NSPA and JEA consider Mr. Savage’s use of harsh language and profanity to be inappropriate and offensive to many in attendance. This is not what our organizations expected. In his attempt to denounce bullying, Mr. Savage belittled the faith of others – an action that we do not support. Ridicule of others’ faith has no place in our programs, any more than ridicule of the LGBT community would.

Student journalism, like professional journalism, is built on the foundation of free speech. It should not shy away from controversial topics and viewpoints. But it should promote and engage in civil discourse. Mr. Savage’s speech fell short of that standard, and for this our organizations apologize.

Mr. Savage has also apologized for using inappropriate language in front of the convention audience.

The two organizations will review their procedures to assure the appropriateness of content to student audiences.

I. President Mark Newton calls the meeting to order at 8 a.m.

II. Roll call:

Present: Mark Newton, president; Sarah Nichols, vice president; Lori Oglesbee-Petter, secretary; Jack Kennedy, past president; Sandra Coyer, Region 1 director; Carrie Faust, Region 2 director; Gary Lindsay, Region 3 director; Wayna Polk, Region 4 director; Brenda Gorsuch, Region 5 director; Rod Satterthwaite, Region 6 director; Jane Blystone, Region 7 director; Kim Green, certification commission chair; Norma Kneese, multicultural commission chair; John Bowen, scholastic press rights commission chair; Tom Gayda, development and curriculum commission chair; Anita Marie Wertz, junior high/middle school commission chair; Bradley Wilson, Communication: Journalism Education Today editor; Candace Bowen, JEA Listserv; Julie Dodd, scholastic press association directors; Linda Barrington, mentors; Logan Aimone, NSPA; Aaron Manfull, digital media committee; Sharon Tally, headquarters; Jill Chittum, National PLC committee chair; Kelly Furnas, executive director.

III. Approval of the minutes

Sandra Jacoby, 2nd: Stan Zoeller

IV. Reports

Summary of board action – Lori Oglesbee

Explanation of the National Quiz Bowl

Mark explained the forming of the new standing committee on the Common Core/P21, Candace Bowen will chair

Lori Oglesbee-Petter requested volunteers for the Position Statement Committee

Mentoring Committee – Linda Barrington and Julie Dodd (fifth year and in 15 states; Yesterday had a full day of training; three new mentors

Scholastic Press Rights Committee – John Bowen (state legislation model guidelines; panic button explanation)

Outreach Commission – Norma Kneese (9 people came for the Outreach Academy)

Local Committee – Steve Matson

San Antonio Covention – Rhonda Moore

Digital Media Committee meeting – Aaron Manfull

NCTE liason – Brian Wilson (If any members are going to NCTE in Las Vegas, contact Brian)

JOY Committee – Wayna Polk (14 judges and 37 entries) Members are invited to join the judges panel.

National Journalism PLC – Jill Chittum (Open invitation to join and become a part of one)

State directors – Sarah Nichols

Headquarters Reports – Kelly Furnas

• Attendance: 2,946 as of three days ago, expecting 3,200 delegates
• Convention Hotel: Attrition rates from cancelled rooms. Kelly and Logan contacted members with multiple room bookings and ask that they finalize their numbers early and release unneeded rooms to put back in the block. It worked.
• Finances: Reports distributed as members entered.
• Webmaster is here: Arthi Subramanian
• Adviser Institute – Las Vegas this summer

Motion: Linda Barrington makes a motion to commend Steve Matson and the local committee for their outstanding work. 2^nd Jane Blystone. Motion carries

V. New business

VI. Adjournment Stan Zoeller; 2^nd Kim Green

JEA President Mark Newton with the 2012 High School Journalist of the Year Kelsey Bell of Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles, Mo.

During the past school year, hundreds of high school journalists throughout the country worked hours to complete their portfolios for state Journalist of the Year contests, and the 37 state winners were recognized in the April 15 awards ceremony at the conclusion of the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle.

“All of us on the Scholarship Committee and the JEA Board are so appreciative of the hard work evident in the winning portfolios and applaud the student winners and their advisers on achieving this prestigious recognition,” said Wayna C. Polk, scholarship committee chair.

When the final results were announced, Kelsey Bell of Missouri was named as the 2012 National High School Journalist of the Year. Bell will receive a $5,000 Sister Rita Jeanne Abicht scholarship as part of her recognition from the Journalism Education Association.

Six other state winners, Aiste Zalepuga of Florida, Christian Rumscheidt of Texas, Sarah Darby of Kansas, Beatriz Costa-Lima of Indiana, Christopher Haubursin of California and Carlo Nasisse of Georgia, were selected as the runners-up for the award. Each will receive a $2,000 scholarship from JEA.

Named in honor of JEA’s longtime treasurer, Sister Rita Jeanne Abicht, the scholarships recognize some of the top high school journalists in the country. Portfolios are judged at the spring national JEA/NSPA convention and scholarship funds are paid directly to the recipients in honor of their work on scholastic media.

The competition this year attracted dozens of entries in some states and none in others. When the state JOY portfolios were perused by the 14 members of the scholarship committee in Seattle, members were impressed with the depth of journalistic writing contained in the entries and the technological advances of the entries.

Following are some of the judges’ comments:

2012 Journalist of the Year
Kelsey Bell
Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles, Mo.
Adviser: Aaron Manfull

Kelsey Bell : JOY Portfolio

Kelsey Bell really did not want to follow in her sister’s footsteps by enrolling in a high school journalism class, but her mother forced her to. By the end of her first semester Kelsey began to see things differently and discovered she liked being a storyteller.

Kelsey’s story at Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, Mo., is one that has affected everyone on her campus. She has served in every capacity on the North Star news magazine since she entered that beginning journalism class four years ago and her design capabilities and storytelling skills have earned awards and recognition for herself and her school.

About Kelsey’s submission, the judges said:
“The design and visual presentation is excellent. Cyber awareness is strong and thorough.”

“This student has an impressive use of innovative technology.”

“This kid has a sense of humor.”
“This portfolio is a risk in both journalism and a portfolio, but it succeeds at both.”

“This entry includes a use of all things visual — from photography, art direction, to font and design choices, to color and thematic design.”

Kelsey’s ability to tell stories helped to set her entry apart from the others. She can write, she can design and she can coach others to follow her direction to project a clear message to her readers.

“I loved generating content for the paper, but as I progressed through my junior year I found myself actually creating things less and less. Instead of taking the ideas and making them happen, I was coming up with ideas and helping my staff do the best they possibly could to make their work happen,” Kelsey said in her self-analytical essay.

While Kelsey has continued to evolve as a media specialist, she has learned that her responsibilities to her readers, and to herself, helped improve her skills.

“I’ve learned what it means to work with a team. I’ve learned what qualities a good leader needs. I’ve learned to keep an open mind,” Kelsey said, “and I’ve learned no matter how hard I tried to be different than my sister, I ended up just like her.”

Runner-up for Journalist of the Year
Aiste Zalepuga
St. Stephen’s Episcopal High School, Bradenton, Fla.
Adviser: Nadia Watts

Throughout the years of this competition, we have had students who impacted others’ lives on their campuses in a big way. We have seen entries that challenged censorship, stood against leaders who were stubborn, and yet these students stood firm and made a difference in their community. Aiste did all that and much, much more.

Comments from the judges included:

“The self analysis is the BEST one I have ever read.”
“The international coverage in this entry is thorough and impressive.”
“This entry included quality community work and work far beyond the Florida area.”

The essay in this entry grabbed our emotions, our hearts and encouraged us to want to read each word in the packet. Aiste is more than involved on her campus; she is involved with her heritage, her founders and another country. She has interviewed diplomats, policymakers, and according to her adviser, all for the sake of her Lithuanian culture.

Aiste ended her essay remembering an interview where the subject said to “Never forget to dream.”  We think she is going to realize all of her dreams as a journalist.

Runner-up for Journalist of the Year
Christian Rumscheidt
Cypress Falls High School, Houston, Texas
Adviser: Lisa Van Etta

This entry was absolutely incredible. Pure and simple. One-of-a-kind and indicative of previous entries from this program.

Christian’s entry was submitted digitally on an iPad and included an instructional video for the judges on how to navigate the entry. It was well designed, easy to navigate and contained newspaper and yearbook stories and designs, live broadcasts and some great photography.

The judges had these comments about this entry:

“The range of experience using media simply astounds me.”
“Incredibly impressive portfolio. This was a pleasure to read, evaluate and experience.”
“This entry is setting the standard for others to follow. It is going to be interesting for other journalists to compete with this type of entry.”

Christian’s work indicates he is on the cutting edge of interactive digital communications and is the kind of journalist we will see in the future. He has also designed an app for his school for campus communications.

Runner-up for Journalist of the Year
Sarah Darby
Mill Valley High School, Shawnee, Kan.
Adviser: Kathy Habiger

Sarah has a vision and is really good at pursuing that vision. This student’s vision helped to create a new publication at the school and she was responsible for helping the publications win awards in every competition in which they have entered.

Some of the judges’ comments include:

“This entry contained a nice variety of media — solid program and a solid entry.”

“Attractive portfolio — easy to read.”

“Your explanations about each selection were helpful and elevated this entry to the top.”

Known on her campus as “the journalism girl” Sarah has established herself as someone who can be trusted  to cover what is important to her school and her peers.

Her adviser says Sarah knows the most precious right a journalist, or a citizen, has is the right to express ideas and opinions.

Sarah has big dreams for her future as a journalist. The committee believes she will achieve each of those dreams.

Runner-up for Journalist of the Year
Beatriz Costa-Lima
Munster High School, Munster, Ind.
Adviser: Rebecca Hoyle

Beatriz “Bia” Costa-Lima is a force to be reckoned with at Munster. A student leader, this student cares deeply about the school and publications.The entry was well designed, easy to navigate and contained newspaper, yearbook stories, designs and some great photography.

The judges said this about this state winner:

“After reading this essay, I felt as though I knew this student.”

“Entry is well designed and the writing and photos are exceptional.”

“This submission has included quality reasons on each example and it is no wonder this student has won awards.”

According to Bia’s essay, “My friends think I am out of my mind to give up every ounce of free time in the creation of our student newspaper.”

The committee feels the work in this self-proclaimed “journalism nerd’s” submission was exceptional.

Runner-up for Journalist of the Year
Christophe Haubursin
Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, Calif.
Adviser: Michelle Balmeo

Christophe produced a beautiful portfolio. He is a phenomenal writer, has an eye for design and is the sort of student advisers want on every staff.

A few of the comments from the judges included:

“Great visuals in this entry. Your design skills are awesome!”
“Your personal essay was well written and passionate.”
“This entry has a good visual sense and feature orientation.”

Being in a journalism class motivate this student to achieve.

“Here was an occupation fueled by creativity and diligence, where art in both image and language had a practical application with a massive audience,” Christophe wrote in his essay. “Nothing else I experienced in high school offered such gratification.”

One of the attributes Christophe’s adviser, Michele Balmeo, appreciates is his ability to walk into the classroom each day and look for something new to learn.

“His combination of skill and instinct make him a fabulous journalist,” Balmeo wrote in her letter of recommendation, “and after four years, he continues to push himself each day.”

Runner-up for Journalist of the Year
Carlo Nasisse
Clarke Central High School, Athens, Ga.
Adviser: David A. Ragsdale

This scholarship winner has worked on a variety of publications and the judges felt that was notable. Carlo has won awards on the state, regional and national level and is a student leader at Clarke Central High School.

Some of the judges’ comments include:

“You are a great storyteller with your photos.”
“This student has an acute awareness and deep emotion in his writing.”
“I believe this student could use his photography as an in-depth storytelling device in all areas of his campus publications.”

Carlo believes he is a visual storyteller and his fascination with the world motivates him as a storyteller.

According to his adviser, David Ragsdale, Carlo is a can’t-miss kid. The judges on the JOY committee agree and know Carlo will continue telling stories as he pursues his education.

State Winners

Additional entries in the national JOY competition included these state winners:

Runners-up were Alyssa Fasolo of Altonna (Pa.) Area Junior High School, and  Savannah Smith, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Louisville, Ky.

Members of the JEA Junior High/Middle School Commission reviewed the students’ portfolios and made the selections.

This award encourages junior high/middle school students to continue with their journalistic studies in high school. The winner and runners-up received a certificate for their achievements.

Veronica Gordo

Nativity School, Hollywood, Fla.

Veronica Gordo

Veronica is editor-in-chief of The Knightly News at Nativity School. She has also been assistant editor and a reporter for the newsmagazine.

In her introductory letter, Veronica wrote, “I find that no matter where I look there is a story to be found, and I see that it is my job to tell it.”

In her free time, Veronica writes poetry, short stories and a book that she hopes to publish one day.

Her adviser, Lynn Moore, writes. “She represents the finest in today’s band of backpack journalists as she is unafraid to grab her pen, cellphone and camera and craft a story on the spot.”

2012 JEA Aspiring Young Journalist Runner-up

Alyssa Fasolo

Altoona (Pa.) Area Junior High School

Alyssa Fasolo

Alyssa is a writer, photographer and blogger for the Maroon and White Gazette at Altoona Area Junior High School. She has also worked on the online newspaper “The Livewire.”

An honor student and softball player, Alyssa is a member of the honor society, string ensemble and orchestra.

“The main quality that contributes to Alyssa’s success is her positive attitude,” writes her adviser, Wanda Pletcher. “She believes she is capable of anything and tries to impart that positive attitude to everyone she encounters. She doesn’t allow the stress of her rigorous academic schedule to interfere with her positive attitude. Her smile brightens my room.”

2012 JEA Aspiring Young Journalist Runner-up

Savannah Smith

Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Louisville, Ky.

Savannah Smith

Savannah is the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. As a seventh grader, she was editor-in-chief of the school yearbook, Revolution.

She plans to continue her studies in communication in high school and later at Western Kentucky University.

Savannah wants to become a print journalist and work her way up to an editor position. One day she hopes to publish her own magazine.

Savannah’s adviser, Margaret Mattingly, writes, “She is always ready to lend a helping hand, volunteers for extra assignments and is very reliable.”

Attendance:

Before the meeting, Stan, Norma and Judith briefly discussed the website, and whether it would be hosted by JEA and whether we would add our information to their site or launch our own which is ready and link to their site, and whether other committees who had developed their own sites were paying for them and if it was in their budget. We are waiting to hear back from Kelly Furnas and Arthi Subramanian about whether JEA can host our site or not.

The meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. A list of attendees and emails is at the bottom of this document.

Old Business:

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

Norma Kneese said that the Diversity Awards would be presented at the noon luncheon to Arrow Newsmagazine, Renton High School, of Renton, Wash.; and second place to J Camp sponsored by AAJA in San Francisco. Kneese said that there has been a lot of revamping through JEA and the new board and the board wants the people giving the awards to also be the ones presenting them. Therefore, she will present the awards at the adviser luncheon on Saturday, April 14.

The mentoring committee asked the Multicultural Commission to create a Diversity Model and present it to previous and new mentors, with the presumption that they will incorporate the model into their mentoring. Kneese presented this at the convention.

New Business:

Outreach will continue this fall in San Antonio and also in San Francisco in June. Stan Zoller said the Outreach programs were back to back for the ease of the faculty, who would travel from one to the other. Zoller will be the person in San Antonio and Steve O’ Donoghue will be the one in San Francisco, with Linda Shockley traveling to both. Zoller pointed out that Shockley’s expenses of airfare and hotel accommodations are being paid by the Dow Jones News Fund as part of its multicultural initiative. Zoller said he is rounding up Texas teachers to help present at the Outreach in San Antonio. Zoller said he felt there was not enough lead time for planning and that it would be helpful to have dates and locations decided by the fall semester before Outreach. Last year in Minnesota there were 11 participants, and one who came in a day early who had been advising for 13-14 years.

As the coffers are tightening at JEA, Zoller pointed out that it would be good if we can provide the board with outcomes. How many new members do we have as a result of our initiatives? What is the purpose? Where is the bang for the buck? There should be more committees involved. We should go into the middle schools. We need to be working with each other. Zoller said that we are going to go from convention city to convention city, and suggested that instead of a full three days we go to 2 ½ days. He pointed out that advisers in the spring are advanced ahead of advisers in the fall because they have already gone through the year. Zoller said the Multicultural Commission has to work on having more follow up – kind of like an outreach mentor. He also pointed out that it would be a good idea to cast a wider net, and target advisers in the region instead of just in the host city. Kathy Schrier, who chaired the outreach initiative in Seattle, pointed out that they did bring in an adviser from Montana. Zoller pointed out that we are distributing the information to people that are already a part of JEA and suggested that we also get mailing lists from other organizations as well as post on the NCTE Listserv, and that we purchase school lists of high schools and middle schools within 300 miles (6 hours’ drive) of the convention site and send out membership, outreach and convention information to every administrator.

Zoller came with five proposals for restructuring Outreach, which are attached to the bottom of these minutes. Members briefly discussed them, but seemed most agreeable to proposals four and five. Zoller also mentioned using the JEA Advisers Institute to begin Outreach Academy, except in reverse order – that we bring the participants first to the convention for training, then find out what difficulties they are experiencing, then bring them to the Advisers Institute where they can get help with their specific problems.

Kneese said there was still a need for some restructuring.

Outreach Academy ideas

Stan Zoller, MJE
1448 Camden Court
Buffalo Grove, Ill. 60089
(847) 883-8801
SEZoller@Gmail.com

To: Mark Newton, MJE
From: Stan Zoller, MJE
Re: Outreach Academy ideas

As we have discussed, the Outreach Academy is an outstanding program and resource to both current and prospective JEA members.
However, as noted by JEA staff and Board Members, changes are needed so that the initiative is more cost effective, reaches more JEA members and potential members, as well as meeting specific Board goals and objectives.
This is merely an outline and brief discussion of possibilities for the Academy. I will present a more detailed report to the Multicultural Commission at its meeting in Seattle.
There are, I believe, there are several options for the Outreach Academy. However, none will be practical without the following:

A clear definition of goals, objectives and outcomes from the Board. Does the Board want:
•  Increased membership retention?
•     Increased new members?
•     Attract advisers of specific demographics?
•     Enhance services to existing members?

The identification of goals will help the Academy be more quantifiable in not only how it is implemented, but also where and to whom it targeted. Specific board-established targets will enable the Multicultural Commission and Outreach Academy Cadre to produce a more goal- oriented and cost effective program.

Active support and involvement from:
•  Other Board Committees and Commissions, specifically:
  1. Development and Curriculum
  2. Junior High / Middle School
•     Regional Directors
•    State Directors
•  JEA Headquarters staff

Any initiative requires strong partnerships, whether they are internal or external. This is especially true for the Outreach Academy. Currently, the Cadre works closely with a contact person in the host city. These coordinators have done outstanding work on behalf of JEA. However, the local coordinator should have the assistance of a staff person at JEA to assist in budgetary and logistical matters as needed.    It’s not unusual for the local contact to be a full- time teacher. With the advent of the summer program, time becomes a valuable commodity. The 2011 summer academies were fortunate to have the support of NSPA staff and the University of Minnesota Journalism School for the Minneapolis program, and the Washington JEA for the Seattle area academy.
Specific goals, as previously noted, will be the key to the success of the Outreach Academy program. It is therefore imperative that the Multicultural Commission and the Outreach Academy cadre have support from other Board functions. The cooperation of and interaction with state and regional directors is imperative. They are the point persons for the area where the Academy will take place. This is a golden opportunity to reach out to existing members and potential members by offering them to take advantage of one of JEA’s more unique programs. Ideally, state directors can be a conduit to scholastic activity organizations that have access to public and, in some cases, private high schools.

In Illinois, for example, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has 867 member schools throughout the state. By purchasing mailing information from the IHSA, the JEA could reach schools in outlying areas that may never have heard of JEA. In addition to the IHSA, the Illinois Elementary School Association has member junior and middle high schools throughout the state. This could be an excellent opportunity for JEA to capture junior and middle school teachers for not only the Academy, but also Junior and Middle School media as JEA members. However, to achieve some of the above goals and objectives, I think the entire design and implementation of the Outreach Academy need to be reviewed and addressed.
The following are some options that we may want to look at:

Option #1: Leave the program as it is
Pro: The 2 1⁄2 day summer program gives the teaching cadre the opportunity to provide participants intensive instruction during the summer that enables them to hopefully use information in planning for the upcoming school year. The extended time also gives participants the chance to do some hands-on work that can be evaluated by the cadre. Hosting the program in convention cities gives the Multicultural Commission a “target market” from which to attract participants. The convention “reunion” gives the cadre the opportunity to address problems and questions that participants have encountered in the classroom during the school year.
Con: The current program’s logistics work against the success of the program. Using Board determined goals, which includes enhancing membership, there are limited opportunities to attract from a wide base of potential members.    Hosting the program only in the convention city, its appeal is to those advisers who live in reasonable proximity to the convention site. Since 2005, when the Outreach Academy program began, it has been somewhat difficult attracting advisers from the host city. This has been a challenge whether the Academy was in its original one-day convention-based format, or in the summer format started in 2011. Interestingly, the numbers were higher during the single-day format than they were over the initial summer program. There is no clear data as to why this occurs. It could be that a summer program interferes with personal travel or advisers are not willing to make an extensive time commitment. Timing for announcing registration may also factor into a low turnout. In the first two years of the summer program, announcement and ensuing registration did not begin until after January first. Given teaching schedules, summer workshops, personal travel and the intense recruitment effort needed, this does not seem to be an adequate time scheduled, especially when the recruitment relies heavily on a coordinator in the host city, who is often a full-time teacher.

Option #2 – Revert back to the original format
Pro: The original format was an intensive one-day program held as a Thursday pre- convention conference. Numbers generally were good with between 18 and 30 advisers participating at most of the Outreach Academy. The single-day format gave participants, especially those who were not JEA members, an opportunity to meet JEA Board members and staff while also experiencing JEA programming.
Con: If the goal of the Outreach Academy is numbers-driven, this is an effective model. However, if the organization is interested in cultivating new members through resources and adviser support, the one-day program falls short.    A rapid-fire, day- long program offers advisers only a chance to view the tip of the ice berg with any substantive information to take back to their classroom. Evaluations repeatedly indicated that there was a desire and interest for more “hands-on” activities at the Academy when it was a single-day program. If it is decided to continue with a fall/spring convention based program, some consideration should be given to offering, schedule permitting, and additional time for the Outreach Academy during the conference, perhaps on Friday. However, given the array of breakout sessions, meetings and the write-off competition, there may not be adequate time or space to effectively provide additional instructional time for participants. Additionally, the problem of recruitment remains, especially if sub costs are an issue.

Option #3: Use the current program, but on a regional basis.
Pro: Maintaining the 2 1⁄2 day program would continue to provide potential members and new advisers the opportunity to get extensive hands-on training. However, rather than limit to the host city, have it in the host region. By having it in two regions, there a greater opportunity to reach out to advisers who may not otherwise have an opportunity to attend the Academy. The reality is that with the conferences being held, in “popular” cities, adviser living in areas away from convention cities would not, as noted, have the chance to attend. To make this model work, a location would need to have equal proximity for members. For example, if a convention was scheduled for Chicago, a centralized location in the North Central Region would show both new member advisers and potential advisers that the organization is not limited to convention cities and is truly “reaching out” to those advisers limited in proximity and ability to attend national conferences. Using Chicago as an example, a location within a day’s drive, or easy flight, of Chicago would not
only potentially attract more summer participants, but possible entice them to attend an easy-access convention. For example, in Region 3, a location in central Iowa or southern Minnesota, while not glamorous, could attract advisers from states that typically do not have high JEA participation. As always, advisers will be invited and encouraged to attend the national conference. Despite the distance, the exposure to JEA programming and resources could be an incentive for Academy participants to attend the conference. That, however, would require the unified efforts of the Multicultural Commission with other Board commissions and committees and JEA staff.
Cons: The issue of recruiting remains. A successful regional conference will require excessive coordination between all state directors and region directors. Also, a regional Academy would remove the allure of a commuter program as is one of the attractions to the current summer program. Cost for room and board would have to be covered by the participant or JEA. Participant-borne expenses would likely be a deterrent. However, the summer program does not require funding for substitute teachers. To make this concept a success, aggressive funding and/or partnerships are needed.

Option #4: Have the academy be part of the Summer Advisers Institute.
Pro: JEA is embarking on an aggressive 3 1⁄2 day summer conference. It has secured extremely competitive room rates and registration is reasonable. This would be an ideal environment to showcase JEA, its resources and programming opportunity by offering the Outreach Academy over the course of the Advisers Institute. In addition to intensive instruction (perhaps each morning), Academy participant will have the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions. In addition to getting a “feel” for JEA conferences, they will have an outstanding opportunity to network with advisers from across the country. In addition to the program, they will be able to earn continuing education credits at little or no cost to their school district. To attract a large number of advisers, underwriting for travel will need to be procured.
Con: While the summer advisers institute offers a centralized opportunity, there are roadblocks. First and foremost, as noted above, is the cost of travel. If JEA is committed to serving advisers who are new to education and are teaching in financially challenged districts – whether urban or rural – the organization cannot expect these districts or individual teachers to cover the cost of travel and registration. JEA needs to find support its outreach effort by supporting its participants. A logical first step is to waive the registration fee. Secondly, providing each participant a stipend to cover travel and hotel is in order. Finally, a one-year complimentary membership should be provided to each participant as enticement to continue their association with the organization.

Option #5: Reverse the procedure — Have the advisers come to the convention before the summer program to identify problems they have experienced during the current school year. Using this information, participants would receive instruction during the summer on how to “correct” these problems.
Pro: The biggest advantage to this option is that teachers would goal set and/or reflect (depending on which convention they come to) about their class and program. They would then attend the summer academy to learn how to improve those areas in which they felt deficient during the previous year. This would allow them to effectively plan for the upcoming school year by addressing weaknesses. Since participants will have already attended a national conference, two options for the summer instruction can be considered: a.) have regional academies or b.) reconvene at the summer advisers’ institute.
Con: Once again, costs are the main factor. If the expectation is that travel will be the same, the JEA will need to find a way to support the efforts of these advisers who are likely to come from financially strapped schools in rural and urban areas. At face value, the travel remains the same as Option 4 if the summer program is held at the advisers’ seminar. If the summer academy is held regional or in the host convention city, the issue of recruiting becomes more important as does the site where the academy is held.

In summary, as noted at the start of this memo, these are just ideas. There are financial strengths and weaknesses to all of them. The bottom line is this – what model, or combination thereof, gives JEA the best opportunity to not only reach the greatest number of advisers and potential members, but also have the greatest impact on the students of Outreach Academy participants. Travel, location and retaining Outreach Academy participants as members are key concerns, but so too is the impact on the students.

87 Superiors
168 Excellents
246 Honorable Mentions

Official Minutes

I. President Mark Newton calls the meeting to order at 8:14

II. Roll call:

(voting members) Mark Newton, president, Sarah Nichols, vice president, Lori Oglesbee-Petter, secretary, Jack Kennedy, past president, Sandra Coyer, Region 1 director, Carrie Faust, Region 2 director, Gary Lindsay, Region 3 director, Wayna Polk, Region 4 director, Brenda Gorsuch, Region 5 director, Rod Satterthwaite, Region 6 director, Jane Blystone, Region 7 director, Kim Green, certification commission chair, Norma Kneese, multicultural commission chair, John Bowen, scholastic press rights commission chair, Tom Gayda, development and curriculum commission chair, Anita Marie Wertz, junior high/middle school commission chair

(non-voting members) Bradley Wilson, C:JET editor, Candace Bowen, JEA Listserv, Julie Dodd, scholastic press association directors, Linda Barrington, mentors, Logan Aimone, NSPA, Nancy Smith, Write-off co-chair, Sharon Tally, headquarters, Kelly Furnas, executive director; Kelly Furnas introduces Arthi Subramanian – JEA website/database developer

III. Approval of the minutes – Motion: Jane Blystone. Second: Gary Lindsay. Two typos and one omission. Motion carries.

IV. Changes to the agenda

Add Linda Ballew to section V, number E. Move Mentoring and SPA up in the agenda.

V. Commendations

A. H.L. Hall – Yearbook Adviser of the Year chair
B. Linda Barrington and Julie Dodd – budget preparation
C. Bradley Wilson – report and goals
D. John Bowen – commission leadership and vision
E. Georgia Dunn, Beth Fitts, Cherly Pell and Linda Ballew – state directors guide

VI. Old Business

A. Confirmation of online vote: We move JEA change the name of the Yearbook Adviser of the Year Award to the H.L. Hall Yearbook Adviser of the Year Award (moved from the Executive Committee) Motion carries.

B. Motion to approve job descriptions. Motion: Norma Kneese. 2nd: Wayna Polk. Motion carries.

C. I move that we table the motion the approval of job descriptions until after the Magazine Committee report is discussed. – Brenda Gorsuch; 2nd: John Bowen. Motion carries.

D. The Student Press Rights Commission moves that the Cornerstone Award be given to one recipient a year as decided by criteria established by the JEA board, and that the recognition also carry a $1,000 award to the school for use by student media. Motion carries.

E. I move that JEA partner with the Southern Interscholastic Press Association Endowment Committee and National Scholastic Press Association to pilot a national journalism quiz bowl to begin at the San Antonio convention November 2012. Moved from Quiz Bowl Committee. Motion carries.

F. The JEA Magazine Committee moves that President Mark Newton appoint an Advisory Committee of five to seven JEA members to support the editor and assistant editor in their work on Communication: Journalism Education Today.

Motion amended: change “to support the editor and assistant editor” to “to support the magazine staff”

Motion amended: remove “five to seven”

The JEA Magazine Committee moves that President Mark Newton appoint an Advisory Committee of JEA members to support the magazine staff in their work on Communication: Journalism Education Today. Motion carries.

G. Executive Committee moves that changes to job descriptions be approved as noted. Motions carries.

H. Motion from the Executive Committee to adopt revised bylaw for Article VI, Section 3: “The board may conduct virtual meetings. The president will determine the length and manner of virtual meetings. Asynchronous virtual meetings may be called only by the president, who will establish rules concerning the time and manner of the discussion and voting. The board will discuss the motion for the predetermined and limited length of time, after which the motion cannot be amended. Motions introduced at asynchronous virtual meetings can be passed only with approval of two-thirds of the board.” The motion also eliminates Article VI, Section 4. Motion carries.

I. The JEA Scholastic Press Rights Commission and JEA board of directors encourage state legislatures to enact laws protecting students’ free press rights. The SPRC endorses the Student Press Law Center’s Model Legislation. Motion carries.

VII. New Business

A. Mark Newton appoints a permanent committee for Common Core. Candace Bowen will be the chair. Other members include Tom Gayda, Gary Lindsay, Brian Wilson: The Committee on the Common Core and 21st Century Skills

B. Motion to approve budget from Executive Committee.

Amendment: I move that we take $1,000 out of special projects (59.9) to fund the Cornerstone Award for 2012-2013. Carrie Faust, 2nd Linda Barrington. Motion on amendment carries.

Motion on amended motion carries.

VIII. Motion to adjourn. Jane Blystone 2nd: Norma Kneese.

JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention Spring 2012 Program - Seattle (PDF)

Jennifer Sizemore calls them “defining moments.”

Your first byline. Your first successful FOIA request. Your first published mistake.

But Sizemore, the editor in chief of MSNBC.com and our Thursday keynote speaker, writes in her foreword to “Journalism Next” that there’s a new wrinkle for journalists in the 21st century.

“While you’re absorbing these individual lessons, the entire industry will face its own series of defining moments,” she writes. “And each increment of that change will create yet more opportunities for you to learn and grow.”

Here at the Seattle JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention, we have another name for this defining moment in the journalism industry: We call it the “edge.”

It’s an exciting place to be. It means that the ground before you hasn’t quite settled. It means your path isn’t set in stone. And it’s wonderfully appropriate to be talking about the edge here in Seattle, geographically located on the northwestern edge of the nation but also on the leading edge of many innovations.

Forty years ago two teachers and a magazine writer started a coffee company at Pike Place Market. Now that company, Starbucks, has 17,000 such stores and has revolutionized the industry. (That original Starbucks is still in operation, but expect a long line if you plan to order a caramel macchiato.)

In the 1970s, a pair of childhood friends with a passion for computer programming made a business from their shared skills. When Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft, they launched an industry of software development. (Whether it’s Word or PowerPoint, Windows or Xbox, Microsoft’s edge slices through every aspect of American life.)

Just more than 20 years ago, cutting-edge band Nirvana released the album “Nevermind,” bringing the Seattle sound to the masses and changing the musical landscape forever. (An exhibit featuring rare and unseen artifacts and photography from the band is featured at the EMP Museum, the site of Saturday night’s entertainment hosted by the Washington Journalism Education Association.)

Exciting things happen here on the edge. What exciting idea will you come away with that will revolutionize the journalism industry?

The convention we’ve organized is a map you can use to navigate to the edge without going off a cliff. With keynotes from Sizemore and Dan Savage, hundreds of instructional breakout sessions and workshops, live contests and awards, you’re sure to find the innovation and inspiration you’re looking for.

We’ve brought you here, to the edge. Taking the next step is up to you.

The award recognizes public high schools that actively support, teach and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media.

Winning schools completed two rounds of questions about prior review, student decision making and removal of Internet filters. All advisers, student editors and the principal had to fill out the applications in Round 2.

2012 First Amendment Press Freedom Award winners are as follows:

• Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles, Mo.
• Johnston (Iowa) High School
• John F. Kennedy High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Kirkwood (Mo.) High School
• Orange Glen High School, Escondido, Calif.

These schools will be honored April 12 at the opening ceremony of the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle.