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Program: “New Voices in the Media”
Overview:
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. -- Registration, Green Street Lobby of Illini Union
8:00 to 10:00 a.m. -- Adviser Continental Breakfast, Colonial Room, Illini Union
9:30 to 10:20 a.m. -- Session I (see below)
10:30 to 11:20 a.m. -- Session II (see below)
11:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. -- Adviser Luncheon, Colonial Room Illini Union
(Students are on their own for lunch and can find restaurants in the food court of the Illini Union basement
12:30 to 1:20 p.m. -- Keynote panel: “New Voices in the Media," Illini Rooms A, B and C
1:30 to 2:20 p.m. -- Session III (see below)
Sessions:
SESSION I – 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.
Yearbook Company Displays
University of Illinois Admissions Information
University of Illinois – College of Media – Student Services
Representatives from Jostens, Taylor Publishing, Herff Jones, Walsworth, the University of Illinois College of Media Student Services (with U of I admissions counselors available to answer your questions) have set up displays. Displays will be available until 2:20 p.m. A U of I admissions counselor will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m..
ILLINI UNION, ROOMS B & C
Yearbook Design Trends
LIZ COX, Representative, Herff Jones
To find the latest in design trends, take your clues from the professional press. We'll look at what's fresh and new as well as how to put it to use in your yearbook. Cox is a former yearbook adviser and English teacher whose publications received numerous state, national and local awards. As a representative for Herff Jones, Liz enjoys working with the advisers and students to develop their yearbooks. She speaks at camps and workshops across the United States, teaching journalism, design, QuarkXPress, InDesign and Photoshop.
ILLINI UNION , ROOM 209 (capacity 50)
Coach the Staff, Not the Stories
JENNIFER FOLLIS, Lecturer, University of Illinois, Dept. of Journalism
Most editors dread fixing stories or editing photos just before deadline, and the writers and photographers don't like being surprised by what ends up in print. In this session we'll examine techniques that empower staffers to focus on their own work, saving time and increasing satisfaction for everybody in the long run.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 210 (capacity 90)
DISPLAY ROOM FOR HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 215 (Sessions I, II & III)
How To Get More Opinions Into Your Newspaper - Legitimately
SUSAN TANTILLO, retired adviser, Wheeling High School
Every newspaper staff wants its audience to anticipate each issue. One way to increase readership is to get more student opinions into the paper through opinion polls involving larger numbers of potential readers. Another way is to publish reviews about events and consumer products readers are talking about. Tantillo taught journalism and advised the Wheeling HS Spokesman for 30 years. She is co-author of the high school journalism textbook “Introduction to Journalism” and serves on the Illinois JEA board of directors. An adjunct instructor at Kent State University, she teaches in Kent's online master's degree program for scholastic journalism educators.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 217 (capacity 30)
Getting the Sports Interview
MIKE DOYLE, adviser, Belvidere North High School
This session will provide information on what happens when you hit roadblocks on your interview assignment. The information presented will cover professionals as well as age-group athletes. Before becoming an award winning newspaper adviser at Belvidere, Doyle was a sportswriter, news and feature writer for the Rockford Register-Star. Among his beats as a sports writer were professional golf and tennis and he covered the Chicago Bears for 14 seasons.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 314A (capacity 150)
Covering Controversial Topics for Your School Newspaper
RANDY SWIKLE, retired adviser, District 12, Johnsburg and former National Teacher of the Year (Dow Jones)
Since covering controversies is an inherent feature of journalism, schools should encourage student journalists to develop the skills needed to report controversial stories accurately, fairly and consistent with high standards of journalism and principles of American democracy. This session will present tips for covering controversies and proactive strategies for winning support from school administrators. It will show how bad news does not have to have a bad effect and how student journalists can inspire positive change without alienating decision-makers.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 314B (capacity 100)
The Copy Editor: A Newspaper's Last Line of Defense
SALLY TURNER, Eastern Illinois University
It’s a copy editor’s job to ensure that a newspaper’s text flows, that it makes sense, is fair and accurate and will not provoke any legal problems. This session talks about essential copy editing skills, local style rules and the job of a copy editor. Sally Turner is the director of the Illinois Journalism Education Association and a journalism professor and yearbook adviser at Eastern Illinois University.
(ILLINI UNION, ROOMS B & C)
Creating a Yearbook Theme with Impact
SHANNON HART, Taylor Publishing
What part of a yearbook drives all aspects of its creation from concept to closing and everything in between? THEME! That’s why it’s so important to find the perfect theme for your book. This session will take you through the creative process to find the perfect theme for your school. You will learn how to create a verbal and visual package that you can easily carry into each section of your book. Examples will be shown. Shannon Hart has a degree in journalism and was editor of both her high school and college yearbooks. She is in her sixth year working for Taylor Publishing in the Chicagoland area.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 404 (capacity 73)
Yearbook Buylines
MIKE BUDAK and JOHN COX , Jostens
Yearbook sales don’t magically happen. Learn how to take real-world marketing techniques, your theme, and proven yearbook sales strategies to sell more yearbooks this year. Mike Budak started his 25th year as a yearbook sales representative this fall. A Jostens sales representative for 15 years, Mike covers the north central Illinois area. John Cox has been a Jostens yearbook sales representative for 14 years covering the south central Illinois area.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 406 (capacity 70)
*This session will be available in Session III
Being Close: What the Best Journalists Know and Do
RICH MARTIN, Journalism Professor, U of I
Rich Martin had 32 years of newspaper experience, including 29 years as a reporter and editor at the Roanoke Times in Virginia before coming to teach journalism at the University of Illinois. He’ll share his thoughts about what it is the best journalists understand about their craft and how they go about their work.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 406 (capacity 70)
The Economy Effects Us All: How to Make it Relevant to Your High School Readers
WESLEY DEBERRY – Graduate Student, U of I Dept. of Journalism
ANDIE BEHLING – Editor in Chief, the North View Newspaper, Belvidere North High School
The economic downturn has affected every family in America with increased layoffs, difficulty in finding jobs, shrinking savings and even getting money for a college education. This session will discuss how you can make these economic issues and others understandable to your high school readers. DeBerry has written on economic issues for the Sacramento Bee and the Baltimore Business Journal. Behling covered the auto industry layoffs at Chrysler which affected many of her fellow students at Belvidere North High School.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 407 (capacity 100)
SESSION II – 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
A Tour of WILL-TV and WILL AM-FM Public Broadcast and TV Teaching Studios
MITCH KAZEL, Director of Broadcast Journalism Resources & Facilities, U of I
Are you thinking about a career in broadcast? Or just interested in seeing the inside of a radio and TV studio? Either way, here's an opportunity not only to take the tour but also to talk with two people who have made their careers in broadcast. Mitch Kazel teaches in the broadcast journalism program here at the U of I, and he will show you around WILL AM/FM/TV, our public broadcasting stations, and the Richmond Journalism Teaching Studio, where his students produce newscasts.
Session location: We will walk to the WILL-TV & AM-FM studios (Campbell Hall for Public Telecommunication, 300 N. Goodwin Ave., Urbana), about four city blocks, leaving from the GREEN STREET LOBBY of the ILLINI UNION at 10:30 AM sharp. Limit: 15.
Getting Personal: How to Put Yourself in Your Journalism
WALT HARRINGTON – Interim Dean, U of I College of Media
Fine writing requires special reporting aimed at gathering the vivid details that bring stories to life. Harrington will provide tips for the aspiring feature writer. Harrington is a journalism professor at U of I, a former staff writer for the Washington Post Magazine and the author or editor of six books.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 209 (capacity 50)
Unraveling the Spin
BERNARD SCHOENBURG, Political Writer & Columnist The State Journal-Register, Springfield\
It’s only natural for people in public life – especially politicians seeking votes or trying to maintain a good public image – to try to make themselves look good in public. Knowing this, what can reporters do when covering candidates or officeholders to keep the stories from becoming propaganda pieces? As usual, it’s by asking good questions and, where there’s any doubt, checking out the answers. Schoenburg has also worked at The Associated Press in Chicago and The Pantagraph of Bloomington-Normal. An Evanston native and 1976 UIUC journalism graduate, he has covered Illinois delegations to seven national political conventions. He also covered the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama for his newspaper as well as dozens of others also owned by GateHouse Media.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 210 (capacity 90)
DISPLAY ROOM FOR HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 215 (Sessions I, II & III)
Web Resources for Advisers
SUSAN TANTILLO, retired adviser, Wheeling High School
Although students are welcome at this session, it is aimed at advisers who want ideas about sites to help improve their curriculum or their publications. We'll look at specific sites via a live Internet connection. Come with a favorite Web address of your own to share with the group. Tantillo taught journalism and advised the Wheeling HS Spokesman for 30 years. She is co-author of the high school journalism textbook “Introduction to Journalism” and serves on the Illinois JEA board of directors. An adjunct instructor at Kent State University, she teaches in Kent's online master's degree program for scholastic journalism educators.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 217 (capacity 30)
Green Journalism
MICHAEL HAWTHORNE, environment reporter, Chicago Tribune
How will you inform your high school readers about human relationships with the physical world? Green reporting is a fairly new but invaluable category of journalism that deals with topics that have everything to do with our future; pollution, climate change, protecting the environment and the species living on earth. Hawthorne has written extensively about the nation's lingering pollution problems, including threats posed by mercury-contaminated fish, toxic chemicals plaguing the Great Lakes and emerging contaminants in the environment. He previously worked as the environment reporter for The Columbus Dispatch and as a state government reporter for The Cincinnati Enquirer and The News-Gazette of Champaign, Ill.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 314A (capacity 150)
Video is Hot, Cool and Something You Should Know
BRIAN JOHNSON, professor, U of I, Depart. of Journalism
YouTube and other video sharing sites make sharing video easy. This session will explore how to shoot good quality video, create a YouTube "Channel" and make videos that people will want to see. School newspapers, yearbooks, radio and TV stations should all have a presence on YOutube. You can put the You in YouTube with a little bit of knowledge. Some of that knowledge will come your way in this session.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 314B (capacity 110)
Money, Money, Money
BARB THILL, award winning former newspaper adviser, Stevenson High School
Is a lack of funds one of your newspaper’s biggest challenges? This session will offer ideas to expand your advertising revenue, a plan for an ad campaign and advice on student-friendly ad design. By putting into practice the ideas from this session, Lion and Statesman staffs raised more than $10,000 a year in advertising revenue. Thill is the winner of multiple awards including the NSPA Pioneer Award, Dow Jones Distinguished Adviser and the John Peter Altgeld First Amendment Award. She currently teaches at journalism workshops at Ball State and the University of Iowa.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 403 (capacity 25)
Photography for Dynamic Pages
SHANNON HART, Taylor Publishing
Good photos turn the average into a dynamic page. Is it possible to take excellent photos when given an average assignment? This session will reveal the photojournalist’s techniques for tight, emotion-centered shoots that put quality photos on the page. Hart has a degree in journalism and was editor of both her high school and college yearbooks. She is in her fifth year working for Taylor Publishing in the Chicagoland area.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 404 (capacity 73)
You Work Hard…now work smart!
MIKE BUDAK and JOHN COX, Jostens
Every staff aspires to create a unique dream book with a cool theme, ‘something-for-everyone” coverage and trendy graphic design. Let’s take some time to see how all three can contribute to the promotion and selling of the yearbook. Mike Budak started his 25th year as a yearbook sales representative this fall. A Jostens sales representative for 15 years, Mike covers the north central Illinois area. John Cox has been a Jostens yearbook sales representative for 14 years covering the south central Illinois area.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 405 (capacity 55)
IHSA State Journalism Contest – Rules and Procedures
SUSIE KNOBLAUCH, Asst. Executive Dir. Illinois High School Association
(ADVISORS ONLY)
Susie Knoblauch from the IHSA will navigate through the procedures and rules in place for the IHSA State Journalism Competition. This session will provide helpful information to both new and seasoned advisers regarding the IHSA contest. What should a school do if they are interested in entering? How does the IHSA interpret the rules? What is the format of the contest? The session will facilitate discussion about the specific rules and procedures of the 3rd annual IHSA State Journalism Contest.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 406 (capacity 70)
Watchdog Reporting and the Future of Journalists
BRANT HOUSTON, Knight Chair in Investigative and Enterprise Reporting, U of I
JAIMI DOWDELL, Training Director for Investigative Reporters and Editors
This session will explore the skills required for watchdog and investigative reporting and why those skills will ensure the future of journalists in the coming years. The session will talk about how to start building those skills while you are in high school.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 407 (capacity 100)
KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION - 12:30-1:20 p.m.
“New Voices in the Media”
The media world is now in a constant state of evolution. Journalists and would-be journalists are finding purpose and passion in new ways that reach beyond the legacy of a newspaper or television newsroom. While some media outlets struggle to stay afloat, rising from the ashes are new voices in the media and a wider platform for consumers of information. These new voices include bloggers, citizen journalists and innovative collaborations between the pubic and news entrepreneurs.
Tracy Schmidt, Editorial Director of ChicagoNow. Schmidt studied journalism at both Dominican University and the University of Illinois, earning her masters degree there in 2006. After graduate school, Tracy worked as a staff reporter and web producer at Time Magazine in Washington, D.C. She returned to Chicago in 2008 to work for the Chicago Tribune. She has taught online journalism at Dominican and DePaul Universities.
Alicia Eler, highly regarded art critic in Chicago who doubles as the Arts and Culture Community Manager for ChicagoNow. Eler is especially interested in talking about the changing face of criticism. You can find out more about her at aliciaeler.com.
Dan Schreiber, columnist and former editor at Smilepolitely, a local web magazine that highlights Champaign/Urbana culture and entertainment. Schreiber has also maintained a blog for the last 3 and a half years called Musings of a Minor Mennonite, which focuses on the intersection of culture, religion and politics.
Eric Meyer, moderator. University of Illinois Associate Professor of Journalism. He is the author of "Tomorrow’s News Today: A Guide to Strategic Planning for Online Publishing." Meyer is a former news photo and graphics editor, assistant news editor and reporter for the Milwaukee journal and the Bloomington Pantagraph.
SESSION III – 1:30 p.m. – 2:220 p.m.
Tour of Illini Media – Home of the Daily Illini Newspaper, Daily Illini On-Air and Buzz magazine.
See how you could get real-world experience while attending the university. Illini Media is a student-run media company where students produce all the content — from reporting, to photography, to design, to ad sales, to DJ’ing. Our new facility in the heart of Campustown includes a multimedia newsroom where print, broadcast and online journalists work side-by-side. Melinda Miller, Illini Media’s editorial adviser, and several student editors will be on hand to answer your questions and show you our facility.
Session location: We will walk to the Illini Media building on Green Street (about 2 blocks from the Illini union) leaving from the GREEN STREET LOBBY of the ILLINI UNION at 1:30 AM sharp.
YEARBOOK in Review: An Experienced Yearbook Critique Session
ADAM SWIATEK, Editor-in-Chief, ILLIO Yearbook and ILLIO staff
Bring your most recently published yearbook for a critique from some of the pros at U of I. Editors and staff members from the 2010 Illio Yearbook will meet with small groups to talk about your most recent book, offering their advice and comments. Their critique can ideas can help fuel editorial planning for your 2010 yearbook. The Illio staff will also share some of their secrets to creating an award-winning yearbook. Come for a critique and to talk with students about yearbooking in college. To learn more about the Illio, the official yearbook at the University of Illinois, visit www.illioyearbook.com.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 209 (capacity 50)
Covering Your Community
NORA MAYBERRY, Managing Editor, St. Joseph Leader
Knowing your community is the first step in providing great coverage. Whether it's a big city, a small town or a high school, covering a community means more than knowing a few people. Developing sources and understanding what makes the community work is key. At this session, learn how to find stories, develop sources and report on what's really important to readers. Maberry graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. She is currently working on completing a masters in technical
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 210 (capacity 90)
DISPLAY ROOM FOR HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 215
IJEA BOARD MEETING
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 217
Outside the Mainstream; Other Jobs Using Journalism Skills
BRIAN HOLDING, CEO Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL
ROBIN KALER, Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs, University of Illinois
DOUGLAS FINK, Video Director, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL
If you’re a good journalist there are many jobs that will be open to you. But the landscape for journalists is changing rapidly. This panel of industry experts will look at where your skills as a journalist could land you. Holding has a journalism degree from the University of Illinois and was former Assistant Managing Editor for the Quad City Times. Kaler received a bachelors and a master’s degree in journalism as well as an MBA from U of I and was a broadcast journalist prior to coming to U of I in public affairs. Fink has a BS degree in Ag Communications from U of I. Before graduating he worked at the Champaign News-Gazette and U of I Sports Information Department.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 314A (capacity 150)
How to Start Your Own Web Publication
MELINA MILLER, Editorial Adviser, Daily Illini
Suggestions on easy-to-use tools (mostly free) that your school can use to quickly create an online presence. Miller will preview some tools as well as show some example publications. The focus will be on tools that require minimal technical expertise. Miller is the editorial adviser at Illini Media where she works with students journalists at the Daily Illini newspaper, WPGU-FM, Buzz entertainment magazine, the217.c0m, Illio yearbook and Technograph engineering magazine.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 314B (capacity 110)
College of Media Student Services
Melvin Leach, College of Media Student Services
Are you looking to continue your career as a journalist or perhaps your interest in Media/Cinema Studies or Advertising into college? This session will answer your questions about the College of Media at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Melvin Leach is an adviser in the College of Media.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 403 (capacity 25)
Advisor and Student Rights; Covering Controversial Topics and Handling the Reverberations When You Do.
STEVE HELLE, Professor, Department of Journalism, U of I
First Amendment rights for students involved with media seem to be a moving target with new court cases and a new Illinois statute. Every student ought to know the extent -- and limits -- of his or her freedom of speech and press (unless, of course, the student goes to a private school, in which case they essentially have no rights). Helle is a UIUC Distinguished Teacher/Scholar and Professor of Journalism and Advertising. He has also served as vice-chair of the Human Rights Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 404 (capacity 73)
Yearbook Buylines
MIKE BUDAK and JOHN COX , Jostens
Yearbook sales don’t magically happen. Learn how to take real-world marketing techniques, your theme, and proven yearbook sales strategies to sell more yearbooks this year. Mike Budak started his 25th year as a yearbook sales representative this fall. A Jostens sales representative for 15 years, Mike covers the north central Illinois area. John Cox has been a Jostens yearbook sales representative for 14 years covering the south central Illinois area.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 406 (capacity 70)
How to Win Readers & Influence Editors
JEFF UNGER, Director of University of Illinois News Bureau
Accuracy, creativity, conciseness, originality, clarity, fairness, completeness and honesty. Unger will discuss how keeping these few simple ideas in mind will help you not only get along better with the people who edit your copy, but connect with your audience as well. Unger, director of the U of I News Bureau and a veteran of several of the nation’s most prestigious newspapers.
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 406 (capacity 70)
ASF: Your Newsroom's New Favorite Acronym
SUSAN KANTOR, U of I graduate student, former Managing Editor of Visuals, Daily Illini
Feeling like your page layouts are dull and repetitive? Pages with only traditional stories and photos can get boring for you to design and for the reader to read. You can transform ordinary 500-word stories into more engaging packages with alternative story forms. Learn how to interpret information to tell stories through timelines, grids, quizzes, maps, Q&As, fact boxes and "by the numbers."
ILLINI UNION, ROOM 407 (capacity 100)