Associated Collegiate Press
Best of the Midwest College Journalism Convention Jan. 29-31, 2016 Millennium Hotel, Minneapolis @acpress • #acpbom
Contents Welcome.................................................................... 3 Convention Sponsors............................................. 3 Floor Plans................................................................ 4 Friday Sessions........................................................5 Saturday Sessions................................................. 12 Sunday Sessions................................................... 21 Go to acpbom.org to view speaker information.
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Welcome to Best of the Midwest With more than 60 tailored sessions and networking opportunities, the Associated Collegiate Press is pleased to welcome you to Minneapolis for our 25th annual Best of the Midwest College Journalism Convention. As you read through the list of offerings and opportunities, you’ll find sessions tailored to enhance your journalism skills and sensibilities and help you grow as an individual and as a new organization. The best practices, skills, ethics lessons, diversity and innovation being offered will make you a stand-out candidate for any job or internship as you move beyond the college classroom and into the professional world. As you get settled in, be sure to check out the convention’s first keynote speaker, Ben Garvin of KARE 11, as he discusses how to stay inspired and find work you love. Also, don’t miss the opening reception. Network with peers from publications around the Midwest while enjoying refreshments before you head out for a Friday evening in Minneapolis.
Convention Sponsors
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Floor Plans
LOBBY LEVEL
CENTER GRAND
Lobby Level
NORTH GRAND
SOUTH GRAND
GRAND BALLROOM
NORTH │ 45 RESTAURANT/BAR
OFFICE
BUSINESS CENTER
GRAND FOYER
LOUNGE
LOWER LEVEL Sq. Ft.
Length
Width
Ceiling
Theatre
Classroom
Reception
Conference
Rounds
Grand Ballroom
5640
60’
94’
16’
600
300
550
–
450
North Grand
2040
60’
34’
16’
200
100
180
60
150
Center Grand
1740
60’
29’
16’
200
100
170
60
150
South Grand
1860
60’
31’
16’
200
100
180
60
150
Grand Foyer
1504
32’
47’
16’
–
–
–
–
–
Office
360
24’
15’
–
–
–
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Millennium Hotel Minneapolis 1313 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403-2697 Telephone: 800.522.8856 or 612.332.6000 Facsimile: 612.359.2160 Toll Free Reservations: 866.866.8086 Email Address: mpls@mhrmail.com Website: www.millenniumhotels.com Worldwide GDS Code: MU
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LORING
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HUMAN EXECUTIVE RESOURCES OFFICES
Room
Sq. Ft.
Length
Width
Ceiling
Theatre
Classroom
Reception
Conference
Rounds
Loring
5280
60’
88’
11’
450
250
400
80
400
Hall of Avenues
3240
120’
27’
11’
240
160
180
–
160
Lower Level
Room
Morning Workshops 9 a.m.-noon Friday
Avenue 1
Reporting Across Platforms Regardless of Your Resources When people hear “convergence” or “multimedia reporting,” they think about high-end technology and expansive reporting projects. The truth is, anyone can use simple tools in many ways to tell stories across platforms in a meaningful way. Learn the basics of the tools and tricks available to anyone and how to think about your reporting and storytelling in a multi-platform way. Vince Filak, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Avenue 2
Editorial Leadership: Newsroom Management, Coverage and Engagement If you’re a current editor-in-chief, managing editor or section editor, this is the perfect fit. It’s also just right for aspiring leaders and editors who want to learn the ropes. Get the skills, get noticed and promoted. Participants become better leaders by offering sessions focused on interpersonal and organizational leadership skills, as well as newsroom management, training program and reader engagement. Mark Witherspoon, Iowa State Daily
Avenue 3
Translating Journalistic Expertise into Social Media Marketing Tactics The social media landscape is vast and changing, but ultimately it’s a means of communication. This workshop addresses how to handle social media in our industry today utilizing a journalist’s skill set. Discussion will include tactics, engagement, measurement, tools and audience. Find that competitive edge by using strategies and implementation methods that will keep your readers engaged. Carly Ferry and Colby Johnson, MSP-C
Friday morning workshops require preregistration and a $25 fee. The social media workshop is free to attend.
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Media Tours
10 and 11 a.m. Friday
Grand Foyer
WCCO-TV Go behind the scenes at WCCO-TV. It is part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corp. and one of the largest networkowned station groups in the country. Meet at the media tour desk in the Grand Foyer 15 minutes before your tour begins. The office is just a short walk from the convention hotel.
Media tours require preregistration.
Registration
Noon-5 p.m. Friday
Grand Foyer
Registration, Publication Exchange and Exhibits Check in or register for the convention and receive your name badges, program and more. Drop off your publication and sift through those of your peers at the publication exchange.
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Grand Foyer
Best of Show Entries The ACP Best of Show contest is available to all publications that have students attending the convention. Bring your newspaper, yearbook, magazine, website URL or broadcast URL to registration by 11 a.m. Saturday to enter. Winners will be announced after Sunday’s closing keynote. The contest is free to enter.
Opening Keynote 1-2:15 p.m. Friday
Center-South Grand
Staying Inspired Garvin will discuss strategies for keeping uninspired people at bay, for getting creative with our smartphones and new technology and for producing our very best work despite diminishing resources (and journalism jobs!). Garvin will also talk about his scary, super-fun transition from newspapers to TV. And tips on landing work you love. And about his singular goal to arrive home at night and feel like he’s done something meaningful with his short life. Ben Garvin, KARE 11
Ben Garvin Ben Garvin is an Emmy Award-winning multimedia photojournalist for KARE 11 and formerly St. Paul Pioneer Press. He was named 2011 Journalist of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2013, he received 2nd place for Journalist of the Year. In 2007, he was named Minnesota Photographer of the Year by the Minnesota Press Photographers Association. His work on assignment for the New York Times was included in the paper’s Pulitzer Prize-winning story on food poisoning in 2010. His video work for the documentary project Black Gold Boom was aired on PBS NewsHour, and his footage from the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul was included in the award-winning PBS documentary, “Better This World.” In 2013, Garvin created “Flash Garvin,” a photo blog that has won several awards. Previously Garvin worked for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis part-time, the Christian Science Monitor in Boston and the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire. He was three times named New Hampshire Photographer of the Year.
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Breakout Sessions 2:30-3:20 p.m. Friday
Avenue 1
Inside Politics and Media With 20 years of experience working in large and small television markets, Mary Lahammer will share her insights on breaking into the business and succeeding in a challenging industry. Mary Lahammer, Twin Cities PBS Avenue 3
Why Journalism Matters Our free and open democracy depends on good journalism. We’ll talk about why our democracy needs good reporting and a warning flag for young journalists on a troubling trend coming to a digital platform near you. Nancy Cassutt, American Public Media North Grand
Package Planning Great front page packages don’t just happen. They are planned by a team involved in the coverage. Learn about the process of package planning as it happens at a large metro daily. Greg Mees will discuss the steps needed to plan for news you know is coming, but the challenge is to think on your feet when breaking news happens – both important! Greg Mees, Star Tribune
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Avenue 2
Handling the Sensitive Story Many of the most important stories also can cause harm, compromise privacy and attract criticism. What should journalists know to best cover sensitive topics such as race, gender, sexual violence and others that have dominated much news on campus in recent years? We’ll explore best practices together in this session. Chris Ison, University of Minnesota Avenue 4
Break with a Pro: Advertising and Public Relations Meet up with the vice president of marketing and public relations for the Star Tribune at this small group roundtable discussion. Check your “Break with a Pro” ticket received at check-in to be sure you’re in the right category. Preregistration is required to participate. Sign up on site at the check-in desk. Steve Yaeger, Star Tribune
Breakout Sessions 3:30-4:20 p.m. Friday
Avenue 1
Giving Your Newspaper a Voice How can opinion pages become an important part of the campus debate? What separates high-quality editorial writing from shoot-fromhip opining? We’ll discuss some of the keys to making editorial pages lively and important. Scott Gillespie, Star Tribune Avenue 3
Writing Powerful Features Learn what makes a feature truly powerful. In this session, you’ll get tips for how to find, develop and write stories that matter to your readers. Gayle Golden, University of Minnesota North Grand
Analytics Isn’t Just for Nerds – Learning Your Audience Learn about the analytics platforms used in newsrooms, and more importantly, why you should care. Reporters, editors, photographers and web producers all can learn different things about their audiences from analytics and can put them to use. Your readers are going to get the information they want one way or another. Analytics can help make sure they get it from you. Jen Westpfahl, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Avenue 2
Ethical Decision-making in the Newsroom Ethical dilemmas challenge even the best journalists in every newsroom, every day. How do we decide what is a fair story? Which photos are too graphic for the audience? Which details are newsworthy? Good decisions require sound values, principles and processes. Learn about them in this session. Chris Ison, University of Minnesota Avenue 4
Skill Sets for Sports Journalists When Michael Rand joined the Minneapolis Star Tribune as a full-time writer in 2001, he could not have imagined how the sports journalism landscape would change over the next 15 years. A job that used to entail only writing specifically for print now encompasses writing for startribune.com, shooting video, being on-camera and podcasting, among other things. If anything, the next 15 years figures to be an even greater time of change. How can a young reporter stay nimble and acquire the timeless skills needed to adapt? What will the future of journalism bring? Michael Rand, Star Tribune
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Breakout Sessions 4:30-5:20 p.m. Friday
Avenue 1
Crafting a Journalism Career Panel discussion on finding a career in journalism. What does that even mean anymore? If you work at a newspaper in college do you always have to work at a newspaper after graduation? How can you use a journalism education in innovative ways to get the job and career you want? Susan Smith and Sara Bertsch, South Dakota State University
Avenue 2
Engage Me! Social media is a system of channels that can be used to get messages and content out to vast audiences. But how do you know when it’s working? How do you “strategize” for that perfect combo of likes, shares and comments? Using the NCClinked website and its system of social media channels, we’ll look at some hits and misses and learn tips for getting your student media’s messages to wider crowds. Kay O’Donnell, North Central College
Avenue 3
Building Healthy Relationships with Administrators If they are doing their job correctly, news organizations will get under the skin of college administrators at times because they will be publishing stories that don’t necessarily make those administrators look good. A veteran adviser will lead a discussion about how to keep healthy relationships with administrators, faculty, students and any other sources your newspaper uses. Mark Witherspoon, Iowa State Daily North Grand
Live Sports Coverage – Tweeting, Blogging and Filing Stories in Real Time Does your college news organization provide coverage that can compete with the best professional news platforms? (You can do it.) How can you build skills that will lead to an internship or a job? (You can do that, too.) The digital editor of the award-winning sports website at startribune.com shares as many secrets as possible in 50 minutes. Howard Sinker, Star Tribune
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Avenue 4
How to Get Past “This Sucks. Change it.” Critiquing is one of the most valuable tools editors and advisers can undertake in providing feedback to staffers. It can also devolve into a series of repetitive, sobinducing criticisms that destroy staff morale. Learn how best to provide helpful, memorable and valuable critiques to your staff from a long-time college media adviser. Vince Filak, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Opening Reception 5:30-7 p.m. Friday
Loring
Opening Reception Meet your peers from around the Midwest while enjoying refreshments before you head out for an evening in Minneapolis.
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Registration
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Grand Foyer
Grand Foyer
Registration, Publication Exchange and Exhibits Check in or register for the convention and receive your name badges, program and more. Drop off your publication and sift through those of your peers at the publication exchange.
Best of Show Entries The ACP Best of Show contest is available to all publications that have students attending the convention. Bring your newspaper, yearbook, magazine, website URL or broadcast URL to registration by 11 a.m. today to enter. Winners will be announced after Sunday’s closing keynote. The contest is free to enter.
Breakfast
8-9 a.m. Saturday
Loring
Speed Topic Roundtables Grab some breakfast and join us for a fast and furious 15-minute session on topics of interest to student journalists. Share ideas, listen to how others do it and then make it your own. Each table will have a different topic and students will rotate every 15 minutes.
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Keynote
9-9:50 a.m. Saturday
Center-South Grand
The Importance of Community Journalism Hear about the challenges and opportunities in a digital first, metrics driven newsroom that is working to engage readers. Mike Dalton, Cannon Falls Beacon and Mike Knaak, St. Cloud Times Media
Mike Knaak Mike Knaak is the consumer experience and planning director at the St. Cloud Times Media. He takes on planning the best possible consumer experience with local content. For example, he may He is the fifth generation of his family to edit decide not only what stories will go online at the newspaper, which has been in existence what time of the day, he also will determine since 1876 and in his family since 1880. what is the best way to handle that content He worked at the newspaper during high on phones, desktop or tablet platforms. Fischool and college, then returned full time nally, he will plan the content mix for the in 1992. He became editor in 2011, replac- next day’s paper. ing his father, Dick, a member of Minnesota Knaak has worked for the Times since 1975 Newspaper Association’s 50-Year Club. in a number of jobs including regional ediDalton attended Gustavus Adolphus Col- tor, photo and graphics editor and assistant lege in St. Peter, and graduated from Manka- managing editor. He is an adjunct faculty to State University. He worked at the MSU member at St. Cloud State University. newspaper, the Reporter, for three years. Mike Dalton Mike Dalton is the editor and minority owner of the Cannon Falls Beacon, a 4,000-circulation weekly newspaper located in Cannon Falls.
He currently serves on MNA’s Member Services committee and he was a member of the Minnesota News Council when it disbanded.
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Breakout Sessions 10-10:50 A.m. Saturday
Avenue 1
One Newsroom – Digital First – Converged, Really Journalism educators have talked a good game about converged newsrooms for a while, but how much of it is actually happening in student media? Indiana Wesleyan University finally decided to stop talking and start doing, by pulling the plug on print, expanding its digital platforms and putting all the student media leaders in the same room to talk cooperation in coverage. Randall King, Indiana Wesleyan University Avenue 3
Transitioning from a Newspaper to Magazine: Strategies for Success Transitioning from a newspaper to a magazine may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Staff members of Arches, the student magazine of Mount Mary University, will discuss how the publication’s design, concept, content and advertising strategies evolved during its transition to a magazine, as well as how the new format created renewed interest in the campus publication. Sophie Beck, Natalie Guyette and Nhung Nguyen; Mount Mary University North Grand
Creating a Beat System That Works To serve your community properly, you need a beat system that works. A veteran adviser who has created beat systems that work at three different universities will lead a discussion about how to do one of the most important things a news organization needs to be successful. Mark Witherspoon, Iowa State Daily
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Avenue 2
What Is ... Journalism Jeopardy? Put your editing skills to test in a fast-paced game of Jeopardy. We’ll break into teams to test your knowledge of grammar, AP Style and journalism rules using the format of one of America’s most popular game shows. The winning team gets bragging rights and 100 Grand! Laura Otto, Mount Mary University Avenue 4
Alternative Revenue Sources for Your Publication Looking for new ways to generate revenue for your publication? In this session we discuss new ways to build revenue outside of print and online. We will talk about creating and managing events, social media sales and other opportunities. Stephanie Murawski, Campus Media Group
Loring
Break with a Pro Meet up with a professional for this small group roundtable discussion. Check your “Break with a Pro” ticket received at checkin to be sure you’re in the right category. Preregistration is required to participate. Sign up on site at the check-in desk. Susan Alrbight, MinnPost Jim Gehrz, Star Tribune Tom Keekley, Olive & Company J. Keith Moyer, University of Minnesota Abby Simons, Star Tribune
Breakout Sessions 11-11:50 A.m. Saturday
Avenue 1
Have Opinions? How to Share Them Effectively What makes for a compelling argument? (Hint: It’s not enough to rant.) Get tips on how columnists, bloggers and editorial writers craft powerful commentaries. Susan Albright, MinnPost Avenue 3
The Social Network How do you keep your cool talking to top politicians, movie stars and pop idols – let alone adults who can help land you a job? A networking workshop that will help you advance your stories, as well as your career. Neal Justin, Star Tribune
Avenue 2
New Voices: Providing Student Journalists the Freedom to Bring the Public the News New Voices of Minnesota is a movement to guarantee student journalists press freedoms. Student journalists in the state do not have any extra protections guaranteed by state law, leaving students and their advisers vulnerable to censorship and retaliation. Members of the Minnesota High School Press Association are spearheading the effort to introduce anticensorship legislation. The North Dakota New Voices Act protects high school and college journalists. Lori Keekley, New Voices of Minnesota and Steve Listopad, New Voices of North Dakota Avenue 4
North Grand
State of the Media A lightning-round look at how all key forms of news media – digital, print and broadcast – are faring as the year begins. J. Keith Moyer, University of Minnesota
Creativity or Destruction Or both?! Pablo Picasso is famously ascribed the quote “Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction.” This applies directly to design and even more directly to publication layout. Learn how to pull ideas out of thin air and to be inspired by your surroundings. Tom Keekley, Olive & Company
Loring
Visual Storytelling for Print and Online This session will discuss techniques used to produce visuals for stories in both print and online multimedia stories. Approaches to reporting for both mediums at the same time and types of equipment needed, including DSLR for video and stills, audio gathering techniques and editing. Jim Gehrz, Star Tribune
Center-South Grand
From the Heartland to Jihad: An Analysis of a Summer in Terror Recruitment Reporting Last summer, Abby Simons worked on a project investigating terror recruitment among Minnesota’s Somali community. The project was reported and written in four months. It included reviews of court records, interviews with the suspects’ families, attorneys and dozens of federal court hearings. She will break down the project, which included utilizing skills in beat reporting, data collection and online components. Abby Simons, Star Tribune
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Lunch
Noon-2 p.m. Saturday
On your own
Lunch The Millennium Hotel is also offering a select menu at their lobby restaurant (quesadilla or pasta) to convention attendees at a reduced price of $10, before tax and gratuity. In addition, a limited selection of restaurants are open in the Minneapolis Skyway on the weekend. Ask the front desk of the hotel for a map of nearby restaurants.
The Dome
Adviser Luncheon ACP and University of Minnesota School of Journalism Mass Communication are delighted to host this Saturday luncheon for all advisers and professionals. Come join us and let us know how we can help you. The Dome is located on the 14th Floor of the Millennium Hotel.
Break with a Pro
Critiques
1-1:50 p.m. Saturday
2-4:50 p.m. Saturday
Break with a Pro Meet up with a professional for this small group roundtable discussion. Check your “Break with a Pro” ticket received at checkin to be sure you’re in the right category. Preregistration is required to participate. Sign up on site at the check-in desk. Susan Albright, MinnPost Regina McCombs, Minnesota Public Radio Amy Nelson, St. Paul Pioneer Press Sam Gordon, Sportradar US
On-site Publication Critiques Both beginning and experienced staffs can benefit from an on-site critique. Staff members and advisers will sit down with Vince Filak, the experienced adviser of the Advance-Titan at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, to go over recent publications. Bring 2-3 of your latest issues.
Loring
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Loring
Sign up at the registration desk for a Saturday afternoon critique time. Critiques are 30 minutes and available on a first-come, firstserved basis. There is no additional fee.
Breakout Sessions 2-2:50 p.m. Saturday
Avenue 1
Working Together to Serve Your Community There has never been a more important time in the news industry for editorial and advertising to work together. But it needs to be done in a way that ensures financial stability for your organization and maintains editorial credibility. Two veteran advisers will lead a discussion about how to work together to serve your community. Judy Riedl, Minnesota Daily and Mark Witherspoon, Iowa State Daily
Avenue 2
How to Get a Great Interview How do you get sources to open up? Do you use different techniques for administrators versus students? What’s different about a broadcast or print interview? We’ll answer your questions and learn best practices for interviewing. Bring your success stories and failures. We’ll dissect both and hopefully become better at getting sources to give us the information we need. Susan Smith and Sara Bertsch, South Dakota State University
Avenue 3
Focus Your Feature Writing: How to Best Tell Your Story This session will concentrate on effective feature writing, including punchy leads, strong quotes, organizational options and writing tightly. From profiles to first-person accounts, find out how to best engage an audience and maximize your storytelling skills. Amy Nelson, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Avenue 4
Visual-Verbal Connections Can Wow Design Packages It’s all about the package when it comes to getting readers hooked into the content. This session will look at not only how to plan for packages but also how to execute it with the headline and lead art. Elements should all work together to have the “wow” factor with readers. Laura Widmer, Associated Collegiate Press
North Grand
Internship Intel: Landing and Being Outstanding at Internships In NYC and Beyond Learn how to land an internship and hit the ground running when you do from former Wall Street Journal veteran staffer Paul Glader, who now runs the NYC Semester in Journalism. He will share tips on getting in the door and mistakes you should avoid once you’re there, plus advice on the attitude, ethics and character you’ll need to succeed in the changing media workplace. Paul Glader, NYC Semester in Journalism at The King’s College
Loring
Reporting Roundtable Come to this informal meeting of those involved in reporting for their student publication. Share problems you’ve encountered and offer up solutions for others. Center-South Grand
DOUBLE SESSION: Digital Storytelling Storytelling online provides a variety of ways to engage and inform the news audience. This session will discuss how interactives, data visualization and multimedia storytelling are changing the forms and formats of news stories. This session ends at 3:50 p.m. Nora Paul, University of Minnesota and Regina McCombs, Minnesota Public Radio
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Breakout Sessions 3-3:50 p.m. Saturday
Avenue 2
Can I Print That? Too many times journalists censure themselves because they’re not sure if they should bother the family and friends of the student who died, or they think it might be libelous, or they are afraid their sources will be mad at them. Bring your own examples to the table as a veteran adviser leads a discussion about having the courage to be a journalist. Mark Witherspoon, Iowa State Daily Avenue 4
Using Your iPhone for Video This session will discuss methods, equipment and techniques that will enable you to take better pictures and video with your smartphone. We will also discuss appropriate use for the resulting content. Konstantin Toropin, University of Minnesota Loring
Advisers Roundtable Come to this informal meeting for advisers of collegiate publications. Share problems you’ve encountered and offer up solutions for others. Susan Smith, South Dakota State University
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Avenue 3
Advertising Resources: Special Sections Readers love them. Newsroom staffs hate them. Advertisers need them! When done right, special sections bring in revenue and readers. Learn how to create successful special issues through focused topics, sufficient planning and proper promotion. And share with your colleagues what’s worked and what hasn’t worked for you. Judy Riedl, Minnesota Daily North Grand
How To Be An Intrepid International Journalist This session will discuss international reporting opportunities for students and important travel tips. Steve Listopad, Valley City State University
Breakout Sessions 4-4:50 p.m. Saturday
Avenue 1
What it Takes to Be a Pacemaker Strong leadership, great teamwork and dedicated staff are just three of the elements needed to help a staff win a Pacemaker. Although there’s no magical formula, quality work and exceptional coverage are imperative to be recognized as one of the best. Marion Renault, Minnesota Daily Avenue 3
The Art of Magazine Writing: Think Visually Magazine writing is all about voice and engaging the reader through visuals and sensory storytelling. Learn tips and tricks for crafting a feature article for a magazine, from writing an powerful lead to structuring a narrative arc with an eye toward visual storytelling. Laura Otto, Mount Mary University North Grand
Student Media and Convergence This session will explore current best practices related to content and organizational convergence in student media operations. Steve Listopad, Valley City State University
Avenue 2
How to Write Great Music Reviews Jon Bream has covered popular music for the Minneapolis Star Tribune since 1974, giving him the second longest tenure of any current daily newspaper pop music critic in the United States. He will share stories about some of the legends in the business and provide tips on how to make a career in arts and entertainment reporting. Jon Bream, Star Tribune Avenue 4
Shooting in Challenging Environments This session will tackle generating content in less than ideal situations such as sporting events, concerts, theater productions and nighttime events. Opportunities to further discuss other situations that participants have encountered will be provided as well. The emphasis will be on photography but some videography skills will be addressed. Konstantin Toropin, University of Minnesota Loring
Editors Roundtable Come to this informal meeting of those involved in editing their student publication. Share problems you’ve encountered and offer up solutions for others. Sara Bertsch, South Dakota State University
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Keynote
5-6 p.m. Saturday
Center-south Grand
Game of Thrones – Who Will Win the 2016 Election? 2016 is shaping up to be one of the most surprising and tumultuous U.S. election seasons in decades. What’s coming? Who’s going to win? Larry Jacobs, University of Minnesota
Larry Jacobs Jacobs has authored or edited 16 books and dozens of articles on health care reform, elections and public opinion and legislative and presidential politics. Dr. Jacobs’ research has been published and discussed in a number of mass media outlets. Under Jacobs’ directorship, the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance hosts public forums and convenes workshops with lawmakers.
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Breakfast
8-9 a.m. Sunday
Center-south Grand
A light continental breakfast is available for all convention attendees. Refreshments provided by Associated Collegiate Press.
Breakout Sessions 9-9:50 a.m. Sunday
Avenue 1
How to Train Your Staff This session is for advisers and editors who want to schedule training sessions that their staffs will relish. An adviser who has been training newspaper, magazine and yearbook staffs for 28 years will lead the discussion. Mark Witherspoon, Iowa State Daily Avenue 3
Working Multimedia into the Everyday This session will discuss implementing multimedia projects into the weekly or daily newsroom schedule. Sara Bertsch, South Dakota State University
Avenue 2
Reporting 102: Getting Past Speeches, Meetings and News Conferences After one semester (or less), anyone can cover a meeting, speech or news conference for your publication. So how do you expand beyond “So and so gave a speech” coverage and find things that are relevant, useful and interesting to your readers? This session helps you find out what matters to your audience and where you can find things that will meet their needs. Vince Filak, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh North Grand
Duct Tape and High Funkadelity Just because we’re journalism-geeky enough to spend nights and weekends making words, photos and videos, even traveling across the state and country to talk journalism, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it. We’ll cover 437 ideas to make journalism more fun. And most of them aren’t even that naughty. Scott Winter, Bethel University
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Breakout Sessions 10-10:50 a.m. Sunday
Avenue 1
The Art of the Interview If you think you are a good interviewer, that means you aren’t. Learn the techniques that will make you better, plus tips and strategies to get tough to get information you need for your stories. Paul McEnroe, KSTP-TV Avenue 3
Building a Better Game Story You might love sports, but maybe your readers aren’t in love with your sports writing. If your sports leads are either boring or hyperbolic, if your story reads like a chronological recounting of every moment of the game and if your sports work is sapping your will to live, come to this session. Learn how to write stronger stories and give your readers a reason to cheer. Vince Filak, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh North Grand
Recruitment and Retention for Today’s News Agency Does your media outlet need more staffers to get the job done? This session will discuss some tried and true ways to recruit students to join staff and then how to keep them on board. Come share ideas of what has worked and hasn’t worked for your staff and then take home ideas to determine how to recruit and retain a quality staff. Laura Widmer, Associated Collegiate Press
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Avenue 2
Engaging Your Community in So Many Ways For news organizations to be relevant in this day and age, we need to be engaging our communities in many different ways. Providing them content they need and want on all the platforms and in all the ways they want is only the beginning. Engagement is exciting, so let’s count together the many ways we can all connect with our audiences. Mark Witherspoon, Iowa State Daily Avenue 4
Stress is a Mess This session will talk about the consequences of stress and why it’s a good idea to reduce it as much as possible. We’ll also discuss strategies students should start to implement early in their career to help them get stress under control. Susan Smith, South Dakota State University
Closing Keynote 11 a.m.-Noon Sunday
Center-south Grand
Old School and Shoe Leather No matter how great the technology is to help journalists, there will always remain a fundamental rule that guides our profession: Without engaging in so-called Old School news gathering techniques and spending the energy out on the street, quality journalism will not be created. Sourcing, finding the key documents, putting together chronologies of events, interviews with key characters of the story — all of this kind of work must happen in order to put a solid story in the newspaper, the airwaves and on the screen. Social media is cool. Yes. What’s even better? Old School Reporting and Shoe Leather. It’s the mantra that never changes through the ages. Paul McEnroe, KSTP-TV
Center-south Grand
Best of Show Awards Ceremony Immediately following the closing keynote, join us as we announce this year’s Best of Show winners. You must enter your publication at the registration desk before 11 a.m. Saturday to be eligible.
Paul McEnroe Paul McEnroe is the executive producer of investigations at KSTP-TV, in the Twin Cities. He worked at the Star Tribune for 35 years, more than 20 as an investigative reporter. He has taught public affairs and investigative reporting at the University of Minnesota for more than 20 years. He has a master’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University, a mastery certificate in Global Mental Health from Harvard University and was an Ochberg Fellow with the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University. In addition, he covered the Gulf War and the Iraqi War.
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