2020 Coaching Tracks
For students participating in the Coaching option, we offer time-tested tracks that prepare you for the year ahead.
Workshop enrollments will determine final Coaching tracks and instructors.
Advisers
Instructor: Rebecca Pollard
Adviser-driven sessions will help develop skills and target specific needs for those attending — from timely issues like remote reporting and COVID-19 to skills-based topics like media room culture and ways to navigate copyright law.
Advisers are welcome to attend both the adviser-only or student sessions.
Those seeking professional development hours will receive a certificate of completion.
Newspaper: Boot Camp
Instructor: Jeanne Acton
Newspaper Boot Camp is designed for staffers who will get their first exposure to journalism while writing for their school paper.
This session will focus on giving students skills to survive that first assignment and to become a meaningful contributor from the first deadline.
The instructor will focus on news gathering, interviewing, news writing techniques and other skills necessary to equip any top-notch school news reporter.
Newspaper: Editors
Instructor: Corey Hale
Newspaper Editorial Leadership is designed to help prepare incoming editors, both print and online, to lead their respective staffs when school begins.
The instructor will guide students through discussions of newspaper 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 whose newspaper is valued – read and enjoyed – by your school community.
The class is primarily geared for editors-in-chief and managing editors, but section editors will benefit as well.
Online Publications
Instructor: Jennifer DeLafuente
Students will learn about publishing stories for the web and mobile storytelling. They will produce an original story during the workshop, writing, shooting photos or video, and doing all their reporting using just a mobile phone.
Students will also learn basic code (HTML and CSS) and create their own webpage for their story.
We’ll also talk about storytelling techniques for social media, online tools you can use to create maps, graphics, or other simple interactive content, and tips on how to do more on the web.
Photography: Beginning to Intermediate
Instructors: Mitchell Franz, Clint Smith, Jeff Tuttle
Beginning photography 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.
Intermediate Photography is designed for the photographer who has publications experience. Instruction will be focused towards 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. The class will take workshop-provided transportation on a field trip to shoot photo stories.
Photography: Advanced
Instructors: Mike McLean, Wade Kennedy
This virtual version of the advanced class is geared to the experienced student who has worked as a publication photographer for a year or more. 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.
The online version of the advanced photography class includes an exclusive GSW special guest appearance by award-winning photographer Louis DeLuca with discussions on the best tips and tricks for capturing award-winning storytelling images.
Publication Design
Instructors: Charla Harris, Gary Lundgren, Sherri Taylor
Publication Design is an intense course in combining type and image for effective storytelling.
Instructors will cover packaging for storytelling, typography for readability and creativity, and effective use of visuals and color usage as ways to bring great coverage alive through strong design. Students will produce a feature coverage package for the publication they will work for in the fall.
This is an advanced course and students should have a solid knowledge of Adobe InDesign.
Publication Writing
Instructors: Bobby Hawthorne, Lori Oglesbee-Petter, Scott Winter
Publication Writing 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.
Strong emphasis will be placed on narrative, voice, style, interpretation and the use of literary devices.
Yearbook: Beginning
Instructors: Leland Mallett, Margie Raper
Created for yearbook rookies, this boot camp 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 be drilled in writing traditional and alternative copy, headlines and captions.
Yearbook: Theme Development
Instructors: Alyssa Boehringer, Becky Tate, Cindy Todd
This class is for yearbook staff leaders who want to learn strategies for enhancing the quality of their yearbook concept and leading their staff through the process.
The class will cover all aspects of yearbook production, including theme development, design, storytelling, photo packaging, captions, sidebars, headlines and staff leadership.
Students will need to have a solid working knowledge of the design program their school uses in addition to access to the software.
Video
Instructors: Don Goble, Jim McCarthy
Beginning video is designed for entry-level students with photography experience. We will cover video reporting basics, including story structure, story planning, sequencing basic shots, sound design, and editing workflow. Students will produce an original story by the end of the course.
Advanced video will cover advanced reporting techniques and story structure, videography, sound design, lighting, editing workflow, and ultimately produce multiple stories, which will be published online. We will also discuss effective ways to build staff leadership and plan for your upcoming school year.
Gloria Shields/NSPA Media Workshop
National Scholastic Press Association • info@studentpress.org • 612-200-9254