Portland – Spring 2010
JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention Spring 2010 Program – Portland (PDF)
Look around you and see majestic mountain peaks gleaming white with snow, hillsides covered with emerald foliage, lush urban parks and the mighty Willamette River flowing through the heart of the city. Welcome to Portland, an energetic city alive with all that is current.
With hundreds of learning sessions, high-profile keynotes and problem-solving breakouts, workshops and discussion groups, Portland will provide a perfect backdrop for a long weekend where you, too, can get current with journalism and media. Convention activities such as vendors showcasing journalism-related products and services, contests, awards convocations, on-site critiques, Break with a Pro and Media Swap Shops, student dances and adviser receptions will all help you go home and make your publication, Web site or broadcast current.
Thursday evening’s opening keynote from Nigel Jaquiss promises to offer an insight to how journalists hold public officials accountable. As a reporter for the free weekly newspaper Willamette Week, Jaquiss has uncovered wrongdoing by a former Portland mayor who went on to be governor. In 2005, he received the Pulitzer Prize for those stories. More recently, he broke a story about the current mayor that has led to a recall effort.
More than 20 years ago, Tim Harrower revolutionized the print media world with publication of “The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook.” Since then, it’s been the most-used and most useful book in many newsrooms. In 2006, Harrower branched out with “Inside Reporting” and gave his special treatment to words and design. Both books represent what’s current in content and presentation. His Friday keynote will entertain and teach you at the same time. All convention activities, including both keynote sessions and the awards ceremonies Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, will be in the Oregon Convention Center. The trade show, breakout sessions and contests are there, too, with wide hallways and spacious rooms.
Our sessions may be at the convention center, but make sure to get out and enjoy the city too. The Portland area offers a lot of natural beauty — great scenery for a Portland experience of entertainment, shopping or eating. Shop downtown, in the Pearl or Nob Hill. Enjoy a fancy meal or a famous Voodoo Doughnut. Hang out at Pioneer Courthouse Square, called “Portland’s Living Room.” Wherever you are in the city, you’re sure to leave with good memories.
By the time you leave Portland, we hope you’ll have learned a lot, received some much-deserved recognition and were energized to finish this year well or start next year more prepared. You’ll go back to school energized and ready to show you know what’s current.