Preconvention Workshops

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7

Start your convention experience early with a preconvention workshop Thursday, Nov. 7. These half-day and full-day workshops offer in-depth instruction in a specific track.

Additional fees and advance registration is required. Last day to register is Oct. 17 or when workshops reach capacity.

Preconvention Workshop: Artificial intelligence in the classroom and newsroom  |  $40

1-5 p.m. Limit 32.

AI is not just a passing fad. It’s here to stay. It is going to learn more and to do more. AI tools such as Firefly and ChatGPT are as dumb today as they’ll ever be. In this session led by Bradley Wilson, MJE, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas, you’ll learn how AI can be used in the student classroom and newsroom. The workshop will also feature policies teachers and editors need regarding AI and the ethics of using such tools.

The workshop is open to students and advisers. All participants must bring either a laptop or tablet device.

 

Preconvention Workshop: Audio journalism — Podcasting 101 | $40

1-5 p.m. Limit 32.

This half-day workshop, taught by Kristin Taylor, MJE, adviser at The Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles, will introduce podcasting basics. The workshop will feature audio storytelling, listening to examples of podcasts for structure, transitions and storytelling devices, and creating your own short audio stories. The workshop will also include an overview of technical tools.

Participants will need a phone with recording capabilities and a laptop. Two students may share one laptop. This session is open to students and advisers.

 

Preconvention Workshop: Beginning reporting and interviewing  |  $60

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limit 32.

A great story begins with a great question. Come to this workshop if you want to be able to interview anyone about anything anytime and anywhere and end up with a compelling, easy-to-write story. 

Led by Tiffany Kopcak, CJE, adviser at Colonial Forge High School, Virginia, students will go from a blank page and a topic through the interviewing, drafting and editing process to craft not one, but two stories — one Q&A and one LQTQ. 

The workshop focuses on the process of an accessible, Lego-like approach to building your article that takes the pressure off of beginning writers and creates opportunities for editorial coaching along the way. 

Recommended materials: laptop, phone, otter.ai app, reporter’s notebook (or any notebook) and pen/pencil.

 

Preconvention Workshop: Broadcast and video storytelling  |  $60

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limit 32.

In this hands-on workshop, beginning and intermediate students will learn the fundamentals of creating an effective news package from the ground up. 

Led by Academy of Scholastic Broadcasting instructors Brandon Goodwin and Dave Davis, this workshop includes videography, sound recording, editing and story structure. Working in small teams, participants will spend the morning developing their videography skills and planning a story, and the afternoon shooting and editing that story. 

Participants must bring their own video cameras, tripods, microphones and laptops with editing software. Please test and become familiar with your equipment before attending the session, as the presenters may not be familiar with your specific hardware/software. 

 

Preconvention Workshop: Digital photography |  $60

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limit 60.

Designed for photographers who have at least one year’s experience shooting for their publications, this intensive workshop will cover composition, camera controls and theory, lighting, cropping and workflow. 

Led by Mike Simons, adviser at Corning-Painted Post High School, New York, and Jed Palmer, executive director of the Colorado Student Media Association, participants will receive instruction and be given a photo story assignment, and go on a guided photo walk after lunch.  

Following the photo shoot, the instructors will critique students’ work and offer editing tips and techniques. Participants must bring a digital camera, and they are encouraged to bring a laptop computer with the photo-editing program (Photoshop, Lightroom) they will use. 

An off-site permission form is required for each student attending this workshop.

 

Preconvention Workshop: Editorial leadership  |  $60

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limit 64.

Your publication is up and running. Now it’s time to refine your leadership skills and put into practice the best methods for growing staffers, mediating conflict and creating a culture of excellence. 

In this workshop led by Annie Gorenstein Falkenberg, CJE, adviser at Longmont (Colorado) High School, and Carrie Faust, MJE, adviser at Smoky Hill High School, Aurora, Colorado, participants will explore leadership styles and strategies, feedback protocols, motivating staffers, and managing workflow.

You will leave this class with the tools you need to create communication pathways, an understanding of who you are as a leader and how that interacts with others’ styles, and strategies to grow your staff with positive and productive feedback.

 

Preconvention Workshop: Foundations of print design |  $60

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limit 36.

During this intensive, hands-on, one-day design seminar led by Sarah Nichols, MJE, adviser at Whitney High School, Rocklin, California, students will learn and practice concepts for print publications. 

Suitable for yearbook, newspaper and newsmagazine staff members and their advisers, the workshop will cover typography, space, color, photo packaging and application of current design trends. Beginners will learn how to apply principles of design and create pages, spreads or packages while advanced students will have the opportunity to redesign work in progress or experiment with more complex concepts. 

Throughout the workshop, students will have opportunities to interact, ask questions, find inspiration, apply feedback and gain ideas for improving design lessons and systems for their own staff back at school. 

Participants should bring a laptop with appropriate design software such as Adobe InDesign and will benefit from having a few current magazines or digital access to inspiration (idea files, mood boards, Pinterest, screenshots, etc), but this is not required.

 

Preconvention Workshop: Law of the student press  |  $40

1-5 p.m. Limit 32.

In this crash course on media law, you’ll learn how to avoid major legal pitfalls and use the law to improve your reporting. The Student Press Law Center’s resident legal experts will provide an overview of censorship, libel, invasion of privacy, copyright, access to records and meetings, and reporter’s privilege.

 

Preconvention Workshop: Online and social media |  $60

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limit 32.

Are you overwhelmed with the thought of managing a social media presence, multimedia posts and even live coverage online?

Led by Sarah Lerner, adviser at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, this workshop will cover key online storytelling elements using some of the more popular social media sites like TikTok, Threads and Instagram. In addition, your team will work on a social media plan for your publication, learn the basics of podcasting and will also have a chance to have your publication’s social media accounts critiqued. 

Students will learn to utilize Canva for Instagram and how to maximize their social media presence. All participants must bring either a laptop or tablet device.

 

Preconvention Workshop: Photoshop workflow  |  $40

9 a.m. to noon. Limit 32.

Taught by Mark Murray, Santa Fe, New Mexico, participants will learn to use Adobe Photoshop. This workshop will emphasize a basic workflow for preparing photographs for publication. 

Some laptops will be available; however, participants may bring their own laptops with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Bridge installed. Two students may share one laptop. 

This session is open to both students and advisers.

 

Preconvention Workshop: Writers’ workshop  |  $60

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limit 44.

If you’re looking for ways to sharpen and brighten your writing so others will clamor to read it, this interactive workshop is for you. 

Led by Barb Tholen, MJE, adviser at Lawrence (Kansas) High School, this seminar will entertain and inspire as we analyze excellent writing and apply the pros’ techniques to your work. 

Whether you need to write a catchy headline or a 2,000-word feature, you’ll learn to improve every aspect of your writing as we discuss leads, voice, narrative style and literary devices to tighten and strengthen your writing.