A Time To Think About You, Our Members

Each year after the fall convention the new IHSPA board meets for a weekend retreat to evaluate the organization specifically and the state of scholastic journalism in general as we list priorities for the next year.

It’s a daunting task due to the variety of our schools. IHSPA represents some schools with fewer than 100 students in four grades and others with more than 4,000. We include public and private institutions, rural and urban. Some of Indiana’s journalism programs were established 100 years ago while others are building or rebuilding.

The board tries to consider the variety of needs as we plan programs and services. We always appreciate feedback for current programs and suggestions. Our next big event is the First Amendment Symposium at the Statehouse March 3, 2009. The finalists for Indiana High School Journalist of the Year will be introduced and the recipient of this honor will at announced in addition to essay and First Amendment Project winners. We hope many schools will plan to attend and participate in this year’s symposium.

Regional workshops and seminars are smaller events planned to help publication staffs benefit from programs within their geographical area. J-Ideas and IHSPA co-sponsored a Scholastic Partnership Seminar for Fort Wayne schools on December 5. We have others planned for second semester. Anyone interested in an opportunity for a regional workshop should contact me for information.

One of the most important things we can do is communicate with each other to share concerns and ideas. The better we connect the more IHSPA can help everyone. I look forward to hearing from you.

National Election '08 With A Hoosier Twist

Hoosier journalism students should be listed among the winners when the 2008 election process comes to an end today

As Indiana became a battleground state during the primary for the first time in 40 years, high school reporters made it their story too; and they have continued to cover it for their publications and Web sites as candidates have made dozens of campaign stops throughout Indiana.

The effort to share photos with each other has been fun, and it has created a service among our members that we may want to expand for other areas of coverage.

I am still collecting PDFs of campaign coverage for an overall story about theN coverage. We will try to post as many as we can on the IHSPA Web site.

Jim Streisel says Carmel High School’s HiLite staff will be doing live coverage through election evening on the HiLite Web site: http://www.hilite.org

Congratulations to everyone who has worked to inform students about the issues and encourage them to take part in the democratic process.

Catch Convention Highlights Online

We plan for so long, and it passes so quickly.

I’m sure the IHSPA board agrees that there just wasn’t enough quality time to visit with several hundered students and colleagues at the annual convention at Franklin College last week.

Those who were unable to attend are invited to see photos from the event and learn more about a variety of activities including a First Amendment license plate initiative by the Lake Central High School Publication Department. Slide shows, Hoosier Star winners, judge's commentary, Harvey winners and On-Site winners are all featured on the IHSPA Web site so don't miss the opportunity to review these highlights.

Advisers will want to access information about the new Journalism Career Pathway from either the Department of Education or IHSPA Web sites.

We have appreciated e-mail feedback from several people already, but we hope you also will complete an on-line survey. Many of the changes that people liked about this convention were suggestions from last year’s survey.

Mark calendars for the First Amendment Symposium on March 3 at the Indiana Statehouse. In the months between check out possibilities for regional workshops. J-Ideas and IHSPA have tentative plans for another Scholastic Partnership for advisers, administrators and editors in the Fort Wayne area at the end of November. Anyone interested in attending the Fort Wayne seminar or hosting one in another area of the state should contact Warren Watson, J-Ideas Director, (wwatson@bsu.edu) or Diana Hadley (dhadley@franklincollege.edu).

Preparing For Our "Chelsea" Moment

Chelsea Schneider, 2004 Indiana Student Journalist of the Year, says she can’t wait to come home for her “favorite holiday,” the IHSPA State Convention.

First as a Warren Central High School student, then a Franklin College journalism major/IHSPA assistant, and now as a session leader representing the Arizona Republic, Chelsea represents many who look forward to an annual gathering at Franklin College. My office is a reflection of Chelsea’s holiday comparison. There are boxes of awards, bags and bag stuffers, table decorations, and lists of things yet to do before everyone converges next week for the 87th annual gathering at Franklin College.

Registrations went over the 500 mark early last week to prove that despite limitations on field trips and finances, advisers still think it’s important to bring students to an event where they can learn new things, share ideas, and celebrate successes. As I look at the session topics, I wish that I could attend them. I think students will enjoy the leaders and their approach to a variety of journalistic areas and issues, and I think advisers will be energized by several initiatives that will be presented at the adviser business meeting/luncheon.

Must go…things to do…see you soon!

McCain and Obama Photos Available

In addition to the Obama photos available through our IHSPA photo service, Sarah Bumbalough, a junior on the Richmond High School Pierian staff, has sent photos of John McCain and Sarah Palin (see photo above) that she took when McCain announced Palin as his running mate at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Anyone who wants to use them for the price of Sarah’s photo credit (including her staff and school) can contact me. I hope all staffs will send PDFs of their special election coverage for our Web site and articles about Indiana high school newspaper reporting.

Y'ike's, Convention Deadlines Extended

It was strange to be in a part of the state that Ike didn’t smack last week and still feel like a part of the disaster as advisers sent e-mails and frantic calls about IHSPA deadlines.

In an effort to make IHSPA a user-friendly service, we’ve extended deadlines. However, I’m hoping to send all Harvey entries to judges by Thursday, so anyone who has sent entries that might be stuck in snail mail should feel welcome to contact me to verify arrival.

Despite the weather and field trip challenges, the number of convention registrations is higher than the last couple of years at this point. We’re looking forward to good weather and a great couple of days with all of you as the convention features its usual variety of sessions, keynoter Gary Varvel and some new in-depth opportunities.

Advisers who want to take the CJE/MJE test at the convention should contact me so that we can plan for the correct number. We also need registrations of the Thursday night on-site contests as soon as possible.

The Poynter Web site has an article about our partnership with the Indiana Department of Education that has created a Career Pathway for English/Language Arts that emphasizes journalism as a driving force. Dr. Mary Andis will describe the particulars of this program at the convention’s adviser meeting.

First Amendment Seminar Successful

High school administrators, publications editors and advisers representing six Indiana high schools met last Friday at the Ball State Center in Indianapolis to participate in the Scholastic Partnership for the First Amendment seminar co-sponsored by J-Ideas and the Indiana High School Press Association.

Finding a time when such busy people could meet was a challenge, but those who attended provided focus, energy, and good humor that helped them work together through a day of information, discussion and planning sessions for their schools.

The goal was to form partnerships between high school student media and administration. Uninterrupted time to share ideas about school missions and the benefits of student voice gave participants the opportunity to compare concerns about high school issues and develop strategies to communicate effectively before controversies arise.

Those of us who been to school board meetings and courtrooms where similar issues were discussed after controversial coverage evolved agreed that this was better.

Election Coverage

Clark and I had the opportunity to attend one of the smaller Barack Obama visits to Indiana when he spoke in Terre Haute last Saturday, Sept. 6. (One example is at right, but there are crowd shots too.) Anyone who wants to use any photos is welcome to do so with a Clark Hadley, IHSPA photo credit. Just contact me by e-mail.

It is likely that both parties will continue to court Indiana with visits over the next few weeks. Anyone who wants to provide other candidate or event photos to share with other student publications is welcome to do so. Be sure to give the photographer’s name, school, place of the event and date so that photo credits will be complete.

Keep sending examples of coverage as well. I would like to continue to showcase the great work our students are doing with this historic election and Indiana’s role in it.

Convention Brochure, Website Ready

I hope all IHPSA member schools have received a brochure that includes information about the IHSPA fall convention and other important events for 2008-09. Even though the brochure and convention forms are posted on the IHSPA Web site, I hope anyone who has not received the brochure, will contact me so that I can update addresses that need to be changed. (We are currently updating the IHSPA directory, so if any of your membership information is different this year, the sooner I receive it the more accurate the first posted document will be. We plan to update periodically throughout the year.)

The IHSPA board and I are excited about the changes for this year’s convention, and we think you will like them too since they came from your feedback. The final event should reflect the things most people liked about conventions past and ideas to make future ones reflect interests of all members.

Meetings regarding journalism standards have continued through the summer and are scheduled for the next couple of weeks. I will share updates on the Web site as soon as I have them.

All convention forms and other materials are available either at the link above or by clicking on the IHSPA Web Site here.

Where Did Summer Go?

It’s that time of year when teachers ask, “Where did the summer go?”

Along with the fact that summer breaks are shorter than they were just a few years ago, many journalism teachers use the “break” for additional professional experiences ranging from taking classes to teaching them, so the summer disappears in a whirlwind of activity.

Three Hoosier advisers participated as IHSPA summer interns. Since the program was initiated in 1992, 90 advisers have completed internships that provide a four-week paid professional experience. In addition to the traditional newspaper internship that Lori Volheim, Elkhart Memorial , completed at the South Bend Tribune, two of the advisers expanded the program to new areas. Meredith Bledsoe, adviser at Hamilton Southeastern, completed a photography internship at the Indianapolis Star, and Chad Tuley, adviser at Scecina High School, worked at WRTV Channel 6 in Indianapolis to add broadcasting to the opportunity.

We appreciate the Hoosier State Press Association’s continued support for the print and photography internships, and the Franklin College Pulliam School of Journalism for a commitment to the new broadcast internship.

Be sure to check the internship stories, audio clips and slide shows on the IHSPA Web site (http://ihspa.franklincollege.edu), and let us know if you’re interested in participating in the internship program next year.

I hope you have made preliminary plans for your staffs to attend the IHSPA convention at Franklin College October 16, 17. We have just completed program details, so a brochure about this year’s event called the “Convergention” will be sent at the end of next week. Information and forms are also available on the IHSPA Web site.

Dennis Cripe and I will post important information on the Web site frequently throughout the school year. Make sure that you let us know if your e-mail addresses change.

Good luck with the beginning of the year and communicate your successes and challenges.

Year-End Banquets Inspirational

Planning a publications banquet at the end of the year when life is crazy enough without another event is a real leap of faith. However, many advisers and their staffs continue to promote a final celebration of the year.

I have enjoyed attending several publications banquets in the last few weeks. It’s fun to see the different approaches and traditions the schools establish. Some provide a formal banquet, and others create a party theme. Some name one Journalist of the Year while others name an All-Star Publications Staff or Top Seniors.

Advisers and/or editors provide reviews of the year that speak volumes about the worth of the publications experience. Jeff Dick, editor in chief of the Muncie Central Munsonian, mentioned two specific events that had built the character of his staff. The first was very positive. The staff covered the Clinton and Obama rallies next to professional journalists and reported the events extensively with news, features and opinion pieces.

The other event was a computer catastrophe that forced the staff to recreate all of their established templates and documents. The two experiences provided a great comparison of the agony and ecstasy of high school publications and the overall feeling of accomplishment that all kinds of circumstances can provide.

At each banquet there were healthy amounts of teasing and praise, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the worth of an 8 ½ by 11 inch sheet of paper. It may only cost a few cents, but when that sheet becomes a certificate that honors excellence or dedication, it makes the transition to a priceless document. Parents nonchalantly whisk away tears, and most recipients modestly try to hide the joy they feel despite a pride that is difficult to conceal and wonderful to observe.

At each school the students thank the advisers who have made the publications experience possible, yet I doubt that they can fully imagine the effort involved.

Thanks to each of you for the commitment you make to scholastic journalism in general and the many students who benefit from your dedication.

Note: In the photo above, editors Elizabeth Munroe and Elizabeth Robins each thank Ryan Gunterman for his expertise and patience as adviser for all the Bloomington High School North publications. Robins presented him with a publication of “The Last Lecture.”

An End-of-Year Checklist

Most advisers have an “end of the year list” they depend on to check off things to be done before summer really begins. I hope your list includes these IHSPA items:

4Newspaper Harvey entries due June 6 (almost a week later than usual)

4Plans to attend the 2008 IHSPA “Convergention” at Franklin College, October 16-17.

4A Newspaper Harvey cover letter description and registration forms can be downloaded from the IHSPA Web site by clicking HERE or you can find the same forms by clicking the “Membership/Forms” button on the left side of the IHSPA Home Page.

Remember: Submissions should be limited to one entry per school per category.

For the first time, we are requesting that a CD of all the entries be submitted in addition to tear sheets so that winning entries can be posted and shared through other media with the best quality possible. This is a transition year for this request, so if you can’t send entries in both forms that is okay; but we appreciate the effort to make this improvement for sharing the best work of our students.

4We’re playing with the word “Convergention” for the IHSPA fall conference after reading the feedback from last year’s event. We think advisers and students will appreciate the tweaking to keep traditional favorites such as on-site contests and publication critiques as we add “coffee with a pro” and longer workshop opportunities in an effort to help staffs converge new ideas and technology.

Specific convention materials will be mailed at the end of the summer, but we hope you will reserve the Oct. 16-17 as an opportunity for your staff to elevate the enthusiasm of a new year.

Please report changes in contact information as we start posting the membership directory on the IHSPA Web site to help IHSPA “go green,” use financial resources most efficiently, and provide updated information.

I look forward to attending several schools’ publications banquets over the next couple of weeks. I hope you can all find time to enjoy some of the moments of celebration as the year concludes.

The Rock Star State

It’s fun to be part of a rock star state.

Indiana’s high school newspaper staffs have had the opportunity to cover a major national election story up close and personal for the first time since 1968, providing them with an incredible educational opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

In addition to news coverage, student journalists have written features and opinion articles with a variety of angles relevant to teenagers. They have taken their own photographs and created pages with striking graphics and designs. Bloomington High School North devoted an entire publication to the primary.

Thanks to both the Clinton and Obama campaign staffs, students have been welcome to attend the rallies and town hall meetings as journalists. Advisers say their students have enjoyed the process of obtaining press credentials, working beside professionals and even putting in the extra hours required to report breaking news.

While some staffs have endorsed a candidate on their editorial pages, others have simply urged students to study the issues and if they are old enough, vote. All who have participated will remember the experience long after their student newspaper days have passed.

Anyone interested in viewing some of their work is invited to view sample pages on the bottom of the IHSPA Web site. Click Here to go to IHSPA's Home Page.

Cripe Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Many of Dennis Cripe’s colleagues and family members gathered at DePauw University Saturday, April 12, to celebrate his induction into the Society of Professional Journalists’ Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.

SPJ recognized Dennis for his 37 years as a journalism educator who has taught a variety of courses for students and teachers and for his many contributions to the Indiana High School Press Association for the past 16 years promoting high school journalism programs and addressing First Amendment issues throughout the state.

The photo above was published as part of a special centennial edition of Dennis's family newspaper, The Review-Republican, in 1954. Dennis, lower left, wrote sports for the paper while his brother, Doug, was the paper's photographer. Dennis's grandfather bought the paper and his parents kept the weekly paper in the Cripe family for more than 50 years.

To read Dennis’s speech and see local news stories about the event, click the following links:

•Dennis's acceptance speech
•Additional coverage on the IHSPA Home Page

Symposium Takes Statehouse By Storm

Despite an ice storm that cancelled travel for many, almost 200 people attended the 2008 First Amendment Symposium at the Indiana Statehouse March 4. In addition to popular features introduced for the 2007 program, this year’s symposium recognized the finalists for Student Journalist of the Year and winners of the David Adams First Amendment Project competition.

It was wonderful to see so many students recognized for their successes at the nucleus of the state’s government.

David Ong, North Central High School, was selected as the 2008 Indiana High School Journalist of the Year; and Elizabeth Munroe, Bloomington High School North, was named first runner-up. The other finalists were Sophia Bairaktaris, Lake Central High School: Sarah Owens, Richmond High School; Whitney Smith, Floyd Central High School; and Shannon Veerkamp, Greenwood High School.

All finalists had the opportunity to meet each other and Governor Mitch Daniels prior to the program.

Lake Central High School publications staffs were awarded first place in the David Adams First Amendment Project competition. In addition to a special issue of the student newspaper that focused on the First Amendment, the staffs organized a school-wide T-shirt campaign to increase awareness and importance of the First Amendment. Profit from the T-shirt project was donated to the Student Press Law Center.

Bloomington High School North placed second in the David Adams contest with a special First Amendment edition of the North Star and a community forum about the First Amendment that included journalism and civic students from the Bloomington area.
Floyd Central placed third with a 16-page First Amendment publication; and Muncie Central received Honorable Mention for a continuing newspaper feature about the First Amendment headlined “Gimme 5.”

The amount of time and creativity staffs devoted to the First Amendment projects gave the new competition an impressive debut that honored David Adams’s support for student expression.

Symposium Is At YOUR House

The Indiana High School Press Association is celebrating the First Amendment again at your house—the Indiana Statehouse.

When the First Amendment Symposium debuted last year, the planners knew it had the potential to be a special event; but it was difficult to determine whether many people would attend something new and untested. It wasn’t hard to imagine 300 empty chairs and boxes of leftover programs and refreshments.

However, at 4:00 p.m. on March 6, 2007, approximately 300 high school students occupied most of the 300 chairs. Silence reflected the respect they felt in a special place for a special event as they watched Governor Mitch Daniels walk through the rotunda toward the North Atrium to share his thoughts with them about the importance of the First Amendment.

Leading with the governor set the bar high for the rest of the 2 ½ hour program, but everyone rose to the occasion to present awards, speeches, and tributes, that informed, entertained and inspired. At the end of the program, several people of varying ages described the experience with the same word—“Awesome.”

Consequently, there will be the First Amendment Symposium: the sequel. This year’s program has evolved with the same enthusiasm as last year’s event but with more confidence that people will attend. Popular segments including student speeches, essay contest presentations, and a panel of First Amendment/Scholastic Journalism professionals will return to the line-up; and two new elements will be added: First Amendment Project Awards and the announcement of Indiana’s Student Journalist of the Year.

This year’s First Amendment Symposium is March 4 from 4-7 p.m.; and once again it’s at your house, the Statehouse, an Indiana symbol of your responsibility to understand and protect your First Amendment.

Principal, Editors Seek Common Ground

A controversy about an article in the Franklin High School student newspaper took on a life of its own last week and became a major news story. Unlike similar situations where players have drawn a line in the sand, this time the student editors and the principal took a breath and met to discuss their differences and seek solutions.

Both the principal and the editors brought mutual respect and a commitment to listen and find common ground to the table. The result is a team effort to establish a process for covering controversial topics that includes a variety of credible sources and feedback without compromising the students’ freedom of expression.

The job isn’t finished, but the willingness to agree to disagree about some issues and still work together for a positive result is established.

The best educational moments are multifaceted. This was one of those moments. Everyone involved had the opportunity to explore the practical application of journalistic issues…and conflict resolution. The Johnson County Daily Journal has done a good job of covering this issue if you'd like to check it out.

Three Valentine's Day Wishes

I hope you will all use Valentine’s Day for three important things:

1. to enjoy a few chocolate hearts,
2. to select some award-winning essays to submit for the First Amendment Symposium competition and,
3. to collect Journalist of the Year portfolios

Make sure the portfolios are sent to me at IHSPA and postmarked by Friday, February 15. Send the essays as e-mail attachments to me by Friday, February 15. I will verify both when I receive them. Certificates and $100 will be presented to the winners of the essay contest at the First Amendment Symposium at the Indiana Statehouse March 4. (Anyone who has misplaced the directions can download them on the IHSPA Web site.)

The Student Journalist of the year will also be announced at the Symposium this year. The recipient will receive a plaque and $500; and the portfolio will be submitted to the JEA national competition.

One adviser told me that he doesn’t want to blame himself if he forgets to mail things I need from him, so he has decided to blame me. Therefore, think of this as your valentine reminder from someone who wants to help you meet deadlines and longs to hear from you and your students.

Other Exciting News from IHSPA

Dennis Cripe will be inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame on April 12 in the company of others who have made huge contributions to journalism in Indiana including Mike Ahern, longtime anchor at WISH. More about Dennis and the honor will appear on the Web site as soon as we can dig up photos of him in his parents’ print shop as a kid destined for journalistic success.

Textbook Adoption Reviews Available

Journalism teachers who are already overwhelmed with regular responsibilities (I think that would be everyone.) may be glad to hear that IHSPA officers Sarah Verpooten and Carrie Wadycki have coordinated an effort to provide advisers with reviews of several journalism textbooks to help teachers select books for adoption. Six reviews are available now; and others (including one by Jim Streisel, Carmel High School newspaper adviser) will be added as soon as we receive them.

In addition to the reviews, we have also provided a blank review sheet to copy for your own reviews. Anyone who has additional textbook suggestions or reviews is welcome to send them to me (dhadley@franklincollege.edu), Sarah Verpooten (sarahverpooten@hotmail.com) and/or Carrie Wadycki (no_1_teacher@hotmail.com).

Mass Media Standards
IHSPA representatives met with representatives from the Department of Education, Ball State University, Indiana University, J-Ideas, Franklin College, and the Indiana Association of High School Broadcasters, Thursday, January 24, to work on state mass media standards. We will share information about those standards and Journalism Core 40 as soon as info is available.

Important Dates
Remember that First Amendment essays and Student Journalist of the Year portfolios should both be sent to me at IHSPA, 101 Branigin Blvd, Franklin, IN 46131) by Feb. 15, 2008. The “Student Journalist of the Year” winner for Indiana will be forwarded to JEA.

First Amendment Symposium, March 4
The second symposium for the First Amendment will be March 4 from 4-7 p.m. at the Indiana Statehouse. Some schools are expanding to bring government or civics students. There is no fee or registration required, but letting me know you’re coming helps us plan.

New Year, New Deadlines

First, let me welcome you to my new blog. I hope the format will make communicating with members easier and perhaps stimulate ideas and comments about the IHSPA or about what is said here. The blog makes it easy to do so. You will see a link to my new blog on the IHSPA website.

It’s exciting to see the final details for the second IHSPA First Amendment Symposium coming together. A mailing that includes additional information about the program’s essay contest should arrive in schools next week. In the meantime, we hope you have marked March 4 from 4-7 p.m. as a special event to attend. There is no formal registration or fee, but if you let us know you’re coming it helps us calculate chairs and refreshments.

Also remember that the David Adams First Amendment Award and Hoosier Star newspaper critique deadlines are both due Jan. 25.

Student Journalist of the Year applications and First Amendment essays are both due Feb. 15.

Additional information and forms or brochures for all of these opportunities are posted on the Web site, but feel welcome to call or e-mail if you have additional questions.