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.