Nashville Convention Program

JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention NOV. 13-16, 2025 | GAYLORD OPRYLAND RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER

OFFICIALS CONVENTION

BOARD STAFF &

Journalism Education Association National Scholastic Press Association

Headquarters staff

Veronica Purvis, DBA, CAE, executive director

Pam Boller, office manager

Cindy Horchem, CJE, business and projects coordinator

Amber James, events and programs manager

Davonté Longmire, member engagement strategist

Board of directors

President: Valerie Kibler, MJE, Harrisonburg HS, Virginia

Vice President: Justin Daigle, MJE, Brighton HS, Colorado

Educational Initiatives Director: Rachel Steil, MJE, Stillwater Area HS, Minnesota

Scholastic Press Rights Director: Andrea Negri, MJE, Cypress Woods HS, Texas

Director-at-large: Sandra Coyer, MJE, Puyallup HS, Washington

Director-at-large: Shari Chumley, MJE, Tupelo HS, Mississippi

Director-at-large: Timm Pilcher, MJE, Drake University, Iowa

Committee chairs

Awards: Louisa Avery, MJE, The American School in London

Career and Technical Education: Laura Negri, MJE, Alief Kerr HS, Houston

Certification: Rod Satterthwaite, MJE, Palo Alto HS, California

Contests: Nancy Y. Smith, MJE, retired adviser, Eureka, Missouri

Curriculum: Jim Streisel, Carmel HS, Indiana

Digital Media: Aaron Manfull, MJE, Francis Howell North HS, Missouri

Journalist of the Year: Jessica Hunziker, MJE, Castle View HS, Colorado

Mentoring: Shari Chumley, MJE, Tupelo HS, Mississippi

Nominations: Michelle Balmeo, West Albany HS, Oregon

Scholastic Journalism Week: P.J. Cabrera, MJE, San Antonio College, Texas

C:JET magazine editor: Bradley Wilson, MJE, Leander HS, Texas

Global Engagement Director: Kelly Furnas, MJE, Elon University, North Carolina

Headquarters staff

Laura Widmer, executive director

Lori Keekley, associate director for Quill & Scroll

Gary Lundgren, associate director

Karli Keith, convention and membership manager

Jon Erickson, sponsor and exhibitor relations manager

Board of directors

President: Becky Tate, Shawnee Mission North HS, Kansas

President-elect: Amy DeVault, Wichita State University, Kansas

Treasurer: Tamara Zellars Buck, Southeast Missouri State University

Secretary: Kathryn Campbell, CJE, St. Paul Academy and Summit School, Minnesota

Past president: Elizabeth Smith, Pepperdine University, California

Board members

Elisia Cohen, University of Minnesota

Melissa Falkowski, CJE, Bremerton HS, Washington

Rick Green, Lexington Herald-Leader, editor and general manager

Sara Quinn, University of Minnesota

Kristi Rathbun, MJE, Rock Canyon HS, Colorado

Veronica Purvis JEA executive director

Laura Widmer NSPA executive director

Val Kibler, MJE JEA board president

Becky Tate NSPA board president

Jimmy McCollum Local committee co-chair

Heather Nagel Local committee co-chair

Amber James Convention programming manager

Karli Keith Convention registration manager

The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State provides the opportunities and resources of a large university with the personalized feel and support of a small school. As one of the largest accredited programs of its kind in the nation, students can find a place where they can fit and succeed. The Bellisario College offers programs in Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations, Film Production, Telecommunications and Media Industries, Media Studies, and a certificate in Sports Journalism. The Bellisario College is educating the next generation of innovative storytellers, and we can’t wait to be a part of your story!

July 5-10, 2026

Bellisario Summer Camps offer high school students hands-on experience in communications fields. Students get to experience campus life, gain valuable communications related skills and make life-long friends.

Inspire Your Students with Summer Academy N.Y.C.

As a journalism or media educator, counselor, or influencer in the lives of students, you play a pivotal role in shaping their future. Summer Academy N.Y.C., offered by The School of The New York Times, provides a transformative educational experience that goes beyond traditional classroom learning.

We are proud to offer NSPA and Quill & Scroll Advisers and their school programs exclusive benefits.

Scan here to receive a $500 discount for your students and learn how we can support your school programs through stipends and need based awards.

We seek to bring together a diverse group of intellectually curious people whose varied backgrounds make for a wide range of views and perspectives. We place students in an engaging, informative and inspiring setting. Together we take on the critical issues and problems of the day with the analytical skepticism of a news reporter. We teach with the goal that the lessons learned will withstand students’ lifelong pursuit of truth and civic engagement.

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APP CONVENTION

The convention app is sponsored by Elon University School of Communications.

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CONVENTION RULES OF CONDUCT

These guidelines are established to ensure that all convention participants have a safe and enjoyable experience in Nashville. We are committed to ensuring that our event is an inclusive, respectful, productive and harassment-free experience for all involved.

It is understood that by the act of registering students and bringing them to the convention, advisers assume responsibility for their students’ behavior and wellbeing during the convention. Breaking convention rules may result in disqualification from all contests and forfeiture of any awards won or fees paid.

 All attendees are expected to wear their convention name badges at all times while in the convention spaces. When outside these spaces, remove or hide your badge, and travel in groups to ensure safety.

 Out of respect to instructors and the intellectual property of their sessions, please do not record presentations without first obtaining permission from the speaker(s).

 Drinking or possessing alcoholic beverages, smoking, vaping or possession/use of illegal drugs is prohibited.

 A 10 p.m. convention curfew is in effect. Students should be in their rooms, making no excessive noise, at that time.

The hotel reserves the right to remove any hotel guests who create disruptions. Advisers/chaperones are responsible for enforcement.

 No students will be admitted to the convention without a school-approved adviser/chaperone. At least one chaperone/ adviser is required for every 10 students.

 Chaperones must have sleeping arrangements in nearby/ neighboring rooms to their students whenever possible. Chaperones should recognize they and their schools will be held liable for any damage to hotel/convention center facilities incurred by students under their supervision.

 Rudeness to hotel guests and/or employees, misuse of the elevators, excessive noise, destruction of property or any other inappropriate behavior is not acceptable and can lead to expulsion from the hotel and/or criminal prosecution.

 Should individual students, advisers or delegations prove disruptive or demonstrate unacceptable or unprofessional behavior, convention officials reserve the right to declare all fees forfeited and to send delegates home at their own expense.

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This does not reserve you a seat in the session. Breakout sessions are first-come, first-served seating. Convention officials recommend you select at least one backup session for each block.

 Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to:

- Demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behavior or speech, including bullying.

- Sexual harrassment and/or inappropriate physical contact.

- Sustained disruption, including during presentations

- Displaying sexually explicit or violent material including in presented materials.

- Violence, threats of violence or violent language directed against another person or group.

- Possession of dangerous or unauthorized materials such as explosives, firearms, weapons or similar items.

- Theft or inappropriate removal or possession of property

- Any other illegal activity or forms of harassment not covered above.

Full rules of conduct may be viewed at: fall.journalismconvention.org/rules-of-conduct

SPONSORS CONVENTION

PLATINUM

DIAMOND

SILVER

FRIEND

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Launching journalism careers

By the time Mariana Prieto (left) arrived on Elon University’s campus last summer, the high school senior from Queens, New York, already had an impressive résumé: senior editor of her school newspaper, an intern for a New York City Council campaign, and a contributor to Teens for Press Freedom, a national journalism advocacy group.

Despite those experiences, Prieto says she found something unique in Elon’s Emerging Journalists Program.

“Every day was filled with such valuable information,” she said. “I know I will take with me everything I learned – not just how to edit, but the practice

of a strong work ethic and preparing myself for the future.”

Prieto was one of 18 students selected for EJP’s fourth Immersion cohort, a university-funded, 12-day workshop supporting high school students interested in journalism and communications. Does this opportunity sound appealing? Good news! The Immersion experience returns June 15-26, 2026! See the link for details.

Online Graduate Pathways in Journalism Education

Gain tools and insights to effectively teach journalism/ yearbook and advise scholastic media through Kent State University’s School of Media and Journalism, home of the Knight Chair in Scholastic Journalism and the Center for Scholastic Journalism

Graduate Certificate in Journalism Education 12 credit hours

Master of Arts degree in Journalism Education 30 credit hours

Three start dates throughout the year

Learn More: www.kent.edu/mdj/JNED

Almost every single lesson in each class could be adapted to my classroom the following day. I loved the practicality of each course I took! ”

At The Media School, every class, project, and collaboration is a chance to revise your story — shaping not just your skills, but your identity. Whether you're drawn to journalism, lm, advertising, game design, or other forms of media, you'll draft the next version of you, incorporating tools from more than 200 areas of study at IU.

LEARN MORE

Val Kibler, M.A., ’14 teacher at Harrisonburg High School, Virginia

School of Media and Journalism

School of Media and Journalism

FAIR SHOW TRADE CCOLLEGE

Yearbook companies, photography services, web-based platform providers, workshop opportunities, journalism-focused nonprofits and more exhibitors await you at the trade show in Ryman Hall A2, Exhibition Level 0, 1-7 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. The college fair is an outstanding opportunity to visit with 36 prestigious institutions of higher education from across the country, all in one place. Access more than 50 questions to ask to when visiting with college and university representatives using the QR Code.

317 – Arizona State University

310 – Ball State University

628 – Balfour & Co. 634 – Belmont University 219

Boston University 601

CADY

524 – Columbia College Chicago 624 – Columbia Scholastic Press Association

622 – DePaul’s Blue Book / DePaul University

331 – Drake University

404 – Elon University

528 – Franklin College 311 – Friesens Corporation

522 – G-W Publisher

514 – Gloria Shields NSPA Media Workshop 510

Indiana University 301

Journalism Education Association

431 – Jewish Scholastic Press Association

Jostens

Kansas State University

Kent State University 423

Lee University

Loyola University New Orleans 604

Middle Tennessee State University 411 – National Association of Hispanic Journalists

Quill & Scroll

Savannah College of Art and Design

Southeast Missouri State

Southern Interscholastic Press Association 512 – Stack Events

612 – Student Press Law Center 319 – Syracuse University 507 – Temple University 231 – The School of the New York Times 531 – University of Colorado, Boulder 430 – University of Iowa

– University of Kansas

– University of Kentucky

– University of Maryland

– University of Miami 505 – University of Missouri 413 – University of South Carolina 535 – Vanderbilt University 322 – Varsity Yearbook

– Walsworth Yearbooks

– Washington Journalism and Media Conference 530 – Washington State University 435

Western Kentucky University 332 – Wichita State University 330 – William Carey University 215

– New York Film Academy 511

Northwestern University

NSPA

Penn State University

PBS News Student

Pictavo Yearbook 429 – Pulitzer Center

Youth Environmental Press Team

CHECK-IN REGISTRATION

CONVENTION CHECK-IN AND REGISTRATION

The registration desk is at the back of the trade show floor. Those who have registered must check in to pick up school packets that include name badges, printed programs and event tickets (Break with a Pro, adviser luncheon). It is best for only the advisers to check in their delegation, paying fees if needed. 1-7 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Ryman Hall A2, Exhibition Level 0 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Delta Ballroom B-D Lobby, Main Level 2

Check-in for National Student Media Contests

Schools registered for the National Student Media Contests must pick up their contest packet containing student ID labels and additional instructions at the JEA Contest Desk. If you have not paid, you must do so at this time. The deadline for substitutions in preregistered categories is 10:30 a.m. Friday. No new entries will be accepted at the convention. Students in broadcast contests with 8 a.m. Friday start times must pick up their ID Thursday. 1-7 p.m. Thursday and 7:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, Ryman Hall A2, Exhibition Level 0; 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Delta C/D Registration Desk, Main Level 2

NSPA Best of Show entries

The Best of Show competition is open to NSPA-member student media outlets. High school publications are eligible if students serving on the staff of the media outlet are registered convention attendees, and middle school media can enter if the adviser is a registered delegate at the convention. Individual Recognition entries were due prior to the convention, and Staff Recognition entries are due by noon Friday at the Best of Show desk. Winners will be announced at the NSPA awards ceremony on Saturday. Eligibility and rules at fall.journalismconvention.org. 1-7 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to noon Friday, Ryman Hall A2, Exhibition Level 0

OPENING CEREMONY &

Opening ceremony and keynote address

AWARDS

JEA, NSPA and the local convention team welcome you to the fall convention in Nashville. The opening ceremony features a keynote panel from Pulitzer on the Road. Read more about the panel on Page 18. Friesens Corporation is sponsor for this event.

7-9 p.m. Thursday, Delta Ballroom A, Main Level 2

NSPA awards ceremony

This awards ceremony recognizes the best of the best in student media. The NSPA Individual Award winners are named. Pacemaker winners are announced for Broadcast, Newspaper/ Newsmagazine and Specialty Magazine. The ceremony concludes with naming convention Best of Show winners in both the Individual and Staff Recognition categories.

3:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday, Delta Ballroom A, Main Level 2

Adviser recognition luncheon

JEA and NSPA will present awards at this special event. New and renewing Certified Journalism Educators and Master Journalism Educators will be recognized as well as several NSPA Pioneers and JEA's fall award winners. 2025 Broadcast Adviser of the Year, Administrator of the Year and Carl Towley winners will speak. Preregistration was required. Please bring your ticket. Varsity Yearbook is sponsor for this event.

JEA awards and closing ceremony

Winners of JEA National Student Media Contests and National Journalism Quiz Bowl will be recognized during the closing ceremony. You may pick up NSMC entries after the ceremony. Entries not picked up will be mailed.

8:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday, Delta Ballroom A, Main Level 2

At the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University,

you don’t just study media—you live it.

Whether you dream of calling a game, building a brand, reporting breaking news or producing your own podcast, the Cronkite School places you at the center of it all—just steps from pro sports teams, news networks, the state Capitol and a vibrant arts scene.

Want to meet with Varsity? Visit our JEA/NSPA booth or scan this code to learn more about your local rep.

SEE THE MAGIC FOR YOURSELF

Stop by our booth and learn more about:

• Tag Wizard, our game-changing, mind-blowing eDesign exclusive, uses advanced facial recognition to automate the photo tagging process — saving you time and ensuring every student is featured accurately

• Adobe Express image and graphics editor seamlessly integrated into eDesign, which gives you access to a huge library of Adobe artwork, fonts, design elements and effects PLUS, magical background removal with just one click

Check out a live eDesign demo and enter to win a new Canon Rebel T7 for your staff!

TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE WITH VARSITY

SAVE THE DATE JULY 15–17 KANSAS CITY, KS

Varsity Yearbook is here to support you with aweinspiring tools, resources and experiences. Stop by our booth at JEA/NSPA for some stellar swag. And we hope to see you in KC and/or Orlando for our Adviser Experience and Press Pass Academy.

Join us for our three-day, exclusive event created just for advisers.

• Learn from experts and fellow advisers

• Tour our state-of-the-art printing plant

• Connect with your support team in KC

• Gain tools, resources and confidence for the year

TRAINING AT WALT DISNEY WORLD® RESORT

BOOK NOW JAN/FEB 2026 ORLANDO, FL

Press Pass Academy is an all-access experience to learn more about media, storytelling and live sports coverage during the National School Spirit Championships. Your yearbook staff can build a portfolio, see backstage, get real-world practice and enjoy the parks.

SCHEDULE THURSDAY

8 a.m.

MEETING

JEA board meeting

JEA board members meet to discuss ongoing projects and other agenda items.

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Delta Island 3, Delta Atrium, Mezzanine Level

8:30 a.m.

JEA Outreach Academy

Outreach Academy is a JEA initiative to promote diversity in the journalism teaching profession. The Outreach Academy is a free, intensive seminar for publication advisers who need help teaching and advising students in journalism while dealing with issues surrounding diversity. The program is hands-on and focuses on practical information advisers need. It includes discussions on teaching journalism to diverse populations, diversifying school coverage, engaging your staff and school community, and understanding the resources and organizations ready to help advisers. Preregistration was required.

David Ragsdale, CJE, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Delta Island 2, Delta Atrium, Mezzanine Level

PUBLICATION EXCHANGE

Interested in seeing what kind of work other high schools around the nation are producing? Stop by the exchange tables to see the latest editions of high school publications from coast to coast. Feel free to drop off a few copies of your media and take some you like.

8 a.m. Thursday to 11 a.m. Sunday, Delta Ballroom A Lobby, Main Level 2

PRECONVENTION WORKSHOPS

Preregistration was required.

8:30 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M.

Audio storytelling and podcasting principles

Ryman Studio 17-18, Exhibition Level 0

Social media storytelling for student publications

Delta Island 5, Delta Atrium, Mezzanine Level

Branding your student media program

Ryman Studio 1-2, Exhibition Level 0

9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

Broadcast and video storytelling

Ryman Studio 3-4, Exhibition Level 0

Digital photography

Ryman Studio 9-11, Exhibition Level 0

News design bootcamp

Ryman Studio 5-6, Exhibition Level 0

Publication leadership

Ryman Studio 12-14, Exhibition Level 0

Writing, reporting and interviewing

Ryman Studio 15, Exhibition Level 0

Yearbook design bootcamp

Ryman Studio 7-8, Exhibition Level 0

1-5 P.M.

Artificial intelligence in the journalism classroom

Ryman Studio 17-18, Exhibition Level 0

Law of the student press

Ryman Studio 1-2, Exhibition Level 0

Getting started with InDesign and Illustrator

Delta Island 5, Delta Atrium, Mezzanine Level

MEDIA TOUR CHECK-IN

Please see below for the required check-in time for each media tour. Please be at the check-in desk near the Magnolia Canopy at that time or earlier. Look for signage. Preregistration was required.

7:25 a.m. Nashville Business Journal

7:45 a.m. Jostens tour 1

8:10 a.m. NewsChannel 5 Nashville WTVF

8:55 a.m. Center for Community News

8:55 a.m. WSMV 4 Nashville

9:15 a.m. Jostens tour 2

9:15 a.m. Lipscomb University

9:40 a.m. Middle Tennessee State University

10 a.m. Ryman Auditorium

10:10 a.m. The Tennessean

10:40 a.m. Third Man Records

10:45 a.m. Jostens tour 3

11 a.m. Country Music Hall of Fame

11 a.m. Hatch Show Print

12:10 p.m. Tennessee State Museum

12:40 p.m. Nashville Scene

12:40 p.m. Vanderbilt University

7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Magnolia Canopy, Main Level 2

CONVENTION MERCH DISTRIBUTION

If your school purchased the official convention merchandise through online registration, you may pick it up here. Large orders will be bundled together and should be picked up by the adviser. Preordered items must be picked up no later than noon Friday. Quantities are limited.

1-7 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday, Ryman Hall A2, Exhibition Level 0

SCHEDULE THURSDAY

1 p.m.

Check-in for National Student Media Contests Schools registered for the National Student Media Contests must pick up their contest packet containing student ID labels and additional instructions at the JEA Contest Desk. If you have not paid, you must do so at this time. The deadline for substitutions in preregistered categories is 10:30 a.m. Friday. No new entries will be accepted at the convention. Students in broadcast contests with 8 a.m. Friday start times must get their ID Thursday.

1-7 p.m. Thursday, Ryman Hall A2, Exhibition Level 0

Convention check-in and registration

The registration desk is at the back of the trade show floor. Those who have registered must check in to pick up school packets that include name badges, printed programs and event tickets (Break with a Pro, adviser luncheon). It is best for the advisers only to check in their delegation, paying fees if they have not already done so.

1-7 p.m. Thursday, Ryman Hall A2, Exhibition Level 0

NSPA Best of Show check-in

The Best of Show competition is open to NSPA-member student media outlets. High school publications are eligible if students serving on the staff of the media outlet are registered convention attendees, and middle school media can enter if the adviser is a registered delegate at the convention. Individual Recognition entries were due prior to the convention, and Staff Recognition entries are due by noon Friday at the Best of Show desk. Winners will be announced at the NSPA awards ceremony on Saturday. Eligibility and rules at fall.journalismconvention.org.

1-7 p.m. Thursday, Ryman Hall A2, Exhibition Level 0

TRADE SHOW & COLLEGE FAIR

Dozens of national and local vendors and colleges will educate and entertain during the trade show exhibits. Find out what’s new, chat with representatives and have some fun.

1-7 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Ryman Hall A2, Exhibition Level 0

INFORMATION DESK

Learn where to go, what to see and where to eat from locals serving on the convention committee.

1-7 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Delta Ballroom B-D Lobby, Main Level 2

Evening

ADVISERS

New adviser convention orientation

Advisers at their first JEA/NSPA convention should consider attending a short orientation meeting to get a general overview and explanation of convention events and how to get the most out of them.

6-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Ryman Studio 12-14, Exhibition Level 0

Opening ceremony and keynote address

JEA, NSPA and the local convention team welcome you to the fall convention in Nashville. The opening ceremony features a keynote panel from Pulitzer on the Road. Read more about the panelists on Page 18.

7-9 p.m. Thursday, Delta Ballroom A, Main Level 2

Adviser welcome reception

After the keynote speech, all advisers are welcome to attend this reception to socialize with new colleagues and relax with longtime friends. New and first-time attendee advisers will have a chance to meet the local convention team, plus JEA and NSPA board members and staffs.

9-10:30 p.m. Thursday, Davidson Ballroom AE, Main Level 2

LOST AND FOUND

The convention registration desk will house the lost and found. If what you lost is not there, check to see if someone turned it in to Gaylord security. Items not picked up by 1 p.m. Saturday will be turned over to hotel security.

NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARDS

JOURNALISM

VISUAL JOURNALISM & PHOTOGRAPHY

Western Kentucky University’s School of Media & Communication offers national award-winning programs with standout student organizations.

Located in South Central Kentucky, WKU provides a competitive education to prepare students for a variety of fields in media and communication.

PANEL KEYNOTE

7 p.m. Thursday, Delta Ballroom A, Main Level 2, Gaylord Opryland Convention Center

Keynote sponsored by Friesens Corporation.

NHSJC and Pulitzer on the Road present

The power of stories: How local journalism can make a difference

Featuring Pulitzer Prize winners in conversation: Jessica Gallagher and Alissa Zhu of The Baltimore Banner, and Toluse Olorunnipa of The Atlantic

Read more about the panelists on Page 20.

Deeply rooted local journalism can spark national conversations, shape public policy and fuel global movements. How do journalists shape their stories to have the most impact? Pulitzer on the Road brings together four Pulitzer-winning journalists for a dynamic conversation about the art of storytelling in journalism, the importance of covering local stories and their potential for national reach. From building trust in the communities they cover, to the craft, ethics and urgency of reporting at the local level, these journalists will talk about the powerful role of storytelling in shaping an informed society.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Co-chair of the Pulitzer Prize Board, host of the Pulitzer on the Road podcast and executive director of Newswell, a nonprofit aimed at transforming local news, Nicole Carroll has more than three decades of journalism experience. A professor of practice at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University, Carroll was previously editor-in-chief at USA Today and, before that, spent almost 20 years as top editor of The Arizona Republic, where she led a project that won a 2018 Pulitzer Prize, as well as breaking news coverage recognized as Pulitzer Prize finalists in 2014 and 2012. In 2018, Carroll was named Benjamin C. Bradlee Editor of the Year by the National Press Foundation.

JESSICA GALLAGHER

ALISSA ZHU

TOLUSE OLORUNNIPA

NICOLE CARROLL

PULITZER JOINS NHSJC ON THE ROAD TO NASHVILLE

Even people who don’t know that the prizes are named for an important journalist realize that being awarded a Pulitzer Prize recognizes excellence. The prize, which was established by newspaper owner and publisher Joseph Pulitzer’s will, has evolved since the first award in 1917.

Marjorie Miller, administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes, shared thoughts on the partnership between Pulitzer on the Road and convention sponsors JEA and NSPA in a recent email interview.

“What excited me about this convention in Nashville is that there are [over] 4,500 people attending, students and educators excited about journalism and the craft of writing,” Miller wrote. “This level of engagement is so important, particularly in these fraught times when journalism is under attack — financial, legal and political attack.

“Being part of this convention is an incredible opportunity to bring four prize-winning journalists to engage in conversation about the production of deeply reported, fact-based work with a new generation of journalists, who can teach us a lot about new platforms and new ways of storytelling.”

Miller noted that the engagement and enthusiasm from students at prior events resonated with the panelists who presented. “Their thoughtful questions led to important conversations around how to make journalism relevant to younger audiences, and how to frame stories about big issues so that people in their communities understand the relevance to their own lives.”

The ways local journalism can make a difference is the framework for this year’s keynote panel. Miller noted that the Local News Initiative at Northwestern University reports that more than 3,200 newspapers have folded in the United States in the past 20 years — at a rate of two a week. Last year, 130 newspapers closed. Theirs is one of many studies about news deserts in this country.

“We want to inspire new journalists to focus on their communities and to hold local power

ABOUT PULITZER ON THE ROAD

Pulitzer on the Road is a public outreach initiative celebrating the work of Pulitzer Prize winners with audiences across the country. Through live events, a podcast, and a future traveling exhibition, the public can engage with Pulitzer-winning authors and journalists and hear the stories behind their revelatory work. Join them for live events, and subscribe to the Pulitzer on the Road Podcast.

accountable — city councils, school boards, state governments and businesses,” Miller wrote. “Citizens need to be made aware of where their tax money goes and what decisions are being made in their name — and that is incumbent on all of us.”

The three keynote panelists are Alissa Zhu, Jessica Gallagher and Toulouse Olorunnipa. The panel moderator is Nicole Carroll. Miller said that each of these Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists is at the top of their game:

“Carroll has worn many hats in the industry, from editor of The Arizona Republic, where she led reporting that won a 2018 Pulitzer Prize, to USA Today, to recently becoming the founder of NEWSWELL, an organization creating a supportive ecosystem for struggling news media and helping these businesses to thrive. She’s been a Pulitzer board member since 2018, has a broad understanding of what we call old and new media, and is deeply rooted in the ethics of journalism.

“Zhu and Gallagher are award-winning journalists from a relatively new digital news start up, The Baltimore Banner. The story their team won for Local Reporting in 2025 is inspiring because they set out to find out who in Baltimore was dying of fentanyl overdoses and came to a surprising conclusion that it was older Black men, a finding that had been unknown before this reporting. They shared their process of data collection and discovery with other media outlets, which is key in this era,

The JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention is thrilled to partner with Pulitzer on the Road to present this special keynote panel as part of the 2025 fall convention.

Learn more at pulitzerontheroad.pulitzer.org.

because partnerships and the sharing of resources is key to the survival of journalism.

“Olorunnipa is an inspiring reporter and writer. He’s worked in many traditional news rooms, from a local paper, the Miami Herald, to Bloomberg News and, eventually, the Washington Post, where he was the White House Bureau Chief and covered four presidencies. He and his reporting partner, Robert Samuels, turned their groundbreaking reporting on the killing of George Floyd into a remarkable book, 'His Name is George Floyd,' which won for General Nonfiction in 2023. Toluse joined The Atlantic this summer, and we thought his professional success and career trajectory would be of great interest to the aspiring journalists at this conference.”

Each year, the Pulitzer Board honors 23 remarkable achievements in journalism, books, drama and music that portray our shared experiences, examine critical times and expand our understanding of each other.

Pulitzer on the Road celebrates the prize winners behind this extraordinary work, connecting them with audiences around the country through live events, a podcast and an upcoming traveling exhibition. These conversations and programs showcase what it takes to produce this level of excellent work – the commitment, creativity and courage that goes into it, and highlight the importance of journalism, books, drama and music in a healthy democracy.

FRIDAY FOLLOW-UPS

Interested in hearing more from our keynoters? Join Pulitzer on the Road for two follow-up sessions on Friday at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. in Delta Mezzanine 5, Level M. Learn more on Page 39.

PANEL KEYNOTE

About the panelists

Jessica Gallagher

2025 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Local Reporting

Jessica Gallagher is a staff photojournalist at The Baltimore Banner whose photos and reporting for the award-winning project about Baltimore’s drug overdose crisis contributed to the team’s 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting, work that was published as a collaboration between The Banner and The New York Times. Prior to joining The Banner, Gallagher worked at The Greenville News, The Quad-City Times, and The Times-Georgian.

Toluse Olorunnipa

2023 Pulitzer Prize Winner in General Nonfiction

Toluse Olorunnipa is a staff writer at The Atlantic. He is the co-author of “His Name is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice,” winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction and a finalist for the National Book Award, LA Times Book Award and Lukas Prize. Previously, he worked at the Washington Post for six years, serving as the White House Bureau Chief. His coverage of politics, policy and power during the last four presidencies has garnered numerous awards, including a Peabody Award, a George Polk Award and the Gerald Ford Prize for Reporting on the Presidency. Olorunnipa started his career at the Miami Herald.

Alissa Zhu

2025 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Local Reporting

Alissa Zhu is a health beat reporter at The Baltimore Banner and was part of a team whose compassionate investigative series on Baltimore’s fentanyl crisis and its disproportionate impact on older Black men won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting. This series was published as a collaboration between The Banner and The New York Times. Previously, Zhu worked at the Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi, and the News-Leader in her hometown of Springfield, Missouri.

NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION

CONGRATULATIONS

PACEMAKER FINALISTS // INDIVIDUAL AWARDS FINALISTS // 2025 PIONEERS

> NSPA PIONEERS: CLASS OF 2025

THE PIONEER, NSPA’s highest honor, recognizes journalism educators and advocates who have made long-term, significant contributions to scholastic journalism.

This year’s winners — Alyssa Boehringer, Adriana Chavira, Margie Mohtasham Raper, Rod Satterthwaite, Clint Smith and Barb Tholen — represent decades of dedication, innovation and mentorship. Their commitment has shaped student journalists and advisers nationwide, strengthening scholastic press freedom and ensuring the future of strong, student-driven media.

NSPA INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

APPROXIMATELY 468 finalists from 45 contests in 11 categories have been named; winners announced at Saturday’s NSPA Awards Ceremony.

BROADCAST STORY OF THE YEAR

Broadcast News Story

Broadcast Feature Story

Broadcast Sports Story

Broadcast Commentary

CARTOON OF THE YEAR

Comic Strip/Panel

Editorial Cartoon

DESIGN OF THE YEAR

Newspaper Front Page

Newspaper Page/Spread

Newsmagazine Cover

Newsmagazine Page/Spread

Magazine Cover

Magazine Page/Spread

Yearbook Spread

Yearbook Theme Package

Informational Graphic

Illustration

Artwork

DIGITAL STORY OF THE YEAR

Multimedia News Story

Multimedia Feature Story

Multimedia Sports Story

Photo Slideshow

Interactive Graphic

Podcast

Blog

PHOTO OF THE YEAR

News Photo

Feature Photo

Sports Game/Action Photo

Sports Feature Photo

Environmental Portrait

STORY OF THE YEAR

News Story

Feature Story

Sports Story

Editorial

Opinion

Creative Writing

> AWARD FINALISTS

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reporting

REPORTING ON SYSTEMIC CHANGE

Fred Ross Systemic Change Journalism Competition

CLIMATE CHANGE REPORTING

Local Climate Change Reporting

PORTFOLIO OF THE YEAR

Artist of the Year

Broadcast Journalist of the Year

Designer of the Year

Marketer of the Year

Multimedia Journalist of the Year

Photojournalist of the Year

Writer of the Year

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social Media Reporting

Social Media Promotions

PACEMAKER FINALISTS

NEWSPAPER/NEWSMAGAZINE, SPECIALTY MAGAZINE // BROADCAST

NEWSPAPER/ NEWSMAGAZINE, SPECIALTY MAGAZINE FINALISTS

Finalists will be recognized and the Pacemakers announced at the NSPA Awards Ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in Delta Ballroom A.

HIGHLANDER

Carlmont High School Belmont, California

EL ESTOQUE

Monta Vista High School Cupertino, California

ACCOLADE

Sunny Hills High School Fullerton, California

THE TOWN CRIER

Paul Revere Middle School Los Angeles, California

THE CAMPANILE

Palo Alto High School Palo Alto, California

VERDE

Palo Alto High School Palo Alto, California

C MAGAZINE

Palo Alto High School Palo Alto, California

VIKING

Palo Alto High School Palo Alto, California

BEAR WITNESS

Branham High School San Jose, California

THE EPIC

Lynbrook High School San Jose, California

WINGED POST

The Harker School San Jose, California

THE MIRROR Van Nuys High School Van Nuys, California

THE MIX

Monarch High School Louisville, Colorado

COURAGE

Oviedo High School Oviedo, Florida

EAGLE EYE NEWS

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Parkland, Florida

MUSE

A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts West Palm Beach, Florida

ODYSSEY

Clarke Central High School Athens, Georgia

U-HIGH MIDWAY

University of Chicago Laboratory High School Chicago, Illinois

THE SPARTAN SHIELD

Pleasant Valley High School Bettendorf, Iowa

WEST SIDE STORY

Iowa City West High School Iowa City, Iowa

THE PATRIOT

Shawnee Mission South High School

Overland Park, Kansas

THE HARBINGER

Shawnee Mission East High School

Prairie Village, Kansas

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Shawnee Mission Northwest High School Shawnee, Kansas

ON THE RECORD

duPont Manual High School Louisville, Kentucky

THE COUGAR STAR

Clague Middle School Ann Arbor, Michigan

THE COMMUNICATOR MAGAZINE

Community High School Ann Arbor, Michigan

THE CRANE

Cranbrook Kingswood Middle School for Boys Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

CENTRAL FOCUS

Francis Howell Central High School Cottleville, Missouri

NORTH STAR

Francis Howell North High School

Saint Charles, Missouri

PANORAMA

Ladue Horton Watkins High School

St. Louis, Missouri

TRIBAL TRIBUNE

Wando High School

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

THE DISPATCH

James Bowie High School Austin, Texas

THE SHIELD

McCallum High School Austin, Texas

GENEVA QUARTERLY

Geneva School of Boerne Boerne, Texas

EAGLE EDITION

Episcopal School of Dallas Dallas, Texas

FOCUS

St. Mark’s School of Texas Dallas, Texas

REMARKER

St. Mark’s School of Texas Dallas, Texas

THE REVIEW

St. John’s School Houston, Texas

THE EDGE

Pleasant Grove High School Texarkana, Texas

THE SCROLL

The American School in London Middle School London, England

THE STANDARD

The American School in London London, England

> 2025

BROADCAST PACEMAKER FINALISTS

Finalists will be recognized and the Pacemakers announced at the NSPA Awards Ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in Delta Ballroom A.

LET’S CELEBRATE!

Join us for the NSPA Awards Ceremony 3:30 p.m. SATURDAY, DELTA BALLROOM A

CHSTV

Carlsbad High School

Carlsbad, California

Beyond DP

Dos Pueblos High School Goleta, California

INFOCUS

Palo Alto High School Palo Alto, California

RHS KRAM

Rampart High School Colorado Springs, Colorado

CCNN LIVE

Christopher Columbus High School Miami, Florida

THE VOYAGE

Christopher Columbus High School Miami, Florida

RAIDER305

Gulliver Preparatory School Miami, Florida

WSRH EXTRA

Seminole Ridge High School Westlake, Florida

THE ODYSSEY

Somerset Academy Prep Miami, Florida

CODE BLUE NEWS

Holbrook Middle-High School Holbrook, Massachusetts

WTHS MEDIA

Tupelo High School Tupelo, Mississippi

HTV MAGAZINE

Hillcrest High School

Springfield, Missouri

LINCOLN LIVE

Gahanna Lincoln High School Gahanna, Ohio

GHS INSIDER

Germantown High School

Germantown, Tennessee

KCBY

Coppell High School Coppell, Texas

EAGLE NATION NEWS

Prosper High School Prosper, Texas

HILL TOP NEWS

Rock Hill High School Frisco, Texas

> NSPA 2025-26 CALENDAR

NOV. 24, 2025

DEADLINE: Literary Arts Magazine Pacemaker

DEADLINE: Online Pacemaker

DEADLINE: Yearbook Pacemaker

DEC. 12, 2025

DEADLINE: Fall 2025 Clips & Clicks

JAN. 9, 2026

DEADLINE: Innovation Pacemaker

FEB. 9, 2026

DEADLINE: Leadership Award in Student Journalism nominations

MARCH 2, 2026

DEADLINE: Leadership Award in Student Journalism Scholarship applications

DEADLINE: Wikoff Scholarship for Editorial Leadership applications

MARCH 30, 2026

DEADLINE: Individual Recognition Minneapolis Best of Show entries

APRIL 16-18, 2026

Spring National High School Journalism Convention, Minneapolis

APRIL 17, 2026

DEADLINE: Staff Recognition Minneapolis Best of Show entries

MAY 8, 2026

DEADLINE: Spring 2026 Clips & Clicks

MAY 27, 2026

DEADLINE: Individual Awards payments

JUNE 1, 2026

DEADLINE: Individual Awards

JUNE 5, 2026

DEADLINE: Broadcast Pacemaker

DEADLINE: Newspaper/Newsmagazine, Specialty Magazine

JUNE 15, 2026

DEADLINE: Junior High/Middle School Individual Awards

BROADCAST // MAGAZINE // NEWSPAPER-NEWSMAGAZINE WEBSITE // YEARBOOK

BEST OF SHOW

Staff Recognition entries are due at noon on Friday

NSPA Best of Show, a popular convention competition, is open to NSPA-member student media outlets The contest is $30 per entry.

Print entries must be submitted to the Best of Show registration desk.

Submit digital entries entries using this QR code:

> THE DEADLINE IS NOON, NOV. 14.

BEST OF SHOW awards in this category are presented to the student media outlet for the overall product. Only one submission is allowed in each category. The entries compete directly against each other, and a critique or scoresheet is not provided.

The Best of Show winner receives the iconic NSPA Best of Show trophy, with second through 10th place winners receiving certificates.

> BROADCAST NEWS PROGRAM

Enter a single broadcast news program aired between Aug. 1, 2025, and the contest deadline. Entries must be submitted as URL links (i.e., a YouTube or Vimeo link). The news program must be housed on a site or channel owned by a school student media outlet and not a personal site or channel. News programs compete in two categories — high school and junior high/middle school. Submit your URL using the QR code on the left.

> LITERARY ARTS MAGAZINE

Enter one print copy of the most recent issue of the magazine at the Best of Show registration desk in Nashville. Junior high/middle school magazines may be entered, but there isn’t a separate category.

> SPECIALTY MAGAZINE

Enter one print copy of the most recent issue of the magazine at the Best of Show registration desk in Nashville. Junior high/middle school magazines may be entered, but there isn’t a separate category.

> NEWSPAPER/NEWSMAGAZINE

Enter one print copy of the most recent regular issue of the newspaper/newsmagazine at the Best of Show registration desk in Nashville. High school entries compete in categories based on enrollment. Junior high/ middle school entries compete in a separate category.

> WEBSITE

Online news websites, actively updated during the current school year, compete in separate high school and junior high/middle school categories. High school websites are further divided by enrollment. Submit your URL using the QR code on the left.

> YEARBOOK

The 2025 yearbook should be entered. Yearbooks compete in separate high school and junior high/middle school categories. High school yearbooks are further divided by enrollment. Yearbooks will be available to the end of the Saturday awards ceremony for return. NSPA does not guarantee the return of your yearbook.

Leon Alligood

Faculty, Middle Tennessee State University, Nashville

Leon Alligood was a Tennessee-based journalist for 30 years, specializing in telling narrative stories from across the state and beyond, including as an embedded reporter with the 101st Airborne in Iraq and Afghanistan. During his newsroom career his writing was recognized by awards from the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists, among others. He was named professor emeritus at Middle Tennessee State University where he taught journalism for 15 years until retirement in December 2023.

INTERVIEWING / WRITING

Telling the story of a lifetime: How to elevate feature writing

Entertaining, illuminating and inspiring stories are waiting to be told. All that’s lacking is curiosity and a list of good questions. This session will help young writers understand the value of telling untold stories. The process begins with a conversation that stems from a curiosity about another’s life. In this session, tips will be shared on how to interview, report and write stories that go beyond a simple profile or feature.

1 p.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom B, Level 2

SPEAKERS FEATURED

Chris Bacon

Director of communications, Nashville Stars, Tennessee

Chris Bacon is the director of communications and advancement for Music City Baseball, the group leading the effort to bring Major League Baseball to Tennessee. Bacon has been a professor at Middle Tennessee State University for the past eight years teaching courses in sports media and journalism. Prior to receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 2017, he spent more than 15 years in the communications field as a television reporter and public relations professional.

SPORTS JOURNALISM

The power of storytelling in Nashville’s pitch for an MLB franchise

This session will examine how storytelling fuels Nashville's pursuit of Major League Baseball and the development of the Nashville Stars brand. Attendees will explore how journalism skills, such as reporting, interviewing and multimedia production, are used to inform the public and build community support. The discussion will highlight the role of effective communication in shaping public perception, offering students insight into how their work can influence conversations beyond the newsroom.

8 a.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom B, Main Level 2

Paulina Bounds

Professor of linguistics, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville

Paulina Bounds, Ph.D., is a Professor of Linguistics at Tennessee Tech University. She teaches courses in writing, linguistics and the evolving impact of AI on language and composition. Her research explores how language shapes identity and social dynamics.

AI & JOURNALISM

ChatGPT 5 and me:

Writing in the age of automation

This presentation demonstrates how structured engagement with AI tools affects students' critical thinking skills, voice development and decision-making processes in their writing practice. As generative AI tools become increasingly prevalent in academic settings, journalism students must prepare to engage creatively and critically with these technologies while maintaining a focus on the development of their own writing skills. Two university writing professors at Tennessee Tech University offer their best pedagogical practices with current AI tools to support high school advisers and students alike. with Mari Ramler

11 a.m. Friday, Davidson B, Main Level 2

Tim Broekema

Professor, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green

Tim Broekema is an awardwinning photojournalist, documentary storyteller and educator. A team Pulitzer Prize recipient, his career spans decades of storytelling that have taken him across the globe. Now, as a professor, he has inspired generations of journalists to seek truth and tell stories with integrity and heart. Broekema is also a mover and shaker of the Mountain Workshops, a nationally recognized documentary training program that has shaped the field for 50 years. Broekema's greatest joy comes from mentoring students and colleagues, reminding them that curiosity, courage and compassion are the keys to meaningful work and life.

PHOTOJOURNALISM

Fear of the unknown: Finding joy in the journey

Have you ever wondered what a professional journalist would say to their 17-year-old self? Join this session to listen as an award-winning photojournalist, photo editor, videographer and educator – who was, at one point in time, none of these things – discusses the power of embracing the unknown and turning unforeseen opportunities into careeraltering decisions.

10 a.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom C, Main Level 2

Ryan Derenberger

Editorial director, SUNN Post, Bethesda, Maryland

Ryan Derenberger is a nationally board-certified teacher who serves as editorial director for the SUNN Post, a national newspaper for scholastic journalists. In this role, he helped create the coalition of schools that feed it: the Students United News Network. He teaches at Walt Whitman High School in Maryland and advises its award-winning publication, The Black & White. Derenberger founded the education sites Idea Sifters Academy and Kill the Test. He also worked as a curriculum consultant for Baltimore County Schools.

ONLINE / COLLEGE & CAREER

How to become a paid, professional student journalist

Introducing the first national student newspaper in the USA! Recently launched, The SUNN Post syndicates and commissions high school reporting, features and opinion writing nationwide, and pays students directly for all the writing, graphics and video it publishes. This is the official, nonpartisan publication of SUNN, a fast growing network of 150+ student newsrooms in 30+ states. Come learn about the SUNN vision, as well as practical info on how to get published. with Amanda Little

11 a.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom C, Main Level 2

Nic Dugger

Founder, TNDV: Television, Nashville

Nic Dugger is a 14-time Emmy-winning television producer and founder of TNDV: Television, a premier provider of mobile production facilities. A Jackson, Tennessee, native, Dugger began his career at age 12 and honed his craft at Middle Tennessee State University, where he earned two student Emmy nominations. His work with the JASON Project led to a staff producer role at National Geographic, contributing to groundbreaking live broadcasts from active volcanoes, the Peruvian rainforest and beneath the ocean.

COLLEGE & CAREER

The college tripod: What every student needs to stand tall What does it really take to thrive in college and beyond? In this session, an Emmy-winning producer will share the three fundamental "legs" every journalism student needs to build a solid foundation for success. Using real-world insight, this session offers a practical, no-nonsense approach students can apply immediately. Attendees will learn how a simple metaphor can shape your college experience and help elevate your future career. 9 a.m. Saturday, Delta Ballroom B, Main Level 2

WE ARE ALL STORYTELLERS

At the Newhouse School, we empower the next generation of journalists and creators to tell stories that matter. From the newsroom to the studio to the stage, our students learn to connect, inform and inspire.

Scan the QR code to learn how Newhouse students bring stories to life.

PICTURED

Podcast host Gloria Rivera records “Canal Keepers”, one of many student projects that combine professional storytelling with real-world impact.

Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication offers nine undergraduate majors:

• Advertising

• Audio and Live Entertainment

• Communication

• Communication Studies

• Journalism

• Media Studies and Production

• Public Relations

• Sports Media

• Virtual Media Management

STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAM:

• Learn the craft of world-class storytelling—from broadcast journalism and investigative reporting to the dynamic world of sports media.

• Build skills in podcasting, sharpen your sports reporting, and bring stories to life through photojournalism courses offered year-round.

• Join a legacy of excellence alongside notable alumni like Tamron Hall, KLN ’92, and Kevin Negandhi, KLN ’92.

scan the QR to request more information about our programs or to schedule a visit

Bill Gibson

Coalition director, Power of Putnam, Cookeville, Tennessee

Bill Gibson served as a police officer for 10 years and district attorney general for the 13th Judicial District of Tennessee for 18 years. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with degrees in law enforcement and criminal justice. He has served as project director for the Middle Tennessee Methamphetamine Prevention Task Force and coalition director for Power of Putnam. He has served as an adjunct criminal justice instructor for Nashville State Community College.

LAW & ETHICS

Freedom of press in the courtroom

In this session, a career prosecutor will present a practical look at the balance between two competing rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The First Amendment protects freedom of the press while the Sixth Amendment guarantees criminal defendants the right to a fair trial before an impartial jury. Using actual case histories, this session will explore ways that courts work to protect both rights.

10 a.m. Saturday, Delta Ballroom B, Main Level 2

SPEAKERS FEATURED

Kevin Goldberg

Vice president, Freedom Forum, Washington, D.C.

Kevin Goldberg works to educate the public on the importance of the First Amendment and oversees Freedom Forum’s network of experts. Prior to joining Freedom Forum, he served as a vice president for the Digital Media Association, which represents the world’s leading audio streaming companies. Before DiMA, Goldberg spent 25 years in private practice at two law firms where he focused on First Amendment, Freedom of Information Act and intellectual property issues for news media and other clients across all types of media. Goldberg graduated with a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and a law degree from George Washington University’s law school.

LAW & ETHICS

Your rights, your stories, your chance to learn from the pros Think the First Amendment is just something in your history book? Think again. Join a First Amendment expert and a First Amendment reporter for an inside look at how free speech and press rights shape real stories every day. Hear their advice for student journalists, get your questions answered, and find out how you can apply for the prestigious Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference. with Angele Latham

10 a.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom B, Level 2

Laura Holloway

Director of strategy, Big Sea, Cookeville, Tennessee

As Big Sea’s director of marketing strategy, Laura Holloway brings a storyteller’s heart and a strategist’s eye to every project. For more than 15 years, she’s helped brands, nonprofits and cultural organizations sharpen their voice and strengthen their impact. Before joining Big Sea, Holloway founded The Storyteller Agency, where she built a reputation for turning complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives that inspire connection. With roots in journalism and experience leading creative teams, she enjoys uncovering voices that often go unheard and telling stories that resonate with empathy, authenticity and impact.

COLLEGE & CAREER

Journalism meets marketing: Building careers in a changing media world

There are few careers as fulfilling as investigative journalism. These stories have the power to change public policy for the betterment of our communities. This session will give insights into how to build investigative skills and content while working in any newsroom.

2 p.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom B, Main Level 2

Mark Humphrey

Freelance photographer, Nolensville, Tennessee

Mark Humphrey was a staff photographer for The Associated Press for 40 years before retiring in 2022. He is currently a freelance photographer, mainly doing work for news agencies and publications across the United States and Europe. While with the AP, he covered news, sports, music and entertainment. His sports assignments include 23 Super Bowls, 10 Olympics, 12 NCAA Final Four basketball championships, as well as multiple NHL Stanley Cup championships, World Series games and NBA championship games.

SPORTS JOURNALISM

The best seat in the stadium: Tips for sports photographers

During his career as a photographer with The Associated Press, Mark Humphrey covered professional, collegiate and high school sports. This session will feature images from these events and insight into how photojournalists can better prepare for shooting sports.

Noon Friday, Delta Ballroom C, Main Level 2

OTHER SESSION: PHOTOJOURNALISM

Picturing people: Best practices for photojournalists

1 p.m. Friday, Delta C

Jill Jelnick

Sports director, FOX-17

Nashville

Jill Jelnick is the sports director at FOX-17 in Nashville, Tennessee, where she’s been covering the city’s biggest games and athletes since 2021.

SPORTS JOURNALISM / MULTIMEDIA BROADCAST

Changing the game: Skills for the future of local TV sports coverage

Local TV sports coverage remains a vital entry point for young journalists, but the field is evolving quickly. This session will explore the skills needed to thrive in sports broadcasting, from shooting and editing highlights to storytelling that connects with audiences across digital and on-air platforms. Topics will include covering games, building relationships with athletes and coaches, and adapting to changes in technology and viewer habits. Learn how to prepare for a career in local sports journalism and what it takes to stand out in a competitive, changing industry.

with Chris Bacon

9 a.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom B, Main Level 2

Jason Lamb Executive reporter, NewsChannel 5 WTVF Nashville

Jason Lamb manages reporters and multimedia journalists as an executive reporter at NewsChannel 5 WTVF Nashville. A Missouri School of Journalism graduate, Lamb began at KOMU-TV before joining KTUU in Anchorage, Alaska, and ultimately NewsChannel 5, building a career that has earned him 15 Emmy Awards, a national Edward R. Murrow Award and the NPPA Photojournalism Award for Reporting. He regularly conducts storytelling workshops, teaching techniques that create authentic connections with audiences.

WRITING

Stories that stick: Tips to make your journalism memorable

Time and time again, audiences tell us they want to feel connected to their communities through journalism and storytelling that makes them feel something. So, how can you break through the sea of sameness that afflicts so much of local news? Join this session to learn several triedand-true writing techniques you can bring back to your classroom or newsroom to immediately boost the emotional connection viewers will have after watching your stories, so they'll remember them long after they're over.

8 a.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom C, Main Level 2

SPEAKERS FEATURED

Angele Latham

First Amendment reporter, The Tennessean, Nashville

Angele Latham, a reporter at The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville, is the nation's first-ever First Amendment reporter. The position, formed in 2022 by a partnership between the Freedom Forum, the Journalism Funding Partners and The Tennessean, allows Latham to cover an expansive range of incredibly impactful stories that are often overlooked in reporters' daily beats. From protests, book bans and drag performances to neo-Nazi marches, press freedom and government accountability, Latham works to bring light to the incredible impact the First Amendment has on everyday life, everywhere.

LAW & ETHICS

Your rights, your stories, your chance to learn from the pros

Think the First Amendment is just something in your history book? Think again. Join a First Amendment expert and a First Amendment reporter for an inside look at how free speech and press rights shape real stories every day. Hear their advice for student journalists, get your questions answered, and find out how you can apply for the prestigious Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference. with Kevin Goldberg

10 a.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom B, Level 2

Matthew Leimkuehler

Assistant professor, Middle Tennessee State University, Nashville

Matthew Leimkuehler is a music journalist based in Nashville, Tennessee. He’s spent over a decade covering entertainment, with bylines including Rolling Stone, GQ, The Tennessean & USA Today, American Songwriter, the Nashville Scene and more. He is an assistant professor of journalism and student media adviser at Middle Tennessee State University.

NEWSGATHERING / WRITING

At the show: How to make the most of your entertainment coverage

Do you want to cover a local concert for your publication? Or maybe you hope to feature the school theater production in your yearbook? Learn the ins and outs of live entertainment reporting from a professor and journalist who has weathered storm delays, gone backstage and captured the magic of live music at hundreds of concerts across North America. Noon Friday, Delta Ballroom B, Main Level 2

Amanda Little

Executive director, Students United News Network, Nashville

Amanda Little is a professor of journalism at Vanderbilt University, longtime Bloomberg columnist and bestselling author. She founded the Students United News Network, a coalition of top student newsrooms nationwide, and its new national student newspaper, the SUNN Post. Little has written for publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, TIME and the New Yorker. She has appeared on shows from "Morning Joe" to "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, and interviewed figures including Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Her TED Talk, "Climate Change is a Problem You Can Taste,” has more than 1 million views.

ONLINE / COLLEGE & CAREER

How to become a paid, professional student journalist

Introducing the first national student newspaper in the USA! Recently launched, the SUNN Post syndicates and commissions high school reporting, features and opinion writing nationwide, and pays students directly for all the work it publishes. Come learn practical info on how to get published. with Ryan Derenberger

11 a.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom C, Main Level 2

Ken Paulson

Director, Free Speech Center, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Ken Paulson is director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, the former dean of the College of Media and Entertainment at MTSU and the former editor-inchief of USA Today. A First Amendment expert, Paulson has written and been quoted widely on issues related to free speech, free press, freedom to assemble, freedom to petition the government and freedom of religion. He is a former president of the Newseum in Washington, D.C., and the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University.

LAW & ETHICS

The interactive First Amendment: Rights, revolution, rap and rock

Free press. Free speech. Free prizes. Attend this session to compete in an interactive and irreverent quiz designed to challenge what you know about the First Amendment. Participants will have the chance to win books signed by legendary journalists, as well as music and movies about journalism. You'll never see the First Amendment the same way again!

11 a.m. Saturday, Davidson Ballroom AE, Level 2

Mari Ramler

Associate professor of technical communication, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville

Mari Ramler, Ph.D., is an associate professor of technical communication at Tennessee Tech University. She teaches courses in professional and technical communication, as well as emergent technology, especially artificial intelligence. Her research explores generative AI and pedagogy.

AI & JOURNALISM

ChatGPT 5 and me:

Writing in the age of automation

This presentation demonstrates how structured engagement with AI tools affects students' critical thinking skills, voice development and decision-making processes in their writing practice. As generative AI tools become increasingly prevalent in academic settings, journalism students must prepare to engage creatively and critically with these technologies while maintaining a focus on the development of their own writing skills. Two university writing professors offer their best pedagogical practices to support high school advisers and students alike. with Paulina Bounds

11 a.m. Friday, Davidson B, Main Level 2

Brad Schmitt writes The Tennessean’s “Inside Nashville” column, which tells personal, powerful stories about Music City’s movers and shakers. Schmitt has been a reporter and columnist in Nashville since 1990. He wrote the popular celebrity news column “Brad About You” for The Tennessean from 1995 to 2006, and before that, Schmitt was the newspaper’s police reporter. Schmitt served as entertainment reporter for WKRN-News 2 and a peer recovery coordinator for Nashville Prevention Partnership before returning to The Tennessean in October 2014.

INTERVIEWING

Digging deeper: How to conduct better profile interviews

So you're doing the big frontpage, in-depth profile of the community hero, the beloved school teacher, the hurricane survivor or the liquor king who became a Catholic priest (yes, that actually happened in Nashville). Join this session to discuss how to tackle the sit-down interview with your subject. Covered skills will include active listening, setting boundaries, mining their whole lives and sharing bits of your own story to spark people to tell more of theirs.

2 p.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom C, Main Level 2

Brad Schmitt

Feature writer, The Tennessean, Nashville

TO EVERY STORY THERE’S MORE

THIS IS SOPHIE

SHE’S IN THE YEARBOOK THREE TIMES.

THE YEARBOOK STAFF ALSO TAGGED THESE UNUSED PHOTOS OF HER FOR YEARBOOK+. Stop by the Jostens booth, or scan for more information.

Photos courtesy of Sophie Leung-Liu, with additional photos by Dave Winter.

Photo Share lets your school community upload their favorite shots from the entire year, and Yearbook+® gives them the platform to shine.

THEN, SOPHIE UPLOADED THESE FOUR PHOTOS TO THE YEARBOOK STAFF AND TAGGED THEM USING PHOTO SHARE.

When the yearbook came out, Sophie saw all 16 in Yearbook+.

HER PARENTS DID THE SAME THING WHEN THEY SHARED THESE FOUR FAVORITES WITH THE YEARBOOK STAFF TOO!

+5 +4 +4 =16

TOGETHER, PHOTO SHARE AND YEARBOOK+ TELL MORE STORIES.

CERTIFICATE DEI

Earn JEA’s DEI certificate by attending four out of 21 special breakout sessions geared toward diversity, equity and inclusion. Take the lead and put these sessions on your schedule so you can come away with new strategies and insights. If you attend at least four in the special strand and promptly submit the required online form for each, you’ll earn a certificate from JEA based on your participation. Sessions — and the certificate — are open to all! Those earning the special DEI certificate will receive it by January 2026. Please review NHSJC's rules of conduct (Page 5) before attending any convention events.

FRIDAY

LEADERSHIP & TEAM BUILDING

Communicating across difference: Skills for news and life

Learn key practices and skills to help you communicate to, with, for and about people who are not like you. All journalists need these tools to find stories, recruit sources and grow audiences. Come pack your journalism toolkit for success. Jeannette Porter, University of Missouri, Columbia

8 a.m. Friday, Davidson Ballroom AE, Main Level 2

STAFF MANAGEMENT

Journalism, it's for everyone

Each staff member has a role and purpose. Through teamwork and respect, anything is possible. This student-led session will focus on how to build a strong, inclusive staff that represents the diversity of your school. It will highlight ways to effectively include special education students, English language learners and new members on your staff.

Jack Agbeve, Justine Garman, Star Harrington and Rakim Hayes, Omaha Benson High School, Nebraska

8 a.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 10, Level M

NEWSGATHERING

Covering issues of disability

One-fourth of people live with some level of disability. That 25% is part of the news we cover, and those voices are part of the stories we write. At times, disabilities are part of the news. How do we treat our sources, our audience and our staff members with dignity and respect?

Janet Ewell, MJE, Goodheart-Willcox Publishers, Huntington Beach, California

8 a.m. Friday, Davidson Ballroom C, Main Level 2

LAW & ETHICS

Secrets and safeguards: Protecting confidential sources

Is your reporting putting your sources at risk? If you cover stories about sensitive topics, you need to be thinking carefully about how to protect your sources. It's not just about keeping their names out of your stories. It's also about how you communicate with them, what notes you take and who has access to this information. This session offers practical tips for protecting sources who might be targeted by school officials, law enforcement or other government agencies.

Amy Kristin Sanders, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

9 a.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 4, Level M

LEADERSHIP & TEAM BUILDING

Diversity by design

This session will share strategies for evaluating and improving diversity, equity and inclusion in your staff and coverage. Come ready to learn how to apply or expand DEI-related initiatives in your program. This work earned The Standard a 2025 Innovation Pacemaker.

Louisa Avery and Blue Belinky, The American School in London, England

10 a.m. Friday, Davidson Ballroom B, Main Level 2

STAFF MANAGEMENT

3x coverage: Planning and designing for everyone

Making your publication more inclusive begins with a solid coverage plan. In this session, you'll gather ideas on how to pair systems that help staffers cover everyone with inspiring layouts and designs that multiply how many students make it onto each page.

Shanon Woolf, CJE, McIntosh High School, Peachtree City, Georgia; Lizabeth Walsh, MJE, Jostens, Las Vegas, Nevada

11 a.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 2, Level M

LEADERSHIP & TEAM BUILDING

#MoreLatinosInNews

Along with JEA's Commitment to Diversity, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists is fighting for more Latinos in newsrooms and advocating for fair and accurate coverage of Hispanic communities. Part of that starts with high school student journalists! Come find out all about what NAHJ has to offer our student members.

PJ Cabrera, MJE, The University of Texas at San Antonio; Juan Diasgranados, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Florida

11 a.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 3, Level M

STAFF MANAGEMENT

Getting new kids on the block: Steps to a more inclusive publication

Come to this session if you've ever said "... but our school isn't very diverse." An adviser and student editor duo will discuss the three steps they used to build a culture of inclusion at their own school, delivering tons of practical tips and guidance along the way.

Audrey Krake and Glenn Krake, CJE, West Linn High School, Oregon

Noon Friday, Delta Mezzanine 10, Level M

NEWSGATHERING

How and why to cover religion in high school news media

As school communities become ever more diverse, student media has an opportunity and responsibility to make people less mysterious to one another – leading to some great stories that also bridge cultural gaps and promote tolerance and civic understanding. Learn where to start, how to move from basic news to more challenging features, and how to develop sources you can trust – and who will trust you – if conflict should arise.

Joelle Keene, Jewish Scholastic Press Association, Los Angeles, California

1 p.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 6, Level M

NEWSGATHERING

Covering DEI when DEI is unpopular or unlawful

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order seeking to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs throughout the federal government. Meanwhile some groups have worked to remove thousands of books from public schools across the country, many about race, racism and LGBTQ+ topics. Given this current environment, how do student journalists continue to cover topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion? We'll brainstorm story ideas and coverage strategies in this interactive discussion. George Daniels, MJE, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

2 p.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 5, Level M

YEARBOOK

Same, pero diferente: How we yearbook

Come hear from the students who changed the vibes. The Orange Glen High School Torch yearbook staff took on a massive challenge for their 2025 book. Not only did they want to create a product that everyone loved, but they wanted to create something that everyone could read too. Beyond pretty photos and design, the staff wanted to create content that truly reflected the school population. To capture the true culture of campus, they created a multi-lingual yearbook. Find out how they did it – and how it was received by the community.

Carlos Giron, Walsworth Yearbooks, San Diego, California; Jessica Young, MJE, Orange Glen High School, Escondido, California

2 p.m. Friday, Davidson Ballroom B, Main Level 2

SATURDAY

PODCAST & RADIO

Beyond the mic: DEI podcast storytelling by teens

As journalists, we don't just tell stories – we decide whose stories get told. This session shares the journey of a studentled podcast on mental health and inclusion, and how those lessons translate to yearbook coverage. Learn about the importance of diversity in media and how to center DEI in your work, using different platforms to amplify student perspectives, to make sure your publication reflects every voice in your school.

Duaa Khan, Crown Point High School, Indiana

8 a.m. Saturday, Delta Mezzanine 4, Level M

LEADERSHIP & TEAM BUILDING

Journalism for marginalized communities Journalism has long been an elite institution that has often alienated people from marginalized communities. But a renewed focus in the industry on storytelling from within these communities is creating new opportunities for people who have long been neglected by mainstream media. Join this session to learn how journalism can empower underrepresented voices, challenge traditional narratives and reshape the industry from the inside out.

Shaheen Pasha, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

8 a.m. Saturday, Ryman Ballroom BC, Level 0

ADVISERS / STAFF MANAGEMENT

All in: Creating a diverse staff

Interested in exploring meaningful and authentic ways for all students to create and publish things they care about in your scholastic publications? Join this session to discuss how student choice, student leadership and grading for equity can open doors for all students to succeed.

Sara-Beth Badalamente, CJE, Linda Corlew and Sara Neevel, Huron High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan

9 a.m. Saturday, Delta Mezzanine 8, Level M

LEADERSHIP & TEAM BUILDING

Diversity in journalism: Bringing inclusivity to the newsroom

The journalism industry is startlingly lacking in diversity. This session will go over why it's important to change that, as well as what diversity in journalism looks like and how students can keep representation at the forefront of their work.

Sara-Beth Badalamente, CJE, and Satvika Ramanathan, Huron High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan

10 a.m. Saturday, Delta Mezzanine 10, Level M

COMMUNITY JOURNALISM BEYOND CAMPUS

Junior journalists: Get the next generation excited about journalism

Learn 10 tips on how to create a summer camp for elementary and middle school kids in your community. Listen to the high school journalists who have led these camps as fundraisers in their own community and as service projects in economically disadvantaged communities.

Megan Ortiz, CJE, and Sydney Ortiz, Kingwood Park High School, Texas

10 a.m. Saturday, Delta Mezzanine 3, Level M

NEWSGATHERING

Go all-in with inclusive coverage

Are your stories truly representing your school community? This session tackles stereotypes in student media and offers creative strategies to broaden coverage, diversify sources and amplify overlooked voices. Leave with practical tools to make your publication more authentic, inclusive and relevant.

April Moss, CJE, Pike High School, Indianapolis 11 a.m. Saturday, Delta Mezzanine 10, Level M

[TWO-HOUR SESSION]

Documentary screening: American Agitators "American Agitators" is a documentary highlighting the work and long-lasting impact of activist Fred Ross. This two-hour session will feature a showing of the documentary, followed by a brief discussion about how the film's concepts can be applied to modern-day journalism and activism.

John Heffernan, The Foundation for Systemic Change, Chicago

11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Delta Ballroom C, Main Level 2

HOW TO RECEIVE THE DEI CERTIFICATE

Each session in the DEI certificate strand will provide a QR code that links to the official JEA DEI Certificate attendance form. Please complete the form promptly after each session you attend. If you attend and submit for at least four certificate sessions, you will earn the certificate. Eligible participants will receive their certificate by January 2026.

EDITING

Be so for real: Coaching authentic writing with diverse populations

Writing cannot be one size fits all. As students begin searching for coverage, they often look to other publications for ideas. But what happens when other populations don’t reflect the diversity of their own school? This session focuses on the why and how of coaching students to tell original, authentic stories.

June Straight, Jefferson High School, El Paso, Texas Noon Saturday, Delta Mezzanine 6, Level M

LAW & ETHICS

Belonging and justice: Building newsroom diversity

This session will explore methods to incorporate recognition of underrepresented groups in your newsrooms and in your media, offering a deepened understanding of student press rights and how to use them to protect your staff and those you cover.

Kathleen Johnson, Stellar Slentz-Baeb and Parker Toth, Las Vegas Academy of the Arts

1 p.m. Saturday, Delta Mezzanine 10, Level M

NEWSGATHERING

Community representation: Demographics matter

Using your school's federal ethnicity and race report can be an essential tool for your staff to ensure your school community is represented in your publication. This session will center around how to use the report's data to improve interviews, photography and yearbook special pages.

Genifer Freeman, Northwest Rankin Middle School, Flowood, Mississippi

2 p.m. Saturday, Delta Mezzanine 6, Level M

Medal of Merit

Michelle Balmeo, MJE

WEST ALBANY (OREGON) HIGH SCHOOL

Broadcast Adviser of the Year

Omar Delgado

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL

MIAMI, FLORIDA

Carl Towley Award

Mary Kay Downes, MJE

CENTREVILLE, VIRGINIA

Rising Star Award

Taylor Bowers, CJE

BENTONVILLE WEST HIGH SCHOOL

CENTERTON, ARKANSAS

Stacy Dawson, CJE

SAINT FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA

Nicole Goodman, CJE

Administrator of the Year

Gregory Fucheck

Annie Gorenstein-Falkenberg, CJE

LONGMONT (COLORADO) HIGH SCHOOL

Ryan Gunterman, MJE

FRANKLIN (INDIANA) COLLEGE

PULLIAM SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM

Cynthia Reves, CJE

PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL

HONOLULU, HAWAII

Friend of Scholastic Journalism

Jim Anderson

JOSTENS, AUSTIN, TEXAS

Kate Manfull

FIERCE CREATIVE, ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI

Millie Stuessy

MCKINNEY, TEXAS

Mary Titus

VARSITY YEARBOOK, GILBERT, ARIZONA

WEST HIGH SCHOOL, WATERLOO, IOWA

Darcy Hassing, CJE

LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL, BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN

Christopher Heady

SHAWNEE MISSION NW HIGH SCHOOL

SHAWNEE, KANSAS

Jodi Hwang, CJE

LOS ALTOS (CALIFORNIA) HIGH SCHOOL

Yary Lira

MCKINNEY (TEXAS) HIGH SCHOOL

Jeanette Lockwood

DESERT RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL, MESA, ARIZONA

Marie McCulloch

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL, MERIDIAN, IDAHO

Ethan Pender, CJE

DARLINGTON SCHOOL, ROME, GEORGIA

Jamie Reynolds

MELBOURNE (FLORIDA) HIGH SCHOOL

Katheryn White

GULFPORT (MISSISSIPPI) HIGH SCHOOL

BRONX RIVER HIGH SCHOOL

BRONX, NEW YORK

Distinguished

Broadcast Adviser

Katrina Berry-Ivy

TUPELO (MISSISSIPPI) HIGH SCHOOL

Irma Lazos-Kennedy

COPPELL (TEXAS) HIGH SCHOOL

Special Recognition

Broadcast Adviser

Cheyenne LaViolette

HANFORD HIGH SCHOOL

RICHLAND, WASHINGTON

Future Journalism

Teacher Scholarship

Dominic Hoscher

ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI

Allison Raisner

SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA

MEET THE CARL TOWLEY WINNER

By Louisa Avery, MJE, JEA Awards Committee chair

Mary Kay Downes, MJE, of Centreville, Virginia, is the 2025 Carl Towley Award winner. This award, the Journalism Education Association's highest honor, is presented annually to a JEA member whose work is unusually beneficial and of superior value to the national JEA and to scholastic journalism.

“In a lot of ways, Mary Kay really is the queen when it comes to the yearbook world,” said Association of Texas Photography Instructors Executive Director Mark Murray. “She has been quietly – OK, not so quietly – offering her advice to us for so many years that sometimes I think we take her for granted. But there is a reason that her staffs loved her through all those Crown and Pacemaker honors.

"And there is a reason that we all love her too. We know she cares about us and about our lives and she ... is one of the best people I know.”

Downes retired from Chantilly High School in Virginia in 2021 after more than 30 years advising the award-winning Odyssey yearbook. However, she is busier than ever in her support of scholastic journalism. To name just a few ways she is still involved, Downes: serves as JEA’s Virginia State Director and as a member of the H.L. Hall Yearbook Adviser of the Year judging committee; presents at every NHSJC; runs the critique room at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association conventions; leads the awards committee and serves as treasurer for the Virginia Association of Journalism Teachers; and critiques and judges for JEA, NSPA, CSPA and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association.

“Mary Kay has served as a ‘matchmaker’ for so many advisers and press associations,” Virginia adviser Meghan Percival, MJE, said. “MKD is truly a connector in the scholastic journalism world."

Downes makes an extra special effort for her local community. JEA President and Virginia adviser Valerie Kibler, MJE, said Downes has always been a “powerhouse” in the educational world of Fairfax County.

“When she senses an injustice, she comes to the rescue like a super hero,” Kibler said. “Her weapon? Common sense and a moral compass that she uses to help guide so many others down the right path. She tackles problems calmly and just doesn’t quit until wrongs have been righted. Even since she retired a few years ago, she stays involved and meets regularly with the superintendent to keep them grounded in the goings on within the school system.

“She’s a stellar teacher, a perfect adviser, a darn good person and like so many others, I’m proud to call her a friend. This woman has given of herself to help others for more years than most journalism advisers have been alive. Her hard work demands recognition.”

Recent certification and renewal recipients

Master Journalism Educator

Anastasia Harrison, Legend HS, Colorado

Suzanne Williams, North Central HS, Indiana

Certified Journalism Educator

Daniel Amborn, Edina HS, Illinois

Mike Birnbaum, Plano East Senior HS, Texas

Jessica Brown, Lee’s Summit North HS, Missouri

Therasia Brautigam, Rock Bridge HS, Missouri

Katherine Cavender, North Chicago Community HS, Illinois

Deana Colón, Omaha South HS, Nebraska

Samantha Corza, State College Area HS, Pennsylvania

Stacy Dawson, Saint Francis HS, California

Michael Dunn, Lakeland HS, Idaho

Noreen Fitzgerald-Makar, Thomas A. Edison HS, New York

Bisa Hall, Fulshear High School, Texas

Jessica Hedaria, Coral Academy of Science MS, Nevada

Jean Norman, Weber State University, Utah

Isabella Myszak, Jostens Inc., Indiana

Michael Rand, Carey Junior HS, Wyoming

Rebecca Robinson, Alabama Scholastic Press Assn.

Matthew Smith, Fond du Lac HS, Wisconsin

Ty Tilden, University of Oregon

MJE renewals

Shari Adwers, Loudoun Valley HS, Virginia

Logan Aimone, University of Chicago Laboratory HS

Kristine Brown, Chantilly High School, Virginia

Stephenie Conley, Bellevue East HS, Nebraska

Michele Dunaway, St. Louis, Missouri

Ryan Gunterman, Indiana High School Press Assn.

Karen Johnson, Lawson High School, Missouri

Lori Keekley, Quill & Scroll, Minnesota

R.J. Morgan, Mississippi Scholastic Press Assn.

Danielle Ryan, Carlsbad High School, California

Barbara Tholen, Kansas Scholastic Press Assn.

Eric Thomas, University of Kansas

CJE renewals

Maria Nicole Arduini, Varsity Yearbook, Colorado

Jason W. Baranowski, Jostens Inc., Virginia

Brandi Benson, Lincoln Southwest HS, Nebraska

Candace Brandt, Charlotte, North Carolina

Beth Brubaker, Highlands HS, Kentucky

John Bumgarner, Jostens Inc., South Carolina

Cherié Burgett, Staley HS, Missouri

Phillip Caston, Wando HS, South Carolina

Tina Cleavelin, Jostens Inc., Colorado

Michelle Coro, Mountain Pointe HS, Arizona

Cyndi Crothers-Hyatt, Berwyn, Pennsylvania

Kristin Czerminski, Varsity Yearbook, New Jersey

Jessica Hanthorn, Mid-Pacific Institute, Hawaii

Beth Eggleston, Nixa HS, Missouri

Katie Fernandez, Northwestern University, Illinois

Amey Graybeal, Jostens Inc., Tennessee

Stephen Green, Caney Creek HS, Texas

Jay Hall, Jostens Inc., Tennessee

Carolyn Henderson, Walsworth Yearbooks, North Carolina

Carrie Hendrix, Lewis-Palmer HS, Colorado

Monica Hill, North Carolina Scholastic Media Assn.

Kara Mullins, Western HS, Florida

Heather Nagel, Christ Presbyterian Academy Tennessee

Sandra Pagliughi, Alice B. Landrum MS, Florida

Ana Rosenthal, Episcopal School of Dallas, Texas

Shelby Schmidt, Omaha Westview HS, Nebraska

Dana Weiss, Jostens Inc., Colorado

YEARBOOK WITHOUT COMPROMISE

With Walsworth, you get more than a publisher. You get reps who know your name, experts who’ve lived your challenges and training designed to push your program further. That’s the Walsworth advantage , and it shows on every page.

IT STARTS WITH…

UNMATCHED PRINT QUALITY

Walsworth has my loyalty because of one simple word: quality. Quality in all areas. Quality of materials. Quality of resources. Quality of care. Quality of customer service. Quality of technology. Quality of relationship. And, of course, the quality of the yearbook. After 26 years as a yearbook adviser – all with Walsworth – I know there is nothing that can happen that Walsworth wouldn’t help with.”

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT WORK

Walsworth truly provides all the tools needed to exceed your goals. My students and I get to continuously work with journalism experts from around the country at workshops, through detailed webinars, on zoom calls and even in my own classroom. They’ve helped me and my students grow in confidence, skill and creativity.

The people I’ve met at the Walsworth convention booth, at Elite Weekends and more have become people I reach out to, trust and who are just good people. Nearly everyone I’ve met has been incredible and cares about what we do, which makes a great experience for students.”

Andrew Atkins Nashville Christian School Nashville, Tennessee

Yary Lira McKinney High School McKinney, Texas

Tucker Love Shawnee Mission South High School Shawnee, Kansas

HERE FOR YOU

Walsworth’s Journalism Education Strategist, Sabrina Schmitz, CJE, helps schools like yours recognize and achieve their journalistic potential.

Building on Mike Taylor’s legacy, her role is another way Walsworth supports advisers and staffs year after year. Wherever your program is today, Sabrina is here to help you take the next step.

UNPARALLELED SUPPORT A NAME YOU CAN TRUST

Walsworth has wrapped me up, taken me in and shown me what it takes to be a successful, high-level adviser. There is no comparison… I work with the best in the yearbook business.”

Alexis Bailey

Rampart High School

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Stop by our booth to explore a

No other yearbook publisher supports advisers like Walsworth does. I was drawn to Walsworth Yearbooks for their reputation. I stay with Walsworth because I feel part of the family.”

Luke Judkins

Mt. Juliet High School

Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

@walsworthyearbooks

Walsworth Yearbooks

@yearbookforever

SESSIONS SPECIAL

SPECIAL STRAND: MEDIA LAW CENTRAL

SESSIONS IN THIS LAW & ETHICS STRAND ARE HOSTED BY THE STUDENT PRESS LAW CENTER AND THE JEA SCHOLASTIC PRESS RIGHTS COMMITTEE IN RYMAN BALLROOM A, EXHIBITION LEVEL 0.

Student press freedom 101

What are your rights as a student journalist? Hear from a Student Press Law Center attorney about the major court cases that have helped define the First Amendment protections that apply in public schools, as well as practical guidance for maintaining a free and responsible press.

Mike Hiestand, Student Press Law Center, Washington, D.C.

8 a.m. Friday

Get help with censorship: SPRC open forum

Facing censorship issues or prior review? Just have legal or ethical questions? Come discuss them with members of JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Committee and the Student Press Law Center.

Mike Hiestand, Student Press Law Center; Andrea Negri, MJE, Cypress Woods High School, Houston 9 a.m. Friday

Can I use this? How to avoid the copyright bots It’s never been easier — and potentially more risky — to help yourself to photos, videos and music. Join the Student Press Law Center for a copyright primer with tips (and warnings) about finding truly free material that’s safe to re-publish.

Jonathan Gaston-Falk, Student Press Law Center 10 a.m. Friday

Pursuing press freedom in private schools

Private schools can support a free press too! This session is aimed at students and advisers at private schools interested in reducing censorship and moving toward more press freedom, despite not having First Amendment protections. We will discuss strategies for building trust and positive relationships with school administration and pedagogical and mission-based arguments for students to have the final say in their publications.

Kristin Taylor, MJE, The Archer School for Girls, Los Angeles 11 a.m. Friday

Chilling effects and self-censorship concerns

Ever wondered if you should cover a walkout, publish a bold opinion or report on something your school doesn’t want in the spotlight? That hesitation is called the “chilling effect” — when fear of backlash keeps journalists from publishing stories that matter. In this session, an SPLC attorney and a veteran student media adviser will walk you through real scenarios, share strategies for handling pressure and give you tools to stand strong when deciding what to publish.

Jonathan Gaston-Falk, Student Press Law Center; Tripp Robbins, MJE, Eastside College Preparatory School, California Noon Friday

New Voices and beyond: Advocating for student press freedom

Eighteen states have laws against the censorship of student journalists — and it's all because students and advisers spoke up. Is your state next? Once you pass a law, then what? Join us to learn about the New Voices campaign, as well as other steps you can take to advocate for student press freedom in your district or state before and after a law passes.

Morgan Bricker, MJE, Weir High School, West Virginia; Grayson Marlow, Student Press Law Center

1 p.m. Friday

How to get information through public records

Getting good information is key to good reporting. We'll talk about the ins and outs of public records requests, how and where that pesky FERPA excuse applies (it usually doesn't), and what to do if you're being given the runaround.

Mike Hiestand, Student Press Law Center

2 p.m. Friday

The ABCs of L-I-B-E-L

While just saying the word aloud can bring shivers down a journalist's spine, the basics of libel law — and the keys to avoiding it — are actually fairly simple. Let's clear the fear.

Mike Hiestand, Student Press Law Center

9 a.m. Saturday

Fighting the good fight

In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its one and only decision to date specifically addressing the First Amendment rights of America's high school student journalists. That case was Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier. Join Cathy Kuhlmeier, one of the student journalists who brought the case, and SPLC Senior Legal Counsel Mike Hiestand as they provide some behind-the-scenes stories about the case and discuss its ongoing impact.

Mike Hiestand, Student Press Law Center; Cathy Kuhlmeier, Cathy Kuhlmeier Foundation, Missouri

10 a.m. Saturday

Updates on AI and student press law

Join a Student Press Law Center attorney and a veteran media adviser to look at how artificial intelligence changes things for student journalists. What’s legal? What’s ethical? And what is still up in the air in this area that seems to change weekly?

Jonathan Gaston-Falk, Student Press Law Center; Tripp Robbins, MJE, Eastside College Preparatory School

11 a.m. Saturday

Staff handbooks: Your constitution, conscience and shield

What goes into a staff handbook and stylebook? How do you create one or update yours for new media and legacy media? How can it protect your publication? You will leave this session with fresh ideas and links to more resources.

Janet Ewell, MJE, Goodheart-Willcox, California; Andrea Negri, MJE, Cypress Woods High School Noon Saturday

Covering the hard stuff

Student journalists, like professionals, may need to cover mental health and suicide, violence and death, poverty, homelessness, intolerance and political issues that affect the day-to-day life of their audiences. But student journalists must also protect vulnerable sources and create media for an audience as young as 14. Sometimes they need to cope with adults who do not understand the student press. It isn’t easy. Come talk with a representative of the Student Press Law Center, a veteran journalism adviser and other student journalists about your challenges.

Janet Ewell, MJE, Goodheart-Willcox; Jonathan GastonFalk, Student Press Law Center

1 p.m. Saturday

Bold reporting in an era of prohibited concepts and divisive content

Censorship of student media due to controversial content, while unlawful, occurs all the time. Talk with Student Press Law Center experts about how to counteract the chilling effect that the current climate could have on student journalism. Know your rights and how to ensure that your bold journalism is respected and published in the age of “prohibited concepts” and “divisive content.”

Jonathan Gaston-Falk, Student Press Law Center 2 p.m. Saturday

SPECIAL STRAND: COMMUNITY JOURNALISM BEYOND CAMPUS

Interested in moving beyond the journalism classroom to make a larger impact on your local town or community? Or maybe you're curious about the best ways to increase awareness about national, regional or community issues back at school? Sessions in this strand aim to help student journalists and their advisers discover new ways to expand the potential of student media beyond campus.

Check out the wide range of sessions in this strand using the convention mobile app. Look for the Community Journalism Beyond Campus tag or filter by track in the program schedule tab. Learn more about the app on Page 5.

SESSIONS SPECIAL

SPECIAL SESSIONS: KEYNOTE FOLLOW-UP WITH PULITZER ON THE ROAD

Extended Q&A with winner of 2023 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction

Join Pulitzer on the Road for a follow-up session to the Thursday night keynote panel, "The power of stories: How local journalism can make a difference." This session will feature keynote speaker Toluse Olorunnipa, the 2023 Pulitzer Prize Winner in General Nonfiction. Attend for further discussion, career insight and Q&A.

9 a.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 5, Level M

Extended Q&A with winner of 2025 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting

Join Pulitzer on the Road for a follow-up session to the Thursday night keynote panel, "The power of stories: How local journalism can make a difference." This session will feature keynote speakers Jessica Gallagher and Alissa Zhu, 2025 Pulitzer Prize Winners in Local Reporting. Attend for further discussion, career insight and Q&A.

10 a.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 5, Level M

SPECIAL SESSION: PUBLIC MEDIA JOURNALISM IN A NEW ERA

In a world plagued with oversaturation of commercial media outlets, the universal access of public media that focuses on the highest editorial standards is critical for an informed nation. On a local, state and national level, public media lives with a mission of service and yet with our younger generation of citizens may face a lack of discovery as a source of trusted journalism. Nashville PBS is committed to teaching media literacy and being a conduit for journalists to reach the public with a multiplatform approach based on journalistic integrity. This is a new era of public media, and there's never been a greater need for journalism.

Becky Magura, president and CEO, Nashville PBS, Tennessee

11 a.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom B, Main Level 2

SESSION SPECIAL

SPECIAL PANEL SESSION: LIVE FROM NASHVILLE! STORYTELLING SONGWRITERS

Nashville is all about storytellers and musicians, and we are proud to present a special panel session with three acclaimed songwriters: Natalie Hemby, Claire Douglas and Trent Fisher. Come hear their stories — how they became songwriters and how they tell a story through their music. This will be a panel presentation, and there will be time for the audience to ask questions and interact with these storytellers firsthand. Moderated by Kevin Maggard 10 a.m. Saturday, Delta Mezzanine 5, Level M

ABOUT CLAIRE DOUGLAS

Claire Douglas is a genre-crossing lyricist who was born in Texas but raised in Nashville with Country Music in her blood. She attended the University of Mississippi to study poetry, but came back to Music City only to realize she had been writing songs all along. Most recently, Douglas wrote the 2024 Mitchell Tenpenny single “Not Today.” She’s also had significant cuts with Dylan Scott, Tim McGraw, Leah Marie Mason, Jonathan Hutcherson, Madison Kozak, Dylan Brady, MacKenzie Porter, Kelleigh Bannen and more.

ABOUT TRENT FISHER

Trent Fisher grew up in a football family in Franklin, Tennessee. With his dad coaching in Nashville, their world revolved around football on Sunday afternoons, but on Sunday nights, Fisher played guitar and sang for friends and family. As a walk-on at Auburn University, he juggled football and music, playing for the Tigers on Saturdays and leading worship in church on Sunday mornings. He returned to Nashville in 2017 and worked various jobs while developing his songwriting. With the desire to give back, Fisher began teaching and coaching at his former high school in 2019. A dedicated husband and father of two boys, Fisher weaves what is both personal and universal into his writing. He signed with Dream3 publishing in the summer of 2024.

ABOUT NATALIE HEMBY

Since signing her first publishing deal at age 19, Nashville’s Natalie Hemby has become one of most successful and sought after songwriters in music, with countless hit songs recorded by artists such as Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, Lady Gaga, Yola, Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson and Ed Sheeran, to name a few. Hemby has accumulated eight No. 1 Billboard singles during her career. She became a member of the group known as The Highwomen, along with Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires. They released their critically acclaimed self-titled album in 2019. As a result, Hemby earned a Country Song of the Year Grammy, following her first Grammy win for Best Song Written for Visual Media for Lady Gaga’s “I’ll Never Love Again,” from "A Star Is Born."

UPDATED!

Members-only area for advisers with active student members that has bell ringers, lesson plans and a library of Gallup Award winners.

Contests

Contests for all types of student media. All schools with a charter are eligible to enter.

Support

Membership ordering guide to help from member identification through induction.

Scholarships

Scholarships for senior members and contest winners majoring in journalism.

Chapter Activities

Active chapters could have leadership positions, which can be highlighted on college and scholarship applications.

Recognition

Members can buy graduation honor cords, patches, stickers and diploma seals to commemorate their accomplishment.

JEA Membership Benefits You

Founded in 1924, JEA is a trusted leader in scholastic journalism education with a rich network of journalism educators across the U.S. and internationally.

Take advantage of JEA’s strong membership base and strengthen your scholastic journalism programs with your peers!

Re/activate your member benefits and find more information here

jea.org/membership

“With a common thread of community journalism and how scholastic media programs can help fill gaps, advisers from across the state engaged in discussions of topics including broadcast and photojournalism.”

— Morgan Bricker, CJE

As a member of JEA, you benefit from diverse educational offerings and major events including:

Curriculum access to over 500 lesson plans across 11 content areas

Communication: Journalism

Education Today magazine

Digital Media Library content for digital storytelling

Awards and national contests

Discounted registration to national conventions

Members-only community forums And more outreach and programs

ADVISERS FOR

NEW ADVISER CONVENTION ORIENTATION

Advisers at their first national convention should consider attending a short orientation meeting to get a general overview and explanation of convention events and how to get the most out of it.

6-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Ryman Studio 12-14, Exhibition Level 0

ADVISER WELCOME RECEPTION

After the keynote speech, all advisers are welcome to attend this reception to socialize with new colleagues and relax with longtime friends. New and first-time attendee advisers will have a chance to meet the local convention team, plus JEA and NSPA board members and staffs.

9-10:30 p.m. Thursday, Davidson Ballroom AE, Main Level 2

JEA Outreach Academy

Outreach Academy is a JEA initiative to promote diversity in the journalism teaching profession. This free, intensive seminar is for publication advisers and first-time convention grantees who want help teaching and advising students in journalism while dealing with issues surrounding diversity. The program is hands-on and focuses on practical information advisers need. Preregistration was required.

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Delta Island 2, Mezzanine Level, Delta Atrium

Certification test for CJE and MJE candidates

Advisers who have applied to take the Certified Journalism Educator or Master Journalism Educator tests will do so at this time. Session includes a half-hour study session and a 2 ½-hour test session. Please bring your laptop.

3-6 p.m. Friday, Delta Island 5, Mezzanine Level, Delta Atrium

National Student Media Contests judges' dinner and judging

Those who have agreed to judge JEA’s contests are invited to dinner before judging begins. Please check in at the door. 6 p.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom D, Main Level 2 Photography and broadcast judging take place earlier in the day (information available on Page 47).

Adviser recognition luncheon

JEA and NSPA will present awards at this special event. New and renewing Certified Journalism Educators and Master Journalism Educators will be recognized as well as several NSPA Pioneers and JEA fall award winners. Preregistration was required. Please bring your ticket. Varsity Yearbook is sponsor for this event.

Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Delta Ballroom B, Main Level 2

JEA CERTIFICATION STRAND

Do you plan to take the CJE or MJE exam in the near future or just want to be more knowledgable about scholastic journalism education topics? These sessions will highlight topics in the JEA curriculum and prepare advisers for JEA certification. Learn more at JEA.org/certification.

GET CERTIFIED: ADVISING STUDENT MEDIA

This session offers strategies for developing student leadership, structuring student media classes and overseeing student media programs. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.

Lauren Wagner, MJE, Zionsville Community High School, Indiana

8 a.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 7, Level M

GET CERTIFIED: LAW & ETHICS

Do you plan to take the CJE or MJE test? Or maybe you just want to be more familiar with legal and ethical issues in student media? If you want to know landmark court cases or understand the importance of your publication's forum status, join us here.

Sarah Nichols, MJE, Whitney High School, Rocklin, California

9 a.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 7

GET CERTIFIED: WRITING & EDITING

One of several study sessions for advisers who are either taking the Certified Journalism Educator exam or are considering doing so. This session will focus on journalistic writing and editing.

RJ Morgan, MJE, University of Mississippi, Oxford; Larry Steinmetz, MJE, Bullitt East High School, Mt. Washington, Kentucky

10 a.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 7

ADVISER LOUNGE

Meet with your colleagues from across the country in the convention adviser lounge. Refreshments will be provided.

7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Davidson Breakout 2, Main Level 2, Convention Center

GET CERTIFIED: BROADCAST

This session focuses on what advisers need to know about broadcasting for the CJE/MJE certification exam. Included in that is a general knowledge of broadcast news, including how it is written and produced.

George Daniels, MJE, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

11 a.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 7

GET CERTIFIED: NEWSGATHERING & MEDIA LITERACY

Join members of the JEA Certification Committee for an overview of key standards in newsgathering and media literacy. This session highlights best practices for teaching students how to research, verify and report responsibly in today’s media landscape, while aligning with JEA certification competencies. Advisers will leave with practical strategies and resources to strengthen student skills and prepare themselves for the certification process.

Katie Baxter, MJE, Georgia Highlands College, Rome Noon Friday, Delta Mezzanine 7

GET CERTIFIED: DESIGN

This session is designed for advisers preparing for certification testing, but is open to all (including students) willing to dialogue about the fundamentals of design.

Timm Pilcher, MJE, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa

2 p.m. Friday, Delta Mezzanine 7

PUBLICATION EXCHANGE

Interested in seeing what kind of work other high schools around the nation are producing? Stop by the exchange tables to see the latest editions of high school publications from coast to coast. Feel free to drop off a few copies of your publication and take some you like.

8 a.m. Thursday to 11 a.m. Sunday, Delta Ballroom A Lobby, Main Level 2

EVERYONE FOR

TRADE SHOW & COLLEGE FAIR

Dozens of national and local vendors and colleges will educate and entertain during the trade show exhibits. Find out what’s new, chat with company representatives, pick up information and have some fun. More details on Page 9.

1-7 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Ryman Hall A2, Exhibition Level 0

k

NSPA ON-SITE MEDIA CRITIQUES

Staffs who registered in advance should arrive 10 minutes before the assigned critique time to check in. Bring copies of recent print publications. Broadcast and website staffs should bring a laptop ready to show the critique leader your production.

Noon to 3:30 p.m. Friday and 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Delta Ballroom D, Main Level 2

ADOBE CERTIFICATION TESTING

Advisers and students will have the opportunity to take an exam to earn an Adobe Certified Professional credential for Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and/or Premiere Pro. These exams are for intermediate- to advanced-level users. Preregistration was required. Exams will be proctored in two preassigned groups.

8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday, Ryman Studio 7-8, Exhibition Level 0

STUDENTS JUST FOR

BREAK WITH A PRO

Kick off your morning with tailored, small-group discussion sessions with journalism professionals in traditional and specialized areas. Media professionals will share information about their work and backgrounds. Preregistration was required. Please check your ticket for your assigned time. Session categories include:

Broadcast sports

Communications and marketing

Copy editing

Design and creative direction

Feature writing

Music, arts and culture reporting

News writing

Opinion writing

Photojournalism

Podcasting

Social media

Sports writing

TV news

Videography

9 and 10 a.m. Friday, Delta Ballroom D, Main Level 2

FRIDAY NIGHT FUN: LINE DANCING LESSON

Put on your star-studded boots and cowboy hat, and come learn to line dance with instructor Sarah Starc.

7-9 p.m. Friday, Davidson Ballroom AE, Main Level 2, Convention Center

FRIDAY NIGHT FUN: GAMES & CRAFTS

Not in the dancing mood, but still looking for something fun to do on Friday night? Join the Nashville local committee for board games and friendship bracelet making.

7-9 p.m. Friday, Davidson Ballroom B, Main Level 2

JEA NATIONAL JOURNALISM QUIZ BOWL

A quiz bowl-style competition with questions related to current events, pop culture, journalism and civics will be part of the learning and fun at the convention. Preregistered teams will first take a qualifying test. The test scores will be used to seed the top teams that will compete in the live buzzer rounds Saturday morning. The list of qualifying teams will be posted by 11 a.m. Friday outside Delta C/D Registration Desk (Main Level 2) and in the convention mobile app.

QUALIFYING TEST

Registered four-person teams will first take an online qualifying test to seed the top teams.

8 a.m. Friday, Davidson Ballroom B, Main Level 2

FINALS

Four-person teams will compete in the live buzzer rounds. Come cheer on your school as a member of the audience.

8-10 a.m. Saturday, Davidson Ballroom B, Main Level 2

700

nsmc national student media contests

Advisers: Check in at the National Student Media Contests desk in Ryman Hall A2 (Exhibition Level 0) to pick up students’ contest ID labels. Make sure students have their contest ID labels before their contests are scheduled to meet. Note the contests that begin early Friday morning. Students will need to pick up their tickets by 7:45 a.m. Friday in order to be admitted to their 8 a.m. contests. The NSMC desk is open 1-7 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday. Name substitutions must be made by noon Friday. Between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Friday, ID labels may be picked up in Delta C/D Registration Desk (Main Level 2).

Students: Please note the assigned time and room for your contest. While most contests begin at 4 p.m. Friday, some broadcast contests will meet earlier in the day. Bring required equipment and supplies, as explained in rules at JEA.org/contests, and your contest ID label to the assigned room. Most contests and critiques will last two hours. Check the convention app in case there is a room change.

42

Feature Story critique, Delta Ballroom C,

Judges

Lead judges: Pick up materials between 1-3:30 p.m. Friday at Delta C/D Reg Desk, Main Level 2

Photography breakfast and judging: 8 a.m. to noon Friday, Davidson Breakout 4, Main Level 2 Broadcast judges: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Ryman Ballroom B, Exhibition Level 0

Hello, friend. I’m Pictavo.

Real talk. Almost everything in high school media prepares students for their futures. Except multiple deadlines.

Imagine the freedom to elevate your publication by pacing content as it develops, without being held back or stressed out by multiple deadlines.

At the next level, build and rearrange spreads — and even your ladder — as life unveils. Create without limits.

Take a moment. Process.

Push beyond boundaries by upgrading to the yearbook division of the largest printing company in the industry.

It’s time to soar!

I’m not a start up. I’m a step up.

SCHEDULE FRIDAY

Ryman Hall A2

EXHIBITION LEVEL 0

Ryman Ballroom A

Registration check-in, trade show & college fair, merchandise distribution, NSMC check-in, Best of Show desk

EXHIBITION LEVEL 0 Student press freedom 101

Ryman Ballroom B

EXHIBITION LEVEL 0

Ryman Ballroom C

EXHIBITION LEVEL 0 From yerd to author: Self-publishing for storytellers

Ryman Ballroom D

EXHIBITION LEVEL 0

Ryman Ballroom EF

Get help with censorship: SPRC open forum

Music journalism and starting a zine

NSPA/Quill & Scroll advisory board Your best frenemy: How AI can help (and hurt) your reporting

EXHIBITION LEVEL 0 What can journalism do for you?

Ryman Studio 1/2

Ryman Studio 3/4

Ryman Studio 5/6

Ryman Studio 7/8

0 NSMC 49 Person

Ryman Studio 15

Ryman Studio 17/18

Localizing: Bring the big stories home

Can I use this? How to avoid the copyright bots

Pursuing press freedom in private schools

Not your average sports coverage How to fight well: Emotional intelligence in scholastic journalism

Wrangling AI: Developing an AI policy that works for your newsroom How to write a five-star review

Community journalism: More stories to tell

Taking it to the streets: Covering protests and politics

Registration check-in, trade show & college fair

Chilling effects and self-censorship concerns

New Voices and beyond: Advocating for student press freedom

NSMC broadcast judging

SCHEDULE

How to get information through public records

Chaos to culture: Hacks for thriving yearbook staffs A-to-Z guide for middle school journalism programs 10 habits of a highly effective editor

A magazine editor's survival guide

AI tools to enhance your broadcast packages

Up your interview game

Protect your program Budgeting strategies for advisers and yearbook staffers

Craft your AI policy myPhone: How your camera phone impacts how you capture the world

Covering traumatic events and protecting your mental health

Give peace a chance: Conflict resolution for media staffs

NSMC 11 Press Law and Ethics

NSMC 15 Yearbook Copy/Caption: Student Life

NSMC 23 & 25 Graphic Design: Logo & Advertising critiques

This too shall pass: Surviving (and thriving) as a new adviser New advisers vs. the world: Epic tales of surviving your first year Sharing the byline: Six tips for successful cowriting NSMC 06 Editorial Cartooning

NSMC 08 News Editing/ Current Events/Headline Writing

NSMC 22 Literary Magazine: Photography

CONTEST

REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION

MEDIA LAW CENTRAL

DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE

GOOD FOR BEGINNERS

ADVANCED TOPICS

COMMUNITY JOURNALISM STRAND

SCHEDULE FRIDAY

Davidson Ballroom AE MAIN LEVEL 2

Davidson Ballroom B

MAIN LEVEL 2

Davidson Ballroom C

MAIN LEVEL 2

Davidson Ballroom D MAIN LEVEL 2

Davidson Breakout 1

MAIN LEVEL 2

Communicating across difference: Skills for news and life

National Journalism Quiz Bowl qualifying test

Pick me, pick me: Student journalism skills that stand out

Theme 2026: A designer's guide

Yearbook mods: Mini stories, maximum impact

Newspaper editor-in-chief roundtable Diversity by design  ChatGPT 5 and me: Writing in the age of automation

Covering issues of disability Sob stories: How to write great yearbook features

Cultivating columnists, producing podcasters

Designing dynamic yearbook spreads

Yearbook and yap: Building engagement through social media

The eyes have it: Compelling portrait photography

Capturing humanity: Gratitude, storytelling and global travel Journalism in a small town Small town, big broadcast

Davidson Breakout 2 MAIN LEVEL 2 Adviser lounge

Davidson Breakout 3 MAIN LEVEL 2 Roadmap for recruitment

Davidson Breakout 4

Davidson Breakout 5

2 A Chromebook is enough: Teaching journalism technology

Let's talk type! Helvetica or (gulp) Comic Sans?

The sports photos you want, even without fancy equipment

How cellphones, social media and AI shape us: Introducing Newsreel

Overhauling your program’s offerings JEA CTE committee meeting Making media programs fun

Respect the game: Sports reporting etiquette for student journalists

Picture perfect photos are all about your frame of mind

Developing your "spidey-sense": How to find good stories

FRIDAY

Chart a creative yearbook coverage course How to break up with last

Ice, ice baby: Creating a culture of collaboration

Covering protests is tricky and potentially dangerous — let's talk

Go viral the good way: Social media and content creation Photoshop essentials: Tools, tricks and time-savers

A culture shift: Empowering staff to own the room Level up your broadcast program through cross-school collaboration

Same, pero diferente: How we yearbook

SCHEDULE

Advisers’ legal roundtable Lesson plan and activity swap for advisers

Greetings from Kansas: Help with yearbook production for small staffs Find a mentor, be a mentor The First Amendment: What it means and what it doesn't

#designfails: Even the pros make mistakes

Telling stories through yearbook infographics

Every way to get your way: The art of persuasive communication Applying journalism skills to communications careers

in preparation for studying sports journalism

Scholastic Journalism Week 2026: Press Under Pressure Tips for expanding literary magazines

Defining your impact: Can journalism really change the world?

ideas you can put into practice right now

Covering DEI when DEI is unpopular or unlawful

SCHEDULE SATURDAY

Ryman Ballroom A

Ryman Ballroom BC EXHIBITION

Ryman

Ryman

Ryman Studio 1/2

EXHIBITION

Ryman Studio 3/4

Ryman

Covering

climate crisis with

Press Team

Staff handbooks: Your constitution, conscience and shield Covering the hard stuff

Why are my photos so ...?

Living in the moment: The secret to great photojournalism

Connecting the dots: Team building that works

1,000 pizzas later: Publishing a magazine without money or time

SCHEDULE

Bold reporting in an era of prohibited concepts and divisive content

Make your feed "enchanted" (marketing version) The manual for manual mode

Beyond the scoreboard: How to cover sports like a pro

Review a movie, review the world

Business vs. classroom: Finding the perfect blend

Hazelwood unpacked

Caught in the flash: Strobes as a powerful photography tool

Advanced Placement and journalism

Words are important too: Yearbook writing essentials

99 grammar and style issues (and how to fix them)

How to master the interview: Getting quotes that matter

Small school, big story ideas

Enacting a New Voices bill in your state

Publishing your photos

Incorporating the JOY portfolio into your curriculum Right place, wrong time:

Captivating yearbook captions and copy Designs that hit different

Building yearbook themes together: Engage your entire staff Your lens, your voice: Make your work YOU

losing readers: Here’s why

MEETING

CONTEST

REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION

FEATURED SPEAKER

MEDIA LAW CENTRAL

DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE

GOOD FOR BEGINNERS

ADVANCED TOPICS

COMMUNITY JOURNALISM

SCHEDULE SATURDAY

Davidson Ballroom AE MAIN LEVEL 2

Davidson Ballroom B

Reporting from abroad: Localizing the news for your audience

From drab to fab: Make your writing groovy

MAIN LEVEL 2 JEA National Journalism Quiz Bowl finals

Davidson Ballroom C

MAIN LEVEL 2 Colorful storytelling: Verbal into vivid design

Masterclass with a pro: So you want to be a sports journalist?  The interactive First Amendment

Art of the angle: Stories that stand out Which story do I tell? What the reader wants: Visual data for online news

Davidson Ballroom D MAIN LEVEL 2 Journalism leadership for everyone Balancing act: Print, online and social media coverage Deadly sins of journalism Creating a podcasting network

Davidson Breakout 1

MAIN LEVEL 2

Multiple pubs, multiple staffs, no problem

AI and automation for middle school broadcasts Journalism without cell phones: Creativity in a no-phone zone

Davidson Breakout 2 MAIN LEVEL 2 Adviser lounge

Davidson Breakout 3 MAIN LEVEL 2 JEA Digital Media Committee meeting JEA Certification Committee meeting Reluctant to relentless: Engaging those who didn’t elect an elective

Davidson Breakout 4

MAIN LEVEL 2

Davidson Breakout 5

Getting along with your administrators

Building journalistic foundations in yearbook

From staff to studio: SEL and systems for stronger publications I’m a new adviser, now what? Do the "little" yearbook things right

MAIN LEVEL 2 JEA DEI meeting The ethics of GenAI in journalism AI prompt engineering for studentpublications

Delta Mezzanine 1 LEVEL M, CONVENTION CENTER

Yearbook theme tune-up: It's not too late

Transform your publication with the yearbook fairy godmothers Sell yourself: Marketing your publication How to score great sports stories

Delta Mezzanine 2 LEVEL M, CONVENTION CENTER Let’s get social: Maximizing online engagement Marketing your publication Online storytelling

Delta Mezzanine 3 LEVEL M, CONVENTION CENTER Reporting on organizational crises: School shootings and beyond Make yearbook copy count

Delta Mezzanine 4 LEVEL M, CONVENTION CENTER

Beyond the mic: DEI podcast storytelling by teens

Brand builders for student publications

Delta Mezzanine 5 LEVEL M, CONVENTION CENTER From the Broadcast Pacemaker judges Engaging your student body in #SJW2026: No pressure

Building strong broadcasting programs: Culture, tools and growth

Delta Mezzanine 6 LEVEL M, CONVENTION CENTER Write like Taylor Swift Defying gravity: Broadcast writing that soars 10 things I wish I had known as editor-in-chief

Delta Mezzanine 7 LEVEL M, CONVENTION CENTER Copy editing in the age of AI

Defying cluttery: Wicked-cool design The new copy (or, who's going to read that?)

Delta Mezzanine 8 LEVEL M, CONVENTION CENTER The art of interviewing All in: Creating a diverse staff Work smarter, not harder: 20 tips to make your life easier

Delta Mezzanine 9

I'm asking for a yearbook trend

From pitch to publish: Becoming a brand's best storyteller

Write right for a new era of journalism

Ethical challenges in interviews and source development

Revamp your story pitch

The investigative edge: A deeper dive into in-depth stories

Game on: Launching a sports media program

How to platform student voice with PBS News Student Reporting Labs

Building editorial policies for AI in journalism

A not-so-common application

Fueling your club: Fundraising that works

Livestreaming 101

More than both sides: Redefining objectivity

Design inspired by the pros

SATURDAY

Power revision

Let's get organized: Yearbooks with lasting impact

From rumor to report: Crisis communication for journalists

Plaguing writers: AI’s hindrance to student journalists

New adviser:

Overwhelmed, now what?

Leading a convergence model publication

Starting from the bottom: Make a name for yourself on your team

Storytelling for reader understanding

How college journalists became Pulitzer finalists

From classroom to community: Student media that makes an impact

Don’t be conflict-averse: The art of narrative storytelling

Running the show: Leadership lessons in student media

Be so for real: Coaching authentic writing with diverse populations

Organize yourself ... or at least your staff and staff room

Making public relations part of your media program

SCHEDULE

Critique like a pro: Coaching photographers

A call to action: The need for unbiased observers in a democracy

The art of letting go: Navigating yearbook production

Loosen your grip: Creating a true student-run publication

ChatGPT: Yes, students should use it

Fail fast, fail forward: Finding your flow in creative work

Behind the bylines: The unfiltered reality of a student-led newsroom

Give 110%: Cliché-free, concise sports coverage

Student-to-student mentorship on the yearbook staff

Expand your media skills to create a student-run film studio

Next level sports broadcasting: What the pros do Up your sports media game

Redefining journalism: Who’s in, who’s out?

Telling the excellent story

Faces worth finding

The reel life: Creating social media videos for audience engagement

Mastering sports photography

Celebrating clubs: Building extracurricular programs

Y’all lead the way: Five practices for exemplary student leadership

Just my type: Finding fonts that brand your publication

Belonging and justice: Building newsroom diversity

You might be yearbook delulu if ...

From click to publish: A guide to yearbook photography

Building a yearbook staff culture that lasts

speaker

 SPECIAL EVENT

 MEETING

 CONTEST

 REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION

 FEATURED SPEAKER

 MEDIA LAW CENTRAL

 DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE

 GOOD FOR BEGINNERS

 ADVANCED TOPICS

 COMMUNITY JOURNALISM STRAND

Community representation: Demographics matter

Short and sweet: Short-form narrative writing

How to tell a compelling story across mediums

Bump up your broadcasting: How to add more video to your website

Convention Center, Meeting & Exhibition Space

Meeting Space Map

Level M (Magnolia Mezzanine)

APP WAYFINDING

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Download the Gaylord Hotels app from your app store and select the Gaylord Opryland from the locations menu to get started.