On Nov. 6
October 24, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Journalism Scholars Day, a 36-year tradition at Western Kentucky University, promises to attract more than 300 Kentucky high school journalism students to campus Nov. 6. The four-hour conference will include breakout sessions, a keynote address and write-off contest.
Twenty-three high schools entered their 2008 yearbook in the annual Mark of Excellence Yearbook competition. Hosted by WKU’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the School of Journalism & Broadcasting’s High School Media Institute, these awards will be presented at the conclusion of the JSD program.
Student media advisers from across Kentucky will bring their staffs to attend sessions taught by WKU faculty and students as well as other journalism professionals in the community.
The goal of the conference is to encourage excellence in high school media. The program is designed to motivate, challenge and inform students with valuable knowledge and skills. Staffers and their advisers will attend 20-plus breakout sessions with topics ranging from yearbook design and photography to broadcasting and reporting.
Fourteen schools have already registered to attend. According to JSD coordinator Katie Clark, it’s not too late to register and the event is open to all high schools across Kentucky.
“Through Journalism Scholars Day we want to excite students about the media,” Clark said. “Our goal is to provide students and advisers with the tools to improve their school publications and broadcasts.”
For some students, however, JSD will mean competing in a writing contest in hopes of winning a scholarship to attend WKU in the fall.
Facilitated by Jim Highland, the write-off contest will require students to compose news stories about the keynote address given by Bryce Combs. Students will be required to self-edit and complete their article in less than an hour, just like in a real newsroom.
Dr. Dean Kahler, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, and Highland will award two $500 scholarships to attend WKU to the winners of the competition.
Combs, one of the visionaries of the new digital communications era, will focus his keynote address on career planning for the new frontier. The speech will be at 9 a.m. in the Downing University Center Theatre.
For information about attending Journalism Scholars Day, contact Katie Clark at (270) 745-3055 or Katherine.clark@wku.edu.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Katie Clark at (270) 745-3055.
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Office of Media Relations
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-3576
Phone: (270)745-4295 - Fax: (270)7455387 - E-Mail: western@wku.edu