Dear Colleagues,
The recently established
Private School Journalism Association is seeking advisory members to promote student voice in our sector. If your school is particularly strong with student publications, I would be grateful to chat about my overall goals for the organization and how your community can help. In the short term, I am working on establishing a virtual conference for student media advisers to discuss challenges and successes unique to private schools.
Next spring, I hope to organize an inaugural face-to-face conference at Brimmer and May (Chestnut Hill, MA) for any and all private schools interested in improving the quality of student publications. This two-day conference will include...
- Breakout sessions covering not just the fundamentals of journalism, but also how to tackle challenges unique to our communities, such as fears that controversial press could hurt enrollment, lack of student interest, lack of expertise to launch successful initiatives, and lack of funding to launch and sustain successful programs.
- Keynote presentations from award-winning journalists, likely from The Boston Globe.
- On-site critique sessions where students and advisers can receive immediate feedback. A "best-of-show" award or awards will also be presented.
- Award presentations. Similar to how CSPA and NSPA present awards, PSJA will also grant awards under various categories for outstanding student journalism.
- Award presentations will also include "Gold," "Silver," and "Bronze" distinctions to overall newsroom excellence. Participating schools will also receive a detailed critique of what a particular publicAations excels at, does well, or needs improvement. Online applications necessary.
- Representation from local (MSPA), regional (NESPA) and national scholastic bodies to encourage schools to sign-up.
- Honorees will include standout student publication advisers. Online applications necessary.
Membership to PSJA is currently free. If you wish to be considered as a founding advisory board member, however, please contact me (
[email protected]).
Together, let's a make a difference.