Schedule of events Friday, Feb. 17, at Ferguson Center

8 a.m. Registration at Ferguson Theater9 a.m.. Kickoff and Keynote, Mark Mayfield10 a.m. to 12 p.m. On-site competitions10 a.m. Session 1 11 a.m. Session 2Noon Lunch and keynote, Alan Blinder1:30 p.m. Session 32:30 p.m. Session 43:30 p.m. Session 5 4:30 p.m. Session 65:30 p.m. Dinner and closing awards ceremony

M-Rave event immediately following awards ceremony! Saturday, Feb. 18, at Reese Phifer Hall

(Session times vary depending on the duration of the class. See Saturday’s schedule for details.)

9 a.m. Session 110 a.m. Session 211 a.m. Session 3noon Lunch on your own1 p.m. Tours: UA campus tour, The Crimson White newsroom tour and WVUA station tour

Feb. 17-18, 2012 ASPA State Convention Page 3

Welcome to the annual

ASPA State Convention at The

University of Alabama.

#ASPA75 on Twitter

Don’t forget to drop in pennies to

represent your school at our Penny Drop to benefit the Student Press Law Center!

(We take other kinds of

money too!)

Feb. 17-18, 2012 ASPA State Convention Page 4

Mark your calendar for ASPA’s summer camps!June 15-17: The Long Weekend summer camp

June 15-24: Multicultural Journalism Workshop (Deadline to apply is April 1)

and other events ...September 17-21: Fall Regional Workshops

Sept. 17: Mobile Sept. 18: Montgomery Sept. 19: Tuscaloosa Sept. 21: Huntsville

December 14: Deadline for all media for competition and critiques.

For information check the ASPA Web site at aspa.ua.edu.

The goal of Scholastic Journalism Week, Feb. 19-25, is to do something, whether big or small, to raise awareness and promote your program to your community, school, and staff. Your involve-ment and that of your students will serve to raise community consciousness regarding the benefits of scholastic journalism. Need some ideas? Check out JEA's Scholastic Journalism Week page, and then become part of the community on Facebook, or Tweet (#sjw2012) your own ideas. We hope for every staff to do something to celebrate, and represent Alabama well!

Feb. 17-18, 2012 ASPA State Convention Page 5

Onsite competitions begin at 10 a.m. and will be held in the following rooms:

Yearbook copy and caption writing TBA

News writing TBA

Feature writing TBA

Editorial writing TBA

Stand up/camcorder TBA Newscast TBA

Sportscast TBA

Yearbook layout TBA

Newspaper layout TBA

10 a.m. Sessions Session 1

ASPA Board meeting and officer elections (Advisers)The annual State Convention meeting for the ASPA board. All advisers are welcome to attend.Melissa Dixon Room TBA

Worry, worry, worry. If you do not hook your readers, they will not read your work. In this session, we will identify ways to get readers into your work and keep them so worried about your people/characters your readers will turn page after page.Laura Hunter Room TBA

Photography for beginnersLearn the basics of working with a camera, and how make every shot better with the equipment you have.Dan Meissner Room TBA

The Art of Interviewing Human contact. Don’t hide behind a tape recorder. Do’s and Dont’s. Tips for getting good quotes. Listening and speaking techniques. Michele Gerlach Room TBA

Ya gotta get a gimmick!Get a mascot, a logo or do things that set you apart and create a niche for your program. Jody Evans Room TBA

Broadcast interviewingTake your broadcast to the next level! On-camera interviewing, composition, framing, microphones, techniques, what to ask, how to ask it, and quality sound bites.Lesley Bruinton Room TBA

Beating the yearbook drumLearn how to run a successful marketing campaign that will increase awareness and bring value in the eyes of students, faculty, parents and the community.Kane Belew Room TBA

11 a.m. Session 2

Beginning broadcast writingThis session will teach you how to make your scripts zing with clear, concise, and conversational writing. Dr. Jennifer Greer Room TBA

Advisers: Adviser sessions begin at 11 a.m. The 10-11 a.m. period will allow you to help your students locate their sessions. Coffee, drinks and snacks are available in the Advisers Hospitality Room in TBA.

Friday, Feb. 17 sessions, Ferguson Student Center

9 a.m. Welcome! Dr. Loy Singleton, Dean, College of Communication and Information Sciences Jennifer Supri, Chair, 75th Anniversary Committee Meredith Cummings, Director, ASPA Keynote, Mark Mayfield

Feb. 17-18, 2012 ASPA State Convention Page 6Multimedia storytellingThe Web gives your staff new storytelling opportuni-ties. Learn interactive graphics, audio slide shows and other ways to ramp up your broadcast or multimedia footage for your site.David Grewe Room TBA

Personality profilesBring your subject to life and paint a vivid picture for your readers with solid, colorful personality profiles.Susan Newell Room TBA

Even though it is legal, should you run it?Ethics, censorship and publication. Even though it is legal, what factors decide to run it or not? Students are encouraged to bring real-life examples of stories/deci-sions editors have made. Hear how the Student Press Law Center can help. Dennis Bailey Room TBA

I wish I knew that!University of Alabama Society of Professional Jour-nalist members will present tips and tricks that every aspiring journalist should know going into college to get ahead of the game. We will present advice from college lectures, tricks we have learned through stu-dent media internships and jobs, and things we learned the hard way. UA SPJ members Room TBA

Writing features students will want to readFor students who dread writing features. How to make them light and interesting, learn skills to keep readers engaged, tips to make writing come alive.Leada Gore Room TBA

Theme developmentTheme isn’t just a word, but the blueprint to your en-tire publication. Learn how to weave your theme into every facet of your yearbook.Melissa Dixon Room TBA

The Young, the Old and the Restless (For new advisers)An experienced advisers panel for newcomers. Are you sometimes ready to bow out? Find why these veterans are still around after years, and still looking good! If media advising takes a special kind of crazi-ness, how can you manage to look sane, some of the time?Marie Parsons, JoAnn Hagood, Room TBA Nora Stephens

What’s in Your Lunch Bag?Utilizing writing activities, this session will lead you from the mundane-everybody-else-type-writing to the core of your work. We will use common analogies for digging deep into the heart of what you want the reader to gain by reading your work.Laura Hunter Room TBA

Noon Lunch, Ballroom with Alabama Press Association Keynote speaker, Alan Blinder

1:30 p.m. Session 3

PhotographyFrom ordinary to extraordinary. See dozens of examples of strong photojournalism and others that will leave you laughing. Melisa Dixon Room TBA

Planning the Issue (New advisers)Getting organized for the first issue is a challenge for new advisers. And experience adviser provides a framework for developing the newspaper, starting with brainstorming story ideas through sending the file off to the printer.Suan Newell Room TBA

Writing Effective DialogueIn this session, we will look at dialogue that engages your reader as well as dialogue that diverts. We will discuss the time and place for dialogue tags and theneed for adding action (or not) within the dialogue. Laura Hunter Room TBA

Media law 101 (Advisers)What advisers should know about student press law. Don’t wait until you need to know. Become armed with the information you need now.Banks Sewell Room TBA

Covering sports gamesTips for keeping score, interviewing, writing leads. techniques on how to cover games for daily and weekly publications and for the Web.Chris McCarthy Room TBA

2:30 p.m. Session 4

Problem Solving (Advisers)Bring your problems and throw them out for solutions from other advisers.Marie Parsons and Jody Evans

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Better bloggingLearn how to attract more eyes to your publication or broadcast through great blogging. Blinder, the lunch keynote speaker, has live-blogged from events rang-ing from a national college football championship to a Supreme Court confirmation hearing and will share his insights on how to write thoughtful, reflective posts that pack a punch and provoke conversation. (His wife, Meredith, who has worked on multimedia for the Houston Chronicle and the American Press may toss in a few ideas, too, about how to use visual content alongside the written word to spice up your blog further.)Alan Blinder Room TBA

Understanding the reporter’s privilege Freedom of the press is a cherished idea, but in many schools it exists only in textbooks. This session will explore the protections afforded to news reporters un-der the First Amendment of the United States Consti-tution. Commonly known as the reporter’s privilege, the First Amendment provides a mechanism by which reporters can avoid the compelled disclosure of infor-mation learned during the course of the newsgathering process. This discussion will analyze the scope of the Reporter’s Privilege, as well as different avenues by which the privilege can be overridden.Banks Sewell Room TBA

Headline design for yearbooksLearn how to write headlines that will entice your readers while connecting everything on your spread.Melissa Dixon Room TBA

Focusing your storyNot just the “who, what, when, where, why and how,” but focusing the story even more. Driving it home. Having a compelling lead. Reallyrefining and focusing in on what makes a story great.Dr. Bill Keller and Carol Robinson Room TBA

How and Why You Want to Enter Writing ContestsWinning a place in a respected writing contest can do wonders for getting your name out there. This session will cover the aspects of writing that all publisherslook for in deciding which work to select as the best offered. You can use these exercises and comments to better all of your writing.Laura Hunter Room TBA

3:30 p.m. Session 5

Describe that!Make your writing more descriptive and have fun while learning! This session will use food as a technique to learn better descriptive writing.Chip Brantley Room TBA

NewsworthinessIt seems simple, but does your staff know the keys to knowing what is news? For example, news values, editorial policies, etc. A veteran newspaper publisher will guide you through the process.Kenneth Boone Room TBA

Print + Web = Success (Advisers and student leaders)Would you like to share your print publication with a larger audience? Don’t have the budget for printed publications? Learn how to use free internet resources to take your students’ work to the Web. In this work-shop, you will learn proper precautions before going on the Web, as well as learn ways to showcase your students’ talents. You can then share the link with your community and celebrate the good things going on in your classroom and at your school. This information can be applicable to all student publications.Brandy Panagos Room TBA

Basic and advanced yearbook designThe arrangement of elements on a spread is layout. Thoughtfully leading your reader around the spread to convey a message is design. Discover the difference.Melissa Dixon Room TBA

So many mediums, so little time!University of Alabama student media professionals from online, radio, print and broadcast mediums will demonstrate how to effectively get ahead in the media business today. We will demonstrate how to write for each medium and how to compile a diverse resume throughout college that will be useful to employers upon graduation. This session will focus on how to learn a little bit of everything so each graduating journalist has the competitive edge to land that job.UA SPJ members Room TBA

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All DayPlease stop by the ASPA lobby on the third floor to say hello, grab a snack and see your home office.

9 a.m. Session 1

Making good reviews greatA veteran newspaper reporter will show you how to take your reviews from flat to fabulous. Learn how to avoid common boring language traps.Richard LeComte Room TBA

Tell the whole storyThe sin of omission-failure to do something one can and ought to do. It is the greatest sin committed by yearbook staffs. Learn how to expand coverage through your words, photos, and design.Melissa Dixon Room TBA Exercises in style/toneYour writing style needs to meet the expectations of whatever genre you are working on. Expand your writing style in this session. We will use specific writ-ing exercises in how and when to alter your style and keep your tone consistent.Laura Hunter Room TBA

InDesign hands-on session Group and individual attention will be provided for advisers and students at their level of learning for their particular publication.Marlin Caddell Room TBA

Photography tips and tricksQuick and easy ways to take your photography to the next level. Stop taking snapshots and start making pictures.Scott Bowman Room TBA

Podcasting (All media)Podcasts consist of audio and video material that is distributed online for use on iPods and other media players. In this hands-on session, you’ll prepare your own podcast. Please bring your own headphones.Andrew Richardson Room TBA

10 a.m. Session 2

Hands-on photography (Meet in ASPA lobby then end up in Room 301)This class is limited to eight students. Sign up at reg-istration Friday morning. Photography tips and tricks, as well as one-on-one feedback. Students will go with instructor to take photos and come back to Reese Phi-fer for feedback.Dan Meissner ASPA lobby

Saturday, Feb. 18 sessions, Reese Phifer Hall

4:30 p.m. Session 6

Future of journalismHow to keep up with print, and still keep it alive, as well as how print is evolving online. We will discuss Twitter, Facebook and interacting with readers. Jim Rainey Room TBA

Submitting Your Work for Publication This session will explain practical, professional meth-ods for submitting your works so you do not kill the chances of publication before the editor reads yoursubmission.Laura Hunter Room TBA

Let’s Get Some Mojo! (Advisers and student leaders)Is your staff lacking energy? Are there individuals who just can’t get the work done? Are you frustrated with the staff not working to their expectations? Learn

some ways to motivate staff members to work on time, make deadlines, and take pride in the yearbook. Melissa Dixon Room TBA

Building better graphics and illustrationsMake your graphics and illustrations pop with advice from The Tuscaloosa News graphics editor.Anthony Bratina Room TBA

StorifyStorify is an online curation tool for reporting and tell-ing stories using social media. In this session, you’ll look at some good ways to use Storify and then get started on your our own stories.Chip Brantley Room TBA

5:30 Dinner, awards ceremony and 75th anniversary celebration

Feb. 17-18, 2012 ASPA State Convention Page 9

Follow ASPA on Twitter and Facebook!Twitter: @AlaSPA (Hashtag #ASPA75)

Facebook fan page: Alabama Scholastic Press Association

Before, during, and after coverageDon’t just capture the here and now, but learn to publicize what goes on before, and then much later, concerning your school events.Melissa Dixon Room TBA

Tumbl It! Pin It! Stori It! (It’s Delicious!) Use social networking and multimedia sites like Deli-cious, Storify, Pinterest, Tumblr and others to promote your school media. These sites can also help you show off reporting and photography, and even get it picked up by the local and national media.Meredith Cummings Room TBA

iMovie: How to Produce Video Clips in 15 Minutes or LessIf you have a Macintosh computer, you can add video to your text news story using the iMovie application. We’ll show you how to use iLife’s video application to do BASIC video editing. No documentaries! No news packages! This hands-on session is for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time editing video, but still want the benefits of the moving-picture medium to add a dimension to their story.Andrew Richardson Room TBA

11 a.m. Session 3

Storytelling the right wayEveryone has a story to tell. You just have to find it and tell it. Get tips on discovering all the hidden sto-ries your student body has and how to include them in your multimedia packages. Learn what stories make good photo/video multimedia packages and which ones don’t. David Grewe Room TBA

Final Cut Pro Lab Hands-on training using the Apple video editing pro-gram Final Cut Pro. Learn to cut and edit videos.TBA, Reese Phifer Room TBA

Photoshop for everyone!Hands-on training for students and advisers to use Photoshop to make publications really pop.Scott Bowman Room TBA

SportsA Tuscaloosa News sports reporter will offer examples of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to sports coverage. From hockey to football, bring your sports-related questions and get answers.Meredith Qualls Room TBA

Noon Lunch on your own

1 p.m. Session 4, Tours

UA Campus Tour (Meet at front steps of Reese Phifer Hall) This tour will take students on a walk through campus guided by a representative from the Capstone Men and Women.Capstone Men and Women

WVUA Tour (Meet in the Reese Phifer rotunda)Students will tour the television station located in the basement of Reese Phifer, the University’s own WVUA, which signed on the air as News Channel 49 in January 1998. The operation became the first televi-sion station in Tuscaloosa since 1996, when Tuscaloo-sa’s local television stations left the city. Question and answer session to follow.WVUA staff

Getting Involved in College Media (Meet in the ASPA lobby)Students will check out the Student Media building that houses The Crimson White (newspaper); The Corolla (yearbook); and Marr’s Field Journal (literary magazine). Students will also hear about how to get involved in college media at any college. Question and answer session to follow.Crimson White staff