JEA North Central – Region 3

November 10, 2012
by garylindsay
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By State Director Sandy Jacoby

Membership: Fall Scholastic Journalism Conference allowed Wisconsin and Illinois State Directors to recruit new advisers to join both JEA and Kettle Moraine Press Association through direct appeals, member forms, JEA Calendar of Events, Certification pamphlets and JEA convention information. Fall Scholastic Journalism Conference offered time with 84 advisers to talk about advantages of dual membership. While 84 reflected an increase in adviser attendance, Wisconsin posted 39 JEA adviser members, consistent with 2011. Both KEMPA and JEA memberships reflect the downturn for school finances with Wisconsin dramatically cutting education budgets.

Happenings: Director Kellie Doyle designed Summer Workshop programming to attract 50 students, a 20 percent increase over last year. Summer also offered Adviser day free to seven advisers of workshop students. Students were split among five classes: Newspaper Editors, Layout and Design, Yearbook, Photojournalism, and, for the first time, Literary Magazine. Nearly half the workshop’s attendees opted to attend pre-workshop session on Photoshop.

Fall Scholastic Journalism Conference Oct. 19 at held University of Wisconsin-Whitewater attracted 968 (884 students and 84 advisers). They attended three sessions from 47 professional presenters representing newspapers, broadcast media, photography, communications and advertising as well as journalism educators. A new Digital Media & Online Journalism strand featured writing for online and broadcast media, videography, using Twitter and blogging, technology and digital entrepreneurship. Experts shared technical know-how for getting student media programs into the digital world. Also, three sessions focused on Literary Magazines, as KEMPA has expanded membership to Literary Magazines.

In the journalism evaluation/competition, 10 newspapers and 10 yearbooks achieved All-KEMPA rank. The 8:20 a.m. schedule drew nearly 700 for awards followed by the three sessions. At our advisers’ luncheon/annual meeting and awards presentation, Wisconsin State Director and Fall SJC Director Sandy Jacoby promoted JEA directly as well as placed brochures in adviser folders. In spite of ever-increasing transportation costs and huge budget cuts, KEMPA Fall Conference remains highly successful.

Winter Advisers’ Seminar March 1-2 wiil feature Steve Matson, MJE, at Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, Wis. Steve will share ideas on news coverage, chronological yearbooks, reporting online and much more with sessions from other noted presenters.

Awards & Honors:
JEA Future Teacher scholarship-Patrick Johnson, Marquette University grad school/KEMPA Board
Administrator of the Year: Brett Bowers, Elmbrook School District
Media Award: Jason Rice, NBC Ch. 15-Madison
Newspaper Adviser of the Year: Len Fike, D.C. Everest High School
Friend of KEMPA: Bryce Ulmer, Graphic Designer.
Gebhardt Writing Award: Gabrielle Abesamis, Niles West High School

November 9, 2012
by garylindsay
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Regional Director’s Report, by Gary Lindsay, North Central Regional Director

Membership

Membership in our region remains steady, up very slightly from last spring’s 305 members. To promote membership I contacted each state director and sent a list of the state’s JEA membership. Stan Zoller of Illinois is working hard to increase membership there with a direct mail campaign. Leslie Shipp has done a similar thing In Iowa. Other state directors have communicated with me on their efforts to recruit more members.
Recruitment continues to be a challenge because it is difficult to identify newly named advisers in schools that are not currently active in state affiliates or JEA.

I would like to see JEA partner with the yearbook companies in sharing information so we can better reach out to new teachers.

Events

I am in my fourth year as JEA Mentor for Iowa. Details of that are available in the Iowa report.

IHSPA’s State Conference was held Oct.17 in Iowa City at the University of Iowa. Paul Jensen is the new director of IHSPA, replacing Dave Schwartz, and he and I met several times over the summer and fall. Paul secured an outstanding lineup of speakers for the event including DJ Journalism Teacher of the Year Aaron Manfull. Look for details of the event in the Iowa report.

I attended the Iowa High School Press Association’s Winter Thaw event and distributed JEA information. I had planned to attend KEMPA’s Winter Adviser’s Seminar in Lake Geneva but a family emergency prevented my attending. This past July, I taught the Journalistic Reporting, Writing and Editing seminar for journalism teachers at the University of Iowa.

The Journalism Standards / Common Core committee that Brian Wilson and I chaired last year is now broader in scope, named the Educational Initiatives Committee and is chaired by Candace Perkins Bowen . I have agreed to continue as chair of a sub committee looking into working with the Partnership for 21^st Century Schools. See Candace’s report for further details.

There is no regional Facebook page for our region. I look at the Northeast and Southwest region pages from time to time, and I have queried the state directors in our region and found no interest in a North Central page. IHSPA does have a Facebook page that is widely used, and this will be a topic of conversation at our Meet and Greet session in San Antonio.

Illinois State Report

Iowa State Report

Minnesota State Report

Nebraska State Report

North Dakota State Report

South Dakota State Report

Wisconsin State Report

November 4, 2012
by garylindsay
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By Leslie Shipp, MJE, October 15, 2012

Membership

42 Iowa advisers are currently JEA members.

46 schools were IHSPA members last school year. So far 12 of these schools have renewed for this year.

Every current JEA member was contacted by email Oct. 10. The email talked about the San Antonio convention, the deadline for JOY entries, invited people to communicate information and questions with the state director and asked for names of advisers in neighboring districts who might need help.

One of the difficulties is that memberships through JEA are individual, through IHSPA they are by school. When an advisership changes the school may renew its IHSPA membership, but there may be no one in the school who knows anything about JEA. It is a time-consuming task to figure out who takes over when an adviser leaves.

Happenings 

IHSPA Annual Board Meeting: The board met in Iowa City in June 2012. Members discussed the following items:

David Schwartz introduced Paul Jansen as the new IHSPA Director to start in August. Paul is the internship and placement coordinator for the University of Iowa.

IHSPA invited two yearbook reps to the meeting — Matt Baltes of Jostens and Marc Havnen of Herff Jones. During a session at the national convention in Minneapolis, Iowa City adviser Jonathan Rogers talked with a person from New Jersey who told how to increase JEA and state memberships by working through yearbook reps. Yearbook reps have unique access to advisers — for one they know who they are! They also know when new advisers are hired. Both yearbook reps agreed IHSPA, JEA, and yearbook companies have common goals and were enthusiastic about helping.

Most of the meeting focused on how to recruit more members.

Obstacles to membership were identified:

1. 1. Time-strapped advisers put membership off and forget about it.
2. 2. Identifying advisers in schools is difficulty because without extensive work no one knows who they are.
3. 3. The ebb and flow of advisers makes identification even harder.
4. 4. People want personal contact with others in their situation, but schools may be dozens of miles apart so meeting is a challenge.
5. 5. Many teachers would feel uncomfortable calling someone they did not know to ask for help.

The board determined to try contacting advisers through the yearbook reps and planning a day to get together. So far, settling on a time and a place has not occurred.

Fall Conference: 

The State Conference was held Oct. 17 in Iowa City. Aaron Manfull, adviser at Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, MO, avid Hawkeye fan and current Dow Jones Journalism Adviser of the Year, was the featured presenter and keynote speaker.

Awards and Honors:

Winners of the Sweepstakes Awards for the Spring Newspaper Contest were announced at the conference, as were the On-the-Spot Contest winers. When the entire list of winners in posted they will be linked here.

Mentoring: 

Mentoring Report, by Gary Lindsay, MJE, JEA Mentor for Iowa, Fall 2012

Three of my four mentees from last year have completed their mentoring experience.

Kyle Philips at Cedar Rapids Washington High School is in his third year teaching journalism and advising newspaper and a news website. He was to begin advising yearbook this year, and that warranted extending his mentoring for another year, but that assignment was changed at the last minute. Kyle has been very professionally active attending state and national conventions, and earning his CJE certification this past year. He is currently serving as IHSPA secretary.

Alissa Hansen left her position at Clear Creek Amana to move with her husband and six-month-old son to the Davenport area. Alissa taught journalism and language arts and advised yearbook at CCA.

Deb Siebenga, a teacher at Franklin Middle School in Cedar Rapids, advised a group of students last fall and winter who produced the first newspaper in school history, the Franklin Storm. Many of her staff were not able to find time in their schedules during the spring term, so the Storm has been discontinued for the current time. I am hoping to help Ms. Siebenga revive the paper this year or next, and to find more middle schools in Cedar Rapids to begin the newspaper experience.

My third mentee of last year, Natalie Niemeyer is in her second year teaching journalism and advising yearbook at East High School in Des Moines. She continues her mentoring experience this year. She has also begun advising newspaper. The journalism program at East is thriving, and they had students in the summer journalism workshops at Iowa where Natalie also taught a session. They had a large group attend the IHSPA Fall Conference in Iowa City.

A new mentee this year is Justin Sharp who is in his third year teaching language arts and journalism at Chariton High School. Justin has advised yearbook for two years and is adding newspaper advising this year. I met Justin last summer when he was my student as he completed his journalism certification at the Iowa Summer Journalism Teacher Workshops.

Two other teachers are in the beginning stages of mentoring. Dan Murswick is in his first year teaching language arts and advising the newspaper and yearbook at English Valley High School. He brought students to the IHSPA conference in October.  Samantha Moore teaches at Springville High School and they are planning on beginning a journalism program there next semester.

Censorship Situations:

None.

October 25, 2012
by garylindsay
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By Marsha Kalkowski, MJE, Nebraska State Director, Oct. 15, 2012

October 25, 2012
by garylindsay
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By Sue Skalicky, MJE, North Dakota State Director, October 7, 2012

Membership

JEA membership in North Dakota has slowly increased each year for the past several years. But, it appears we have hit a plateau. I know we have several new advisers in the state and I am working on building relationships with them. This past August Jostens presented another regional 3-day yearbook workshop in Bismarck. I was not able to attend due to being out of the country adopting two children. There were 12 schools represented. I plan to join with Jostens again next summer for a yearbook workshop and will work with them at other events throughout the school year.

Current North Dakota JEA members:
1. Sue Skalicky, Century High School (I let my membership lapse, too. The check is in the mail. ☺)
2. Annie McKenzie, Bismarck High School
3. Keith Henderson, Bismarck High School
4. Kelly Larson, Fort Yates High School
5. Jeremy Murphy, West Fargo High School
6. Andrew Pritchard, North Dakota State University
7. University of North Dakota
8. Hannah Sagaser, Mandan High School
9. Mary Van, Century High School

Some former members have let their memberships lapse and I will keep pursuing these.

Events

• Northern Interscholastic Press Association (NIPA) state competition April 8, 2012, Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND
• Jostens regional yearbook workshop, Bismarck, ND July 29-31, 2012
• Northern Interscholastic Press Association (NIPA) fall workshop Oct. 3, 2012, Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND

Initiatives and vision
North Dakota currently is experiencing some reduction in force due to Federal budget cuts, but it has not affected our journalism programs as of yet. We are seeing an increase in attendance at our state competitions and workshops.

Awards

• NIPA state competition spring 2012
• Division I
• Overall newspaper: 1st – The Hi-Herald – Bismarck High; 2nd – The Packer – West Fargo; 3rd – The Century Star – Bismarck Century; HM – The Courier– Mandan
• NIPA state competition spring 2012
• Division I
• Overall yearbook: 1st – “iView” – West Fargo – ALL NORTHERN; 2nd – “DARE” – Bismarck Century
• Service to School and Community Devils Lake Staff – Devils Lake High School
• NIPA Photographer of the Year Sarah Brintnell, Bismarck High School
• NIPA Journalist of the Year Alek Haugen, Bismarck High School

October 25, 2012
by garylindsay
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By Debra Rothenberger, MJE, South Dakota State Director, October 3, 2012

At the South Dakota High School Press Association Oct. 24 Fall Convention’s adviser session, Journalism Education Association’s state director Debra Rothenberger presented information about JEA membership, certification and national JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Texas.

Happenings

The South Dakota High School Press Convention was Wednesday, October 24, at the South Dakota State University in Brookings. Dr. Matthew Cecil, an associate professor in the SDSU Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, was the keynote speaker. His topic was branding and the social media. His topic is about the importance of being responsible when using social media because the information never goes away. His prediction is apps are the ultimate medium. Speakers for the breakout sessions were Dr. Lyle Olson, SDSU professor, for design; Susan Smith, SDSU Collegian adviser, for writing; Frank Klock, SDSU professor, for photography.

Honors and awards

During the afternoon general session, SDHSPA coordinator Jessica Jensen presented the Founders Award to former SDHSPA directors Doris Giago and Mary Perpich.

Happenings

Brandon Valley publications adviser Debra Rothenberger, MJE, participated in the National Scholastic Press Association’s Live Chat in September.

October 25, 2012
by garylindsay
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By Stan Zoller, MJE, Illinois State Director

 Membership: Our current JEA membership is 123,which is about the same as it was in the Spring.

To help boost the numbers, I have received, at no charge, mailing labels for 749 high schools in the state from the Illinois High School Association (I.H.S.A.).  I am in the process of developing a mailing to be sent to the principals that will include an introductory letter and JEA membership forms.  As reported in April, my plan is to flaunt the JEA’s resources that are available to their journalism advisers and teachers.  I would also suggest including information about the Outreach Academy program as an effort to reach out to a greater audience with hopes of building the program.  In addition to JEA materials, I would suggest including information about Illinois JEA so advisers could join the state group as well.

The largest hurdle in this plan is cost.  Materials, production and postage are the three largest costs associated with this effort.  Bids will be received from mailing houses, two of which provide job resources for challenged adults.

In addition to membership numbers, I am concerned about the lack of JEA members who are certified in Illinois.  According to JEA’s membership directory, only 24 members are CJEs and only eight are MJEs.  On an encouraging note, I do know of two members who have successfully completed the M JE exam, so those numbers will increase.

An initiative by the Illinois Journalism Education Association may help boost certification.  The IJEA has discussed the possibility of approaching the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) about having JEA certification be reflected as an endorsement as part of a teacher’s licensing.

 Events:

• The IJEA held its annual fall conference, this year at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, as its tradition venue, the student union at The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, is undergoing major renovation.
• The IJEA also hosted its annual Awards Luncheon.  Held in the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield, the event honors the Journalist of the Year (Sydney Scarlata, editor of the “U-High Midway” at The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools) and the runners up in addition to members of the IJEA’s All-state Journalism Teacher. The event is underwritten by the Illinois Press Association / Illinois Press Foundation.

Upcoming workshops:

• March 2012: Kettle Moraine Press Association, Winter Advisers Seminar, Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
• April 12: Northern Illinois School Press Assn. Spring Conference, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Initiatives and vision:

Discussions continue on several initiatives identified by the IJEA Board as ways of enhancing scholastic journalism. They include

• As previously noted, discussions toward some type of certification requirements for journalism teachers will hopefully begin with the Illinois State Board of Education.  The ISBE used to offer certification for journalism teachers, but dropped several years ago.
• As previously noted, increasing the number of CJEs and MJEs.  Two articles addressed certification in the IJEA’s most recent newsletter.  Having Cathy Wall, MJE, a member of JEA’s Certification Commission is an invaluable resource.  I plan on working with her on increasing certification among JEA members in Illinois.

Awards:

 Awards were presented at the IJEA’s annual awards luncheon.  Students honored included: Illinois Journalist of the Year.  The 2012 JOY from the Land of Lincoln is Sydney Scarlata, editor of the “U-High Midway” at The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.  Her adviser is Wayne Brasler.  Runner-up was Daniel Brount, of Wheeling High School.  He is editor of The Spokesman and has been advised by John Uhrik and Karen Barrett, MJE.  Receiving honorable mention was Madeline Conway of Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect.  She is editor of “The Prospector” and is advised by Jason Block, CJE.

Mentors:

Illinois has three mentors who are mentoring nine advisers.

• Babs Erickson spent considerable time battle pneumonia, but continued to mentor Dan Bingley, first-year yearbook and newspaper adviser at Guilford High School in Rockford, Rachel Rice, second-year yearbook and newspaper adviser at Lutheran High School in Rockford, and Kelly Engler, second-year yearbook and newspaper adviser at Harlem High School in Machesney Park.
• Mentor Carol Smith reports that here two mentees, Stephanie Mitchell and Sue Fuller, started the fall much as they ended last year: extremely busy. Stephanie is starting a new journalism program at the newly-combined Arthur-Lovington High School. She has a staff of three – yes, three – inexperienced staff members to help her produce a newspaper and a yearbook.  She has met with Carol and her yearbook rep to get started. Luckily she has experience with both types of publications from Lovington last year where she team-taught with the yearbook adviser.
• Sue’s staff leaders attended yearbook camp last summer, so they have their designs chosen and pages laid out. Sue has 11 on her staffs, and her editors all worked on the publications last year.
•  Both of them have publications as a class, so they can meet with their staff daily.
•  Both have lots of enthusiasm to aid them, too.
•  Randy Swikle is Illinois third mentor and is planning to work with new mentees.

First Amendment challenges and related concerns:

•  There continues to be an increase in the number of JEA members reporting a decline in enrollment in their journalism programs.  School enrollment does not appear to be the main cause, but rather a focus core courses as opposed to electives.
•  As the IJEA refines its initiatives, it is likely we will work closely with JEA Board committees, especially in the areas of Middle/ Junior High School program development and in general outreach.

Questions or comments? Contact Stan Zoller, Rolling Meadows High School, 2901 Central Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008; W: 847-718-5951 | C: 847-421-5278; sezoller@gmail.com

April 30, 2012
by admin
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My activities as North Central Regional director have consisted of monitoring JEAHELP, communicating with state directors, attending the Minneapolis convention, and the Iowa Winter Thaw Seminar. I had to cancel plans to attend the KEMPA Winter Seminar because of some family illness issues and the fact that it was scheduled at the same date as the Iowa event.In addition to work as the North Central Director, I am the JEA Mentor for Iowa, and you can see a summation of those activities in the Iowa report.

I have also been working on JEA’s behalf as the co-chair of the Common Core / P21 Committee. I will be giving a report on the activities of that committee at the board meeting in Seattle. In quick summary, the committee’s primary work has been with Brian Wilson and Rod Satterthwaite in development of curriculum aligned with the Michigan CCSS, my inquiry of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, monitoring JEAHELP and responding to inquiries and concerns. I have provided a number of the materials our group has collected to JEA members involved in curriculum development. Our committee did hold a meeting open to JEA members via Cover It Live earlier this month.