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October, 2007
, 2007 |
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MIPA Rocks! Fall 2007 Conference |
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By Nancy Kelley Journalism Day, October 18, offered new sessions and attracted broader audience. Under the leadership of Cheryl Pell, Executive Director of the MIPA since 1987, this year’s conference was an unequivocal success! Over 2500 excited educators and students from114 schools bustled around the Lansing Center excitedly choosing which of the seventy-five sessions to attend. That was a daunting task because of the extent and variety of topics offered. To read the conference offerings and their enticing descriptions is actually a lesson in school journalism itself. The helpful categorical key in which Y = yearbook, N = newspaper, VJ = video journalism, P = photography and E = everyone reminds us of the multiple specialties within student journalism. Yet the descriptors themselves revealed incredible overlap and clearly indicated a plethora of 21st century issues we all share relative to student journalism. The topics ranged from techniques, e.g. “Microphone Magic” (VJ) or “Caption Writing” (N, Y) to legal issues e.g. “Photoshop Imaging Ethics” (P) to even broad career analysis topics e.g. “The new media Journalist: What does it take to be a 21st century journalist?” (E)
In addition to the sessions, several booths attracted students and teachers to relevant materials and services. Of particular significance for attendees were a few media professionals in the business of showcasing student work. Publisher of School Video News , John Churchman, Ken Leach from School Tube and John Kotarski from Media Tech Partners shared a booth in order to promote the respective opportunities they provide for students and teachers to showcase their work.
MIPA no doubt will continue to “ROCK”. Everyone in the Michigan student media biz can certainly look forward to the next journalism day—already in the planning stages. Looking back it’s noteworthy to review the October 18 conference agenda description of a session on leadership conducted by Cheryl Pell, The descriptor asks, “What does it take to be a leader? What do you bring to the table that makes managing a staff an enjoyable task? Let’s talk together about leadership and what it takes to be not just a good one, but a great one.” Cheryl Pell, MIPA’s executive Director and also the recent of recipient of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame award, is an exemplary answer. For more information about MIPA or to become a member, simply click here.
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Click image above Highlight tape of the 2500+ students who attended the MIPA Conference in Lansing. Produced by Laingsburg High School TV Production Department |