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High School Journalism Day Draws Almost 1,500 Students and Advisers to Campus

More than 1,300 high school students and 95 advisers from across Colorado jammed the Lory Student Center Thursday, October 11 for High School Journalism Day. The annual event gives high school students a taste of the many facets of journalism and related careers.

This year’s theme was “A Focus on the First Amendment,” and dozens of speakers presented more than 45 sessions. The sessions were designed to help the high school journalists do their jobs better, and to prepare them for both college and professional careers.

“It was the biggest High School Journalism Day ever,” said Student Media Director Jeff Browne, who was CHSPA Executive Director when Journalism Day moved from CU to CSU in 2002.

“In addition to being the biggest ever, the presenters represented a very high-powered group of professionals and educators. This was a fantastic event,” Browne said.

Speakers included a number of CSU alumni, including Rocky Mountain News reporter and recent Pulitzer Prize winner Jim Sheeler (1990), KCNC-TV anchor Jim Benemann (1978), Rocky Mountain News assistant design director Brian Clark (1996) and editorial cartoonist Alan Vitello (1986).

In addition to the educational sessions, Journalism Day provides advisers with a chance to recognize and celebrate high school students’ journalistic efforts, with awards presented for newspaper, yearbook and broadcast excellence.

Student Media Advertising Director Kim Blumhard manages the event with help from Broadcast Operations Manager Mario Caballero, Coordinator Eric Melendez and a cadre of students. A number of JTC faculty members and Student Media Advisers contribute by presenting sessions or critiquing high school students’ journalistic efforts. This year’s group included Rocky Mountain Collegian Adviser Holly Wolcott, and Rocky Mountain Collegian Production Manager Jenny Fisher and Campus Television News and Public Affairs adviser Julia Sandidge. JTC faculty members Kris Kodrich, Jim Landers, Craig Trumbo, Donna Rouner, Jack Lovelace and Greg Luft also participated. Students from Jonna Pearson’s public relations capstone course also helped with the event.

Journalism Day is a presentation of the Colorado High School Press Association (CHSPA), which is based at CSU in the Student Media Department. Long-time high school educator Clarissa Crozier is the current CHSPA Executive Director. For more information about CHSPA, check out the website at: chspa.colostate.edu.