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350 Students Attend Journalism Scholars Day At WKU
Bowling Green, Ky. - Journalism Scholars Day, a 30-year tradition at Western Kentucky University, attracted some 350 Kentucky high school journalism students to campus Sept. 30 for a four-hour conference that included breakout sessions, keynote address, write-off contest and yearbook contest awards ceremony.
Student media advisers from Owensboro to Campbellsville brought their staffs to attend sessions taught by WKU faculty and students as well as other journalism professionals. The conference’s goal was to encourage excellence in high school media classes. It also provided high school students with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills. Staffers and their advisers attended 24 breakout sessions with topics ranging from newspaper design and photography to being a television anchor and yearbook. Seven students entered the write-off contest. Facilitated by Bob Adams, adviser to the College Heights Herald, Western’s student newspaper, the write-off required students to type their stories about the keynote address on computers, self-edit and turn them in all in under an hour, just like in a real newsroom. Adams and Herald staffers judged the stories. Bryan Staples, video journalist from Nashville’s NewsChannel 5, gave the keynote address, “The Art of the Investigation.” For two Kentucky high school newspaper staffers, it was more than just another speech. Melissa Rickman, a Bowling Green senior, and Mandy Simpson, an Oldham County senior, won the speech story write-off competition and received $500 scholarships to attend Western. It’s the second year in a row that a senior from Bowling Green High won one of the scholarships. Bowling Green High newspaper adviser Denita Hines said she thinks she knows at least one reason for their success. “Both (winners) were in the Advanced Placement program,” Hines said. “This made them good writers before they came to journalism class. I just gave them plenty of opportunity to practice.” Journalism Scholars Day attendees came from Adair County, Allen County-Scottsville, Barren County, Bowling Green, Breckinridge County, Crittenden County, Corbin, Daviess County, Edmonson County, Fort Campbell, Glasgow, Grayson County, Hopkins County Central, Lyon County, Muhlenberg North, North Hardin, Oldham County, Owensboro, Taylor County and Webster County. Several came specifically for the awards ceremony. Nineteen schools entered their yearbooks in the Mark of Excellence Yearbook contest, sponsored by Western’s student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Best overall winners were Webster County in Class A/AA, Lexington Catholic in Class AAA and Daviess County in Class AAAA. The Mark of Excellence Yearbook contest was chaired by Western SPJ chapter president Ashlee Clark. Jackie Bretz, director of the Kentucky High School Media Institute, was the contest coordinator. Journalism Scholars Day, directed by Bretz, is co-sponsored by the WKU School of Journalism and Broadcasting, the Kentucky High School Media Institute, WKU, WKU’s Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists, the College Heights Herald, Talisman and the Kentucky High School Journalism Association. Originally called High School Press Day, the conference was renamed Journalism Scholars Day when Jo-Ann Albers became department chair in the late 1980s. Having a day devoted to high school journalism is a Western tradition that dates back to the 1970s. Pam Johnson is director of WKU’s School of Journalism and Broadcasting director. More information about Journalism Scholars Day can be found at www.wku.edu/khsmp. The 2005 Mark of Excellence Yearbook Contest winners are as follows: Class A/AA Photography: Corbin, first; Webster County, second; Crittenden County and Adair County, third; Lyon County, honorable mention. Advertising: Webster County, first; Corbin and Adair County, second; Lyon County and Edmonson County, third. Copy: Corbin, first; Crittenden County and Webster County, second; Edmonson County, third. Layout/design: Webster County, first; Corbin, second; Adair County, third; Crittenden County, honorable mention. Theme/cover: Webster County, first; Edmonson County and Corbin, second; Crittenden County, third; Lyon County, honorable mention. Student life: Webster County, first; Crittenden County and Corbin, second; Edmonson County, third. Sports: Webster County, first; Corbin, second; Adair County, third; Crittenden County and Edmonson County, honorable mention. Academics: Webster County, first; Corbin, second. Best overall: Webster County, first; Corbin, second; Crittenden County, Adair County and Edmonson County, third. Class AAA Photography: Lexington Catholic, first; Bowling Green, second; Taylor County, third; South Oldham, fourth. Advertising: Taylor County, first; Lexington Catholic, second; Bowling Green and South Oldham, third; Owensboro and Allen County-Scottsville, honorable mention. Copy: Lexington Catholic, first; South Oldham, second; Taylor County, third. Layout/design: Lexington Catholic, first; Bowling Green and Taylor County, second; South Oldham, third. Theme/cover: Bowling Green, first; Lexington Catholic, second; South Oldham, third. Student life: South Oldham, first; Lexington Catholic, second; Bowling Green, third; Taylor County and Allen County-Scottsville, honorable mention. Sports: Bowling Green, first; Lexington Catholic, second; South Oldham, third. Academics: Bowling Green, first; South Oldham and Lexington Catholic, second; Taylor County, third. Best overall: Lexington Catholic, first; Bowling Green, second; South Oldham and Taylor County, third. Class AAAA Photography: duPont Manual and Daviess County, first; Barren County, second; Graves County, third; Shelby County and Eastern, honorable mention. Advertising: Daviess County, first; Eastern, second; Graves County, third; Shelby County, honorable mention. Copy: Daviess County, first; duPont Manual and Graves County, second; Barren County, third. Layout/design: Daviess County, first; Graves County, second; duPont Manual, third. Theme/cover: Daviess County, first; Barren County, second; Eastern, third. Student life: Barren County, first; Daviess County, second; duPont Manual and Graves County, third; Eastern, honorable mention. Sports: Graves County, first; Daviess County, second; Barren County, third. Academics: Daviess County, first; duPont Manual, second; Eastern, third. Best overall: Daviess County, first; Graves County, second; Barren County and duPont Manual, third; Eastern, honorable mention. More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu. For information, contact Jackie Bretz at (270) 745-6407.
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