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Convention Boot Camp Workshops | $40

8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, April 5 and 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 6

Led by media advisers and industry professionals, these two-day workshops offer in-depth instruction in a specific track with hands-on training. You may need to bring your own equipment.

Additional fees and advance registration is required. Last day to register is March 22 or when workshops reach capacity.

These sessions are available only for students (unless otherwise noted) and there is a limit of three students from the same school per session.

Convention Boot Camp: Adviser survival camp

Limit 50

Learn tools and share successes and challenges.. This class is geared toward new advisers (1-3 years experience) but any adviser is welcome. This adviser-driven class develops skills and targets the specific needs of journalism educators and student media advisers. Past topics included timely issues like team building and recruiting ideas to skill-based topics like teaching reporting and ways to navigate copyright laws. Bring your laptop with publication policies and procedures, as well as copies or files of your publication. The main thing to bring is lots of questions so we can help you succeed.

Instructors: Julia Walker, CJE, adviser at Olathe (Kansas) West High School; Becky Tate, adviser at Shawnee Mission North High School, Overland Park, Kansas; and Charla Harris, adviser at Pleasant Grove High School, Texarkana, Texas

Convention Boot Camp: Cutting edge design

Limit 25

Diving into trends and cutting edge design for both print newspapers, magazines and yearbooks. This course prepares students for the world of publication design. Students will learn basic and advanced design principles, typography, color theory and layout techniques. Students will produce logos, modules, headline packages and layouts during the week. Students should come prepared with Adobe InDesign installed on their computer. Access to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator is highly encouraged. Each student will need access to their own computer.

Instructors: Gary Lundgren, NSPA associate director; Amy DeVault, assistant professor at Wichita (Kansas) State University; and Dow Tate, adviser at Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas



Convention Boot Camp: Leadership mastery

Limit 50

If you’re a new editor-in-chief, managing editor or section editor — or an aspiring leader who’s ready to learn — the organizational leadership track is for you. Prepare for your new job by delving into leadership topics, including organizational tactics and policies, staff motivation, conflict resolution and media law and ethics. Bring copies or files of your publication, policies and organizational procedures. 

Instructors: Tamara Zellars Buck, professor at Southeast Missouri State University; Susan Massy, retired journalism adviser (Kansas), and Amy Morgan, MJE, adviser at Shawnee Mission West High School, Overland Park, Kansas

Convention Boot Camp: Photojournalism with the pros

Limit 25

Hone your photojournalism skills and practice shooting with the pros. Instruction focuses on understanding camera operations metering, learning the rules of composition, improving shooting skills, making the most of everyday assignments and working on a publication. Bring your phone or camera so you can take your new skill set and produce images for the pros to review with you.

Instructors: Mary Schulte, adviser at Gardner Edgerton High School, Gardner, Kansas, and Jim McCrossen, adviser at Blue Valley Northwest High School, Overland Park, Kansas.

Convention Boot Camp: Video storytelling

Limit 25

Hands-on class that will create a video story on an aspect of the workshop while learning skills to improve your videography. You will learn storytelling through video production by practicing reporting techniques, videography, audio and editing. You will explore video storytelling for multiple platforms to connect and engage with your target audience. Bring your phone or video camera to showcase your storytelling techniques. The pros will review to take your skills to the next level.

Instructors: Nick Homburg, professor of practice at Kansas State University; Andrew Smith, professor of practice at Kansas State University; and Cal Bulcher