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Training Sessions Highlight of GSPA Conference
10/14/08
Author:
Carolyn Crist
Contact: Joe Dennis, jodennis@uga.edu
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More than 400 students from 25 high schools improved their journalism skills when they attended the 2008 Georgia Scholastic Press Association Fall Conference in the Tate Center on Oct. 2-3.In a session central to the conference, Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center in Washington, D.C., emphasized the importance of students to occasionally pursue difficult, in-depth stories.
"No professional organization will hire you if your portfolio is stocked with only fluff pieces about the homecoming parade," he said, adding that students do have legal rights to cover such controversial material. 
One of two winning photos in the on-the-spot photo competition, held as part of the 2008 GSPA Conference. The photo was taken by Chris Deedy of Greater Atlanta Christian School at the second annual GSPA concert performed by Kyshona and The Guys.
LoMonte encouraged students and advisers to develop strong relationships with administrators, explaining the educational and professional importance of covering sensitive issues.
LoMonte's speech was one of 64 sessions presented by Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication faculty, graduate students, experienced high school media advisers and local media professionals. Topics included page design, journalistic writing, photojournalism, staff leadership and broadcast editing.
"In 2003, my staff and I attended our first GSPA Conference on a chilly spring day. Not knowing up from down, we learned a great deal about journalistic writing and I learned how to empower student writers," said David Ragsdale, adviser of the Odyssey newsmagazine and Iliad literary magazine at Clarke Central High School in Athens. "Five years later, I presented two sessions with my students and we tried to pass along the lessons we've learned for the next up and coming student journalists and advisers."
This photo, taken by Tara Davis of Lowndes High School in Valdosta, tied for first place in the on-the-spot photo competition. Her caption: Noe Matthews, sophomore sports editor at Lowndes High School, attends the 2008 GSPA Conference October 2 -3.
On Thursday night GSPA hosted a concert, and Flagpole music editor Michelle Gilzenrat interviewed the group - Kyshona and The Guys. Kyshona, who grew up in Irmo, S.C., spoke about her life as a musician, her influences and the state of the music industry. Gilzenrat then conducted a review-writing session for the students, and attendees were encouraged to write their own review for a prize.
In addition, a "first issue" competition was held in which schools were encouraged to submit the first issue of their newspaper for review.
"I hope it was beneficial for staffs to compare first issues with other schools," said Joe Dennis, director of GSPA. "It's always a rough time of the year, and hopefully staffs learned from the successes of other publications."
Longtime newspaper editor and Grady College career services director Cecil Bentley critiques a student newspaper. Bentley conducted 12 on-site-critiques, speaking directly with student publication staffs, at the 2008 GSPA Conference.
The following newspaper staffs were recognized in the first-issue competition:
- Best Overall: Starr's Mill High School, The Prowler;
- Best News Coverage: Lee County High School, The Panoptic;
- Best Feature Coverage: Dacula High School, The Talon;
- Best Opinion Coverage: North Hall High School, The Forum;
- Best Sports Coverage: Collins Hill High School, The Eagles' Voice;
- Best Front Page Design: Starr's Mill High School, The Prowler; and
- Best Overall Design: Marietta High School, Pitchfork.
An on-the-spot photo competition was also held, in which aspiring photojournalists were encouraged to take a photos and write a caption for the subject, "2008 GSPA Conference." Chris Deedy of Greater Atlanta Christian School and Tara Davis of Lowndes High School in Valdosta tied for first place. Deedy for his close-up photo of Kyshona playing guitar, and Davis for her photo of a student wandering the crowded conference hallway with her GSPA conference bag.
Cecil Bentley, Grady director of career services, conducted an "on-the-spot critique" session in which students presented their publications to Bentley, who gave immediate feedback and recommendations.
"My kids really enjoyed our time at the conference," said Anita Padgett, adviser of The Verve at The King's Academy in Woodstock. "It's such a great bonding experience at the beginning of the year. With 10 new staffers this year, it was particularly significant."
Athens Banner-Herald multimedia editor Melissa Hanna tells a group of students the qualities needed to be a good journalist. Hanna conducted the session, 'So You Want To Be A Journalist?' at the 2008 GSPA Conference.
Organized in 1928 by UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Georgia Scholastic Press Association assists Georgia high school media programs and students by encouraging the production of quality publications and broadcast programs through instruction and contests. There are roughly 150 GSPA member publications for the 2007-08 school year, representing some 3,500 students across the state.
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