Workshop Courses

The workshop curriculum features workshop courses for students working on broadcasts, newspapers, magazines, social media, yearbooks and websites. Each student remains in that class for the duration of the workshop.

The workshop will not provide laptops, cameras or equipment needed for the workshop courses or bonus classes.

To provide the best educational experience, each workshop course has a maximum enrollment and will be closed when that number is reached.

Care should be taken to select courses that match the experience level of each student. Some classes require laptops and other equipment essential for participation. Some classes are limited to just editors. There is also a course specifically for advisers.

Advisers: Adviser Course

Design: Beginning Publication Design, Advanced Publication Design, Visual and Graphic Storytelling

Digital: Social Media Reporting, Video Storytelling

Newspaper: Newspaper Boot Camp, Beginning Feature Writing, Advanced Feature Writing, Specialized Writing, Newsroom Editorial Leadership

Photography: Beginning Photography, Intermediate Photography, Advanced Photography

Yearbook: Yearbook Boot Camp, Yearbook Design and Concepts, Yearbook Theme Development

Advisers

Adviser Course 

This adviser-driven class runs all day like the student courses and develops skills and targets the specific needs of journalism educators and student media advisers. Past topics included timely issues like team building and recruiting ideas to skill-based topics like teaching reporting and ways to navigate copyright laws.

Advisers are welcome to attend both the adviser-only or student sessions. Advisers attending the student sessions will be asked to get signatures of the instructor in morning and afternoon sessions for state documentation. This form will be distributed at Monday afternoon’s session for all advisers. Those seeking professional development hours will receive a certificate of completion worth 24 hours credit. Advisers may earn graduate credit from Kent State University. Separate registration and payment is required.

Instructor: Kristi Rathbun

Design

Beginning Publication Design

This course prepares students for the world of publication design. Students will learn basic design principles, typography, color theory and layout techniques.

In addition, students will gain a basic understanding of Adobe InDesign software and how it applies to publishing yearbooks, magazines and newspapers. Students will also have some exposure to basic Adobe Photoshop skills and learn how to create basic cutouts, edit photos for exposure and resize images. Students will produce logos, modules, headline packages and layouts during the week.

Students should come prepared with Adobe InDesign installed on their computer. Access to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator is highly encouraged. Each student will need access to their own computer.

Instructor: Tucker Love

Advanced Publication Design

An intensive course in using verbal and visual elements for effective storytelling with a focus on content packaging, typography, white space, graphics and color. Readability will be the guiding principle. 

Experienced designers from print newspapers, magazines and yearbooks are encouraged to take this course if they wish to expand their skills and be pushed to master advanced techniques.

Students will produce prototype content including headlines, content modules and pages/spread for the publication they will work for in the fall.

Computer skills will not be taught in this course. Each student will need access to a computer containing the programs, files and fonts used at school and be able to use these tools. If a yearbook company online site is used, the student must have log-in information and full permission to use the site.

Instructor: Alyssa Boehringer

Digital

Social Media Reporting

Students will report, edit and produce content for social media platforms. As part of their practice, they will be immersed in theories, skills and techniques central to reporting breaking and longer-form news on social media and websites. Special attention will be given to developing digital skills using a mix of visual, audio and textual elements.

At the workshop, we will develop a digital reporting plan for students to take back to their schools as well as templates.

Students should bring laptops and tablets or phones. DSLR or mirrorless cameras with tripods are encouraged but not required.

Instructor: Clint Smith

Video Storytelling

Students will explore audio and visual storytelling through video production, with an expanded focus on social media video storytelling. The class will cover reporting, interviewing, videography, sequencing, and editing as students learn to create multimedia packages for online news, broadcasts, and social media platforms.

The workshop emphasizes storytelling through video production by practicing essential skills like reporting techniques, videography, audio, and editing. Participants will complete video stories and platform-specific projects to effectively connect with their target audience. 

Students should bring a camera, tripod, microphone and access to editing software on both their computers or personal devices. 

Additionally, the advanced workshop students will include leadership strategies for developing workflows, fostering staff dynamics and show production cycles to prepare students for success in their upcoming school year. Advanced students will also refine their on-camera as well as interview presence, focusing on voice projection, body language and delivery techniques to enhance their confidence and professionalism.

Instructor: Margie Raper

Visual and Graphic Storytelling

This course will immerse you in the magical world of visual storytelling. You will learn how to create photo illustrations that spark deeper thoughts and encourage readers to engage with the story. Develop charts and graphics that explain the story from a different perspective and bring life into your pages. Transform the monotony of newspaper/newsmagazine, website and yearbook pages with eye-catching showstoppers that captivate and provoke a reaction from your reader.

Knowledge of InDesign, Photoshop  and Procreate (on the iPad) is highly recommended, but the class will also cover the basics of these programs to create illustrations, graphics and photo illustrations.

Instructor: Ana Rosental

Newspaper

Newspaper Boot Camp

This course is designed for beginners who will get their first exposure to journalism while writing for their school paper. Instruction will focus on giving students skills to survive that first assignment and to become a meaningful contributor from the first deadline.

The class will focus on news gathering, interviewing, news writing techniques and other skills necessary to equip any top-notch school news reporter.

Instructor: Lisa Roskens 

Beginning Feature Writing

Master the feature story format with emphasis on leads and meaningful transitions. Explore the traditional feature story and personality profiles. Explore strategies for editing and revising. This course is appropriate for print, online and yearbook, including UIL competitors. 

Instructor: Lori Oglesbee 

Advanced Feature Writing

Explore alternative narrative forms beyond the traditional feature story. Strong emphasis will be placed on narrative style, voice and word choice. Students should have a strong portfolio of successful feature writing. This course is appropriate for yearbook, print and online.

Instructor: Bobby Hawthorne

Specialized Writing

This is an advanced class designed for the big-story reporter who is interested in in-depth reporting, strategic writing tools, multimedia/packaging tips and personal column writing. It will focus first on identifying local people, events and issues worthy of coverage, then explain the reporting process (research, interview, observation), then review the writing/editing process.

Instructor: David Knight, Scott Winter 

Newsroom Editorial Leadership

Whether you lead a print newspaper, online publication, broadcast program or some combination of these, this class prepares you to effectively guide your staff when school begins. Section editors and other leadership positions will benefit as well.

The instructor will guide students through discussions of coverage, idea generation, story-telling methods and issue-driven coverage, story development, creative design, increasing readership, and planning and production methods — all designed to make you a powerful leader.

Instructor: Corey Hale 

Photography

Beginning Photography

This class is aimed at photographers who are new to taking pictures for a school publication. Students will receive one-on-one help with the functions of their cameras. Featured topics include learning basic camera and exposure controls, effective composition, basic Photoshop skills, use of a basic flash and strategies for covering a variety of school assignments.

Instructors: Andrea Negri, Megan Ortiz

Intermediate Photography

This class is designed for the photographer who has experience taking photos. Instruction focuses on understanding camera operations metering, learning the rules of composition, improving shooting skills, making the most of everyday assignments and working on a publication. Students should have a good working knowledge of their digital cameras.

Instructor: Deanne Brown, Mitchell Franz

Advanced Photography

The advanced class is geared to the experienced student who has worked as a publication photographer for at least a year. This class will emphasize traditional storytelling skills and visual strategy.

Students will be exposed to using a digital camera meter in difficult lighting situations, overcoming common white balance issues and advanced compositional guidelines, developing effective photo assignments, covering assignment strategies, and image selection skills and the impact of a powerful crop. Students will also learn location lighting and flash techniques from simple to more advanced remote triggers. Students will also take part in a Photoshop ethical discussions and learn Photoshop tools and guidelines used by professional photojournalists set forth by the National Press Photographers Association.

Instructors: Wade Kennedy, Mike McLean

Yearbook

Yearbook Boot Camp

Created for rookies, this course will prepare students to be contributing members of the staff on the first day of school. Among the topics to be covered are yearbook terminology, parts of the spread, creative coverage topics, sources and interviewing techniques and basic design. Students will also be taught skills for writing traditional and alternative copy, headlines and captions as well as basic photo composition. One section of the Yearbook Boot Camp course will be exclusively for junior high/middle school students.

Instructors: Charla Harris, Cindy Todd, Justin Turner

Yearbook Design and Concepts

This class is for staffers who want to learn everything to make a great spread — from conception to completion.

The class will cover all aspects of yearbook design, including photo presentation, stories, captions, sidebars and headlines. Software will not be a part of the instruction. Students will need to furnish their own computers and  have a solid working knowledge of the design program their school uses.

Instructor: Leland Mallett

Yearbook Theme Development

Up to five students per school may enroll in this advanced class for staff leaders who want to learn strategies for enhancing the quality of their yearbook concept and leading their staff through the process. The class covers all aspects of yearbook production, including theme development, design, storytelling, photo packaging, captions, sidebars, headlines and staff leadership. Students will need to furnish their own computers and have a solid working knowledge of the design program their school uses.

Instructors: Martha Akers, Susan Massy, Becky Tate