2025 workshop tracks

LEADERSHIP

Elizabeth Smith, Pepperdine University
Chuck Clark, Western Kentucky University

If you’re a new editor-in-chief, managing editor or section editor — or an aspiring leader who’s ready to learn — the organizational leadership track is for you. Prepare for your new job by delving into leadership topics, including organizational tactics and policies, staff motivation, conflict resolution and media law and ethics.

ADVISERS

Tamara Zellars Buck, Southeast Missouri State University
Amy DeVault, Wichita State University

For many college media advisers, you are the only person on campus who does what you do. You need both the knowledge and skills to be an adviser, but also a network of advisers you can turn to when challenges or opportunities arise. This track is designed to help you build your proficiency, confidence and, most important, your network. New and veteran advisers will come together to learn, share and build connections. You’ll be guided through topics including recruiting, training, managing and motivating students; updating your handbooks and understanding of technology, media law and ethics; and building (or reviving) campus relationships and budgets. Our goal is for you to leave with a toolbox of resources and a contact list of people who understand your job and are on your side.

REPORTING

Chris Evans, Rice University

Master the art of impactful storytelling through hands-on sessions in developing sources, crafting dynamic stories and producing across platforms. You’ll go into the field to engage in real-world reporting, learn from industry experts, and elevate your skills to the next level.

ADVANCED REPORTING

Cody Winchester, Investigative Reporters and Editors
Amy DeVault, Wichita State University

Designed for students with at least a year of reporting experience, the advanced reporting track, produced in partnership with Investigative Reporters & Editors, will feature panel discussions and hands-on workshops led by experts in investigative and data journalism, multimedia production and other advanced topics. Folks on this track will learn strategies for developing a “documents and data” state of mind, using FOI laws effectively, conducting solid research, working with data and managing large projects. Participants in this hands-on skills workshop will need to bring a laptop (no tablets).

SPORTS JOURNALISM

Joe Gisondi, Eastern Illinois University

Sports media is far more than game stories, previews and highlight clips. The best sports media pros report thoroughly, creatively and analytically across multiple platforms and media. Essentially, we tell stories, assess trends and break news. This session, which includes hands-on coverage of professional sports in Minneapolis, is built for both beginners and advanced students seeking to learn how to elevate their reporting across digital, print, TV and audio. Plus, you will connect with peers working at student media across the country.

PHOTOJOURNALISM

Sam Oldenburg, Western Kentucky University

Hit the streets of Minneapolis to push your visual storytelling skills to new levels this summer. Whether you are a beginning or experienced photographer, the photojournalism track will help you expand your skillset, grow as a photographer, and see more visual stories everywhere you look. The instructor will assess where you’re at as a photographer to find unique ways to challenge you into new growth. The workshop will combine hands-on instruction with student collaboration and photojournalism fieldwork in Minneapolis. The instructor will cater learning to the needs of the class as the workshop progresses, covering topics that may include camera operations, exposure, composition, feature photography, sports photography, photo stories, caption writing, lighting, portraiture, visual story generation, photo staff management, workflow, editing, cross-staff collaboration, photography career paths and more. 

BASIC DESIGN

Gary Metzker, Long Beach State University

In this workshop, students will learn about the techniques of contemporary media design as well as cover the historical roots of media design. You will get acquainted with the use of photographs, illustrations, type and color in visual communication. And most importantly, be introduced to InDesign, part of the Adobe Creative Suites package. If that’s not enough, students will go back to their newsrooms with knowledge of grid design, center of visual impact, why white space is your friend, hierarchy of headlines, single-photo stories, multiple-photo stories, photo pages, double truck photo/story pages, tracking and leading, text wrap, drop caps and pull quotes.

ADVANCED DESIGN

Paige Connor, PKCXStrategy
Kevin Fullerton, Springboard Creative

The Advanced Design class is tailored for students with an understanding of basic design principles and some publication experience. Participants will work both individually and in groups to develop their skills in visual storytelling, progressing from initial ideas to the final publication. The workshop will guide student designers in exploring typography, headline hierarchy, pacing, and informational layering. They will apply these concepts by crafting detailed story packages that span multiple stories, pages, and days, designed to captivate readers across both print and digital platforms. Students are encouraged to bring their current publication template files or style guides if available to them. This will allow for hands-on application of workshop concepts within their existing frameworks, facilitating a more personalized and practical learning experience.

DIGITAL STORYTELLING

Liza Renze, Free Press Indiana

Track description to come.

BUSINESS/ADVERTISING

Kathy Simon, Central Michigan University
Avari Stamps, Western Kentucky University

How to be a “Wicked” Advertising Executive. Learn the magic behind working with clients. We will take you through the steps to find your clients’ decision makers, to engage them to get appointments and to ask the right questions to make the sale! Expect role playing, presentations and other team activities. It will be the “Shiz”.

FEATURE PUBLICATIONS

Randy Stano, University of Miami
Linda Putney, Kansas State University

This track will focus on putting together magazines and yearbooks. Come learn the skills and information you need to level up your publication next year. 

BROADCASTING

Greg Vandegrift, University of St. Thomas

It is ALL about the video. “All” is a big word, but to be a skillful broadcast journalist, you must understand the storytelling dance between words and images. In this track, you will learn the building blocks of video storytelling – from planning to producing a journalistically sound and visually solid story. Just consider for a moment how you would start. What questions would you ask? What visuals would you shoot? Whom would you interview? How would you organize, write and edit the story? The Broadcasting track will answer those questions and give you fundamental skills that can help support a broadcast storytelling career. You will leave a better writer, shooter and storyteller. At a time when the world is brimming with cell phone cameras, improper video-recording habits are flourishing. Learn to set yourself and your work apart as a professional broadcast journalist.