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Journalism class attends, competes at national conference

November 11, 2014 | 821 views

Journalism students pose in front of the Smithsonian Institute's Castle on the National Mall. (Photo courtesy of Darlingtonian staff)

Nine journalism students from Darlington traveled to the nation's capital for inspirational keynote presentations, helpful information and training from industry experts, sightseeing, and networking with like-minded peers at the National High School Journalism Convention in Washington, Nov. 6-9, 2014. 

Representing Darlington were students Loren Adams, Gboyega Adeyeye, Shelby Cline, Osato Eke, Emily Orr, Amber Rodriguez, Savannah Sands, Tia Tay, Grace Welborn, and faculty members Adrienne Forgette, communications teacher, and Kim Tunnell, director of fine arts.

Over 6,000 students attended the semi-annual conference, which was sponsored by the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and the National Scholastic Press Association.

"We needed the foundation that we received in Washington," said sophomore Emily Orr. "We now have something under our belt for us to continue in our studies."

Delegates took part in a variety of breakout sessions and meetings, including photography classes, political cartoon lectures, copyediting sessions, and smaller gatherings for journalism advisors and instructors to discuss best practices with the president of JEA.

"At the conference I learned that [as an editor] I am here to be helpful and supportive," said senior Grace Welborn. "I learned to differentiate between helping and micromanaging."

Convention competitions put training and coursework into practice and equipped attendees with simulated real-world experiences. Every Darlington student participated in one of the competitions, and Emily Orr received an honorable mention award in the review writing segment. Senior Gboyega Adeyeye participated in the convention's on-air reporting competition.  
 
"It was one of the more difficult things I've ever done because it truly tested interviewing skills and conversation skills," said Adeyeye. "I learned from it since it was the first time I had ever done anything like that."

Keynote speaker Jay Harris of ESPN was one of the highlights of the conference, instructing delegates to be open to taking criticism. Harris cited accepting criticism with an open mind as not only integral to one's professional and personal development, but as very interconnected to careers within the journalism sector.

"For a while I've been taking students to fall and spring conferences to compete and to show them real-world journalism," said Mrs. Forgette. "I usually go to each conference for my own professional development." 

Mrs. Forgette often speaks, presents and judges the competitions at these conferences, and was one of three instructors who received Master Journalism Educator certification at last week's convention.  

"I think now each of [the students] have their own goals that they have formulated from going to the conference classes," she said. 

The fine arts group of students also had the opportunity to tour the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and National Museum of American History, enjoy a performance at the Kennedy Center, and explore the Newseum. Another highlight of the trip was a special class dinner at the Darlington House, where namesake J.J. Darlington once lived in Dupont Circle. 

Darlington's fine arts department is looking at additional opportunities to incorporate academic and professional development into the coursework of students through other conferences, including the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York next year.

As Darlington's new journalism program continues to expand and pique the interests of students, the opportunities to enhance it are expanding as well.

"We took away a lot of ideas, even down to how we present the journalism side of Darlington," said Orr. "We want to make sure that students know that publications are student-led here." 

To find out more about the journalism program, upcoming conferences and other trips, contact Mrs. Forgette at aforgette@darlingtonschool.orgFor more information on the National High School Journalism Convention, click here.


Conference Participants & Competitions 
Loren Adams - commentary 
Gboyega Adeyeye - on-air reporting (broadcast)
Shelby Cline - first-year photo
Osato Eke - yearbook clubs copy/captions
Emily Orr - review writing (received honorable mention award)
Amber Rodriguez - yearbook student life copy/captions
Savannah Sands - graphic design: infographics
Tia Tay - yearbook sports photography
Grace Welborn - yearbook sports copy/captions