pennsylvania school press association newsletter may 2011

8/7/2019 Pennsylvania School Press Association Newsletter May 2011

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Pennsylvania SchoolPress Association

2011Summer Special Student Edition

Leading U.S. inDigital Media

Sometimes, you have to play thehand you’re dealt. I am not much of a math

brain—any teacher I have previously had for high school mathematics will be the rst totell you that. For some reason unbeknownstto me, my analytical side just cannot seem tofunction long enough to grasp the concepts. Iwas always good at ratios, though.

I am currently a junior and the featureseditor on our high school’s newspaper staff, theParkland High School Trumpet . Currently, Iam one of 15 on staff for the 2010-2011 schoolyear. Of those 15, 3 of us are juniors. That isa 1:5 ratio. Next year, when we bid adieu tothree-fths of our entire staff, unless a miracleoccurs, about seven of us are left.

Parkland High School, located in Allentown,is the second largest high school in the LehighValley, with Allentown ranking as the third-largest city in the state, behind Philadelphiaand Pittsburgh. Parkland currently comprises3,176 students from grades 9 through 12. Onceyou begin to play a numbers game like that,suddenly it all becomes ratios. Currently, weare at a 15 to 3,176 ratio, with a few of us left

to accurately represent the entire voice of astudent body. Next year, it will only get harder.

Please, do not get me wrong. The Trumpet’s staff was not always this tiny—no sir, at one point we were as strong in numbers as we werein diversied opinions. The paper was one of the most prestigious institutions, even up untilmy freshman year. It’s no secret the schoolfeels this way too—the high school websitestill has the newspaper’s photo from the staff of three years ago.

This year, our editors were faced with anearly impossible task: take what we have inquality and make it manageable. Condensingthe number of pages, which consequentlyreduced the number of articles being printed, islike a blow to the heart. But hard decisions hadto be made.

I share my anecdote as a representative for a problem that many schools across the stateshare with mine: a dwindling newspaper staff.

Some may say it is a sign of the times,with the switch from hard copies to onlinemedia, but interest in student run publicationsnow more than ever are taking a puzzlingdip. What once was a blossoming institutionis almost forgotten in the background of other opportunities and activities—before you knowit, you are left with a 7 to 3,200 ratio and astaff who are desperately trying to captivateand educate their peers.

As an editor on a dwindling staff, I wouldlike to extend the utmost urgency on this

Among the PSPA offerings is the annualstudent journalism conference. Hundreds of high school students from across the statecome to the conference, including thosewho write for their newspaper, work for theyearbook or perform in TV broadcasting.Regardless of their background, they all cometogether, share ideas and celebrate student

journalism.My experiences at the conferences have

only been positive. Sure, when I attended myrst one, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.After a few minutes of shyness, I realized thatthe conference was simply students comingtogether to sharing their papers and ideas, andlater meeting with professionals and other student journalists. The exchange of ideas atthe conference is really remarkable, and itinfuses students with new ideas to take back totheir publications.

The main attraction of the convention isthe seminars series. Dozens of seminars are

presented by qualied professionals—andoccasionally students—who demonstrate newtechnologies and skills that students can take

back and use to improve their publicationsand productions. This is an exciting way to get

students thinking outsidethe box and looking to other

publications for ideas.The people you’ll meet at these conferences

are quite remarkable. From students withfascinating stories to professional journalistswith years of experience, everyone at theconference shares the same passion for

journalism. The professionals are some of thekindest people you’ll meet, and love to talk about their work experience and answer anyquestions you might have. Getting to knowthem is truly inspiring, as you look forward toa career in journalism. The conference also hasa keynote speaker who addresses on the groupon an important journalism topic. This pastyear’s keynote speaker was Frank LoMonte,from the Student Press Law Center, who spokeabout the importance of student press rights.

The PSPA conference is a rare opportunityfor students to get out, meet fellow student

journalists, and pick up some new ideas toimprove their newspapers, yearbooks and TV programs.

w w w. p a s c h o o

l p r e s s. o rg

Tales of aDwindling Staff

PSPA Gives Voice to Students

message: DO NOT GIVE UP. (Yes, it wasCaps Lock worthy.) For many teachers and

advisers, when student enrollment is low, theyare faced with the decision to drop the class,ultimately dropping the paper. In the economictimes we’re facing, with budget cuts left andright, in understaffed papers there may be atad more pressure for the funding to be cut andredistributed elsewhere.

I speak as a plea to help keep the voicesof youth in schools. The paper is a mediumwritten by students, for students—in manyschools, the last opportunity of its kind. Papersneed to be embraced by faculty, made a partof daily curriculum. Ceasing to print will besilencing the voices of an entire generation of writers and readers. There is no way aroundthat.

As I look ahead to my senior year, I wouldmost denitely say I am up for the challenge.Leading a staff of 7 is just as pivotal as leadinga staff of 65. We—the few, the proud, theupperclassmen—are here to educate the nextgeneration of reporters and editors to continuethe tradition for years to come. In small staffs,the editors may need to wear a few differenthats to keep the cycle running smoothly—adaunting yet necessary task for those willing totake on responsibility.

Maybe I know a little bit more about maththan I thought after all; if schools subtract the

newspaper, there is simply no solution.

Story by: Rae Holly Features Editor, The Trumpet Parkland High School

Story by: Luke Raffer Production Editor, ThSpokeConestoga High Scho

Advisers...

While weinvite you to

read this issue,we strongly

suggest that you hand it over to your chief editor.This edition

is for the students, by the

students!

W e l c o m e t o t h e

...



As the school year comesto a close, publications areshifting with graduations and theconclusion of the year. For me, this meansnew staff members and editors, and sadlyaccepting that some of my editors--my friendsand role models for the past three years--aregraduating. Out of all that they have taught me,the most important things that they helped merealize are my rights as a student journalist.

Thanks to my editors, I learned aboutethics, legality and press rights in journalism. Now, I will never forget these rights, andmore importantly, I will advocate for them asa student journalist. My fellow PSPA BoardMember and co-editor-in-chief of The Spoke,Meghan Morris, became a student partner for the national press rights group 45words lastyear. Because Meghan was vocal about the

Student journalists, as youcan see from the great articles in

this issue, we have some top of the line student board membersfrom across the state at PSPA. With theexception of this and one more article, thisentire issue is written by students.

We hope you consider running for a student board position because you get to do somegreat things like help run a state convention,write for our PSPA blog and share your expertise as a student journalist with other students across Pennsylvania. The applicationfor student board is enclosed.

While you are ling out your application for student board, copy the back of the form andnominate your adviser for PSPA JournalismTeacher of the Year. The winning adviser willrepresent Pennsylvania as the JournalismTeacher of the Year for 2011-2012.

You can also nominate your principal for Administrator of the Year by submitting theform that will be posted to our PSPA website:www.pachoolpress.org before the end of April.

As we approach the end of the school year,

we anticipate your great publication entries.Later this month, you will nd updated entryforms and rubrics for the spring submissions tothe PSPA annual critique. We have seen somevery innovative journalism this year from our student board members. We know there is agreat deal more out in your schools, so start preparing your entries now for both overallcritique and individual entries. All-Statewinners will be announced at the conventionon November 11, 2011. Let us showcase your outstanding work.

Speaking of the convention, our theme for the convention is “Techstravganza” and will

be packed with state-of-the-art sessions, so put November 11, 2011 on your calendar and planto bring your whole staff to this student-drivenconvention.

First Amendment, you create an atmospherefor them to advocate for themselves if theunfortunate situation ever arises.

Working with 45words, I have heard of cases of censorship that break my heart. Often,these situations are not preventable, but their consequences can be fought. So, let your students, staff or fellow editors know that theycan protect their rights. Remind them to passon the word that what they write matters, andits clarion medium is key. Do not let pressrights get lost in the shufe of deadlines andyearly staff changes.

When I see the class full of student journalists around me, I know that I am luckyto work on a publication that does not facecensorship. But I feel even luckier that I canlook at my staff and see plenty of studentswho know their rights, and who will have thestrength to stand behind them even when I amgone.

Giving a Voice to Our Rights

I introduced myself to myAP Literature teacher on thesecond day of school as a way to warn her: “Hi,I’m Meghan Morris from third period, and I’mthe co-editor-in-chief of The Spoke.” I had totell her up front what topped my priority listthis year, and it did not include “Hamlet” or

“Jane Eyre.”But the instant I mentioned The Spoke,

something incredible happened. My seventy-something teacher, normally prone to waxing poetic about the smell of classic literature, began to tear up during my brief introduction.

As she shook my hand, and, after a fewminutes, nally let it go, she started to talk about her fascination with what she called “theone real thing left at Conestoga High School.”She described how, after thirty years, shestill loved to watch Distribution Days, whenour publication is distributed in the hallway.Students literally race each other to the stacksof papers at the end of the halls, and almosteveryone in free period has a copy open.

But what sets The Spoke apart from, say,the yearly yearbook distribution? And whatmade it so important that my former editorsfought to save it from censorship a year and ahalf ago?

My Lit teacher called it “Spoke magic:” Amagic that unites the school, a place wherestate championship soccer fan buses arecanceled due to lack of interest and the StudentCouncil president nearly begs students to go tothe Homecoming pep rally.

A quick glance around the cafeteria, wherestudents sit much like the seating chartin “Mean Girls” shows the Spoke magic of Distribution Day. Though students may makefun of our cover art, or declare death to our photographer for an emotional back photo of a boys’ soccer loss, nearly every kid–jock, geek,cheerleader, band kid, insert-high school-stereotype-here, is looking at the same 24 pages as the 2,000 others in the school.

That means we have a power, and thus

a responsibility, to reach kids in a way that

parents and educators cannot. When a Spoke survey reveals that 22 percent of our studentshave been cyberbullied and 64 percent think Formspring encourages it, though mostteachers have never heard of Formspring, thereis an opportunity to educate. And when thereare a group of students who dumpster divefor library books, there is an opportunity toentertain…with consultation from the SPLCabout the legality of dumpster diving, of course.

But what happens when our, and perhapsyour, unique opportunity is threatened–byschool administrators’ censorship, or even self-censorship? It’s up to you to ght back.

Take advantage of your resources throughPSPA: reach out to the student and adult

boards. There are people on both boards whohave fought censorship successfully andcan help with your situation. We’re here for you—for every adviser and student journalistin Pennsylvania, whether you’ve been ghting prior restraint for years or are just beginning a publication—so begin a dialogue to change thestatus quo.

Why We Fight

Board Enhanced by Student Representation

Story by: Laura Weiss News Editor, The SpokeConestoga High School

Story by: Jane Blystone, MJE President of PSPAMercyhurst College

organization, its work and the importanceof an uncorrupted voice in our community, Icame to understand why she is so passionateabout ghting censorship. Now, I am honoredto be a 45words Student Partner, and this onlyencourages my belief in vocalizing press rights.

No matter what the situation at hand,we should always protect our future staff and ourselves by talking about press rights, particularly as older editors graduate and staffstransition for next year. By continuing to talk about your rights, you will remember to keeptheir importance at the forefront.

Even if censorship is not a problem for your school at the moment, your rights are just as necessary to learn and talk about. In afew years, current freshmen will need to beaware of their rights so that they can protectthe integrity of your publication. Using timetogether to speak about press rights is aninvestment in your publication’s future. Byeducating your staff and fellow editors on the

Story by: Meghan MorrisCo-editor-in-chief, TheSpokeConestoga High School

I need a astunny F

Judith Frost Stark, a rst grade schoolteacher, gave her students the beginningof cliches and asked them to nish thethought. Here is a sampling of what

they wrote...

- People who live in glass housesshouldn’t... undress.

- If you lie down with dogs... you stink in the morning.

- When the cat’s away... no pooh!

- A penny saved is... not much.

- Opportunity only knocks when... shecan’t reach the doorbell .



PSPA Conference, aGift Worth Giving

A True American Invention

Reflections from a YB Editor-in-Chief,Secrets to Success

Story by: Liz BravacosCo-editor-in-chief, The SpokeConestoga High School

As a PSPA student boardmember, I helped distribute gift cards tospeakers at the annual fall conference inHarrisburg this past November as tokens of appreciation. I wore comfortable shoes andlearned the layout of the hotel ahead of timeso that I could easily deliver the envelopesfollowing each session. It was the kind of work that I was glad to do but didn’t expect to learnanything from. Fortunately, I was mistaken.

Each speaker that I visited struck up aconversation, asking my name, my publication,my position, my interests, my favorite icecream avor (okay, no one asked me that lastone, but you get the idea). Engaged and eager,those adults greeted me warmly and inspiredme thoroughly. With each handshake I becameless and less nervous, learning a new face and

name, gaining a new contact or story. I learnedso much from those brief conversations withthe professionals at the conference that I canonly imagine what their prepared lessons musthave taught my fellow student journalists.

Therein lies the best part of PSPA: the people. Every adult at the conference waswelcoming and curious, willing to discusstheir careers and share their insights. I mayhave been carrying around gift cards, but I’mcertain that the speakers’ kindness was notsolely due to the Thank You presents. PSPAallows students to create relationships with professionals in their area of interest. Thosekinds of connections helped me to discover

specic goals for myself as I enter college anda career in the coming years. Where else canstudents get such guidance tailored directly totheir extra-curricular interests?

The adults at PSPA want to be there.They’re enthusiastic, insightful and excited.Their attitude is contagious. Last fall whenI was scrambling to work on my paper’srst issues, starting college applications andcompleting schoolwork, I was not thinkingabout my potential career in journalism. Thespeakers at PSPA’s fall conference switchedmy focus and reminded me that journalismis still very much alive. This community of educated, interested individuals is one that allstudent journalists and their advisers should

join. I know that my time working for thisorganization is far from over, even if my job onconference days was merely handing out giftcards.

I am not a prophet. I cannot comfortably predict if 2012 will contain the end of theworld, if the sequel of “The Dark Knight” will be the best movie ever made, or even if thePhiladelphia Eagles will ever win The Super Bowl (no, yes, and no if I was forced to guess,though). But what I can say, with absolutecertainty, is that The United States of Americawill be remembered.

We will be remembered in classroomtextbooks of the future not because of our invention of hamburgers (actually invented inEurope during the 15th century), our national pastime, baseball (a plagiarized form of cricket), or even plastic surgery (India beatus to it) but because of the true Americaninvention: the 1st Amendment.

Never before had a country been trulyfounded for, by, and of the people, while alsogranting them the rights to form, speak, anddefend their beliefs. Even today people areforced to go without these important rights.Don’t believe me? Go ahead and try runningdown the streets of North Korea yelling

obscenities about Kim Jong Il. You’ll bethrown in jail faster than Windows can get avirus.

It is almost silly to call these Americanguarantees rights, because in reality, they areduties. It’s no secret that The United States wasformed on a system of checks and balances.Our government is split into three different branches, the judicial being split again by state

It seems it was only yesterdaythat I rst applied for the KiskiArea Campus yearbook reporting staff asa sophomore searching for my niche. Nowover two years later, I hold the position of the 2010-2011 Editor-in-chief. When askedto take the position, I knew that serving asEditor-in-chief would be time-consuming, andvery demanding. However, without another moment of consideration, I gratefully accepted,and took on the challenge of creating another award-winning yearbook.

Merely days after our 2009-2010 book wasnished, last year’s editors-in-chief and staff began developing a theme for this year. Mystaff, adviser, and I also got together over thesummer at a conference held here at our school.We shared ideas, sketched spreads by hand,and worked with Taylor/Balfour Publishingin creating a cover design. The books that we produce would never be possible without thishead start.

One of the major contributors to asuccessful yearbook directly involves the timeand effort put into the task. Surely, the book shaped over the span of a year contains muchmore thought and creativity than one fashioned

over the course of a few months. Hence, giveyour staff a week or two to wallow in thesuccess of a completed book, and then start the brainstorming process for the year to follow.

Additionally, a well-chosen staff composedof different individuals allows for more diverseideas. At Kiski, we do not have the privilegeof a yearbook class and thus we completethe entire book during study hall time andhours spent after school. Also, most of thetime, the staff members have to work in theyearbook room without our adviser in close proximity. Therefore, when choosing staff members, we have to always base our choiceson ability, motivation, and commitment. This

has become both a challenge and a blessing,as it has resulted in an extremely friendly andclose staff. Certainly, I can without a doubtrecognize our efciency of work as the mostimportant part of Kiski’s recent yearbook success.

Even though our adviser spent the majorityof his school days teaching math in class, heconsciously made time to guide us through theentire process. Without his help and dedicationwe would be nowhere near where we are today

Never deny yourselves the opportunity tolearn and improve your work, and use all of your tools wisely to create an amazing book that recognizes your capabilities.

and federal government, andthe legislative branch broken upinto two houses and by state and

federal government.The founding fathers saw

even this as too much power, and gavethe citizens the ultimate trump card: pressfreedom. Press freedom is more than justsupposedly witty political cartoons (seriously,does anybody truly like those?); it is the power to keep tabs on the government. If our government was founded on checks and balances, this is checkmate.

“By, of, and for the people” means thatthe people need to know what is happening.Freedom of speech is a glorious light used by

journalists to enlighten the world otherwisehidden in the shadow of ignorance. If itweren’t for journalism, the entire westcoast would have no clue there was even acontroversial healthcare law being debated for months. That’s not to say that the west coastisn’t clueless now, but who am I to say? I

only know of it from Katy Perry’s catchy tune“California Gurls.”

When people ask me what I want to do withmy life, and I tell them I want to be a broadcast

journalist, they assume I’m a narcissistic manwho would love to see myself on TV. Littledo they know I have the noblest intentions of them all: preserving our nation and democracyAnd hey, I do look good on TV.

Story by: Joey BrownWriter, Paw Print Big Spring High School

Story by: Sarah Rozewicz

Editor-in-chief, Campus YBKiski Area High School

Nominate your adviser for Adviser of the Year and/or apply for a student positionon the PSPA Board! Seethe enclosed applications.



PSPAP. O. Box 1092Carlisle, PA 17013

Are you a new adviser of a school publication in the state of Pennsylvania? Or maybe you’re a seasoned adviser that truly wants to bring your students’ work to the next level. Look here for the answers from Pennsylvania’s ONLY ofcial journalistic association. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SO MANY FREEBIES!

New NewsletterNotions

PSPA debuted this newsletter for several reasons. First, we wanted to

provide PA schools with knowledge of opportunities that they would not haverealized otherwise.

Second, it’s truly our hope that thisquarterly publication might featurestudents and advisers who deserverecognition.

Third, and most importantly, we simplyhad to inform and remind schools thatPSPA is the only ofcial journalistic forumthat governs all PA publications. We arehere and so willing to help you!

If you have ideas or suggestions for this publication, send them to Paul Fantaski at:

[email protected]

Quick Tips

Y E A R B O O K Enjoy these little

tidbits of wisdom...Sarah Rozewicz

Editor-in-Chief, CampusKiski Area HS

Decide on next year’s theme as earlyas possible. On distribution day, whileeveryone receives books, have polls andquestions ready to get a head start on thefollowing year for students sitting in HRsor classes.

Attend summer workshops to bond asa staff and to work out details that will enhance your theme.

Make sure your school secretariesknow all the details about your distribution. They can answer many questions before they becomemessages in your voice mailbox.

“ T he g rea te

s t

da n ge r f o r m

o s t o f

u s i s n o t t ha t o u r

a i m i s t o o h i g h

a n d

we m i s s i t, b

u t t ha t

i t i s t o o l o w a n d w

e

rea c h i t.”

M i c h e l a n g e l o

From the Jersey shore tothe Bay Bridge—all acrossthe country—33 experienced

publication advisers, most of whomare retired, now mentor new or inexperiencedadvisers.

Seventy mentees, who enjoy a two-year relationship with their mentors, have alreadyexited the JEA sponsored program, which has been active for four years.

In Pennsylvania, where the program issponsored jointly by PSPA and JEA, twomentors are working with six advisers.

In the northeast, Kathy Zwiebel, whorecently retired from Pottsville High School, isworking with four mentees: Bridget Freiler atPottsville Area High School; Andrea Marterellaat Pine Grove High School; Cathy Podolak

PSPA Takes on MenteesStory by: Janice Hateld

PSPA Newspaper Coordinator

at Wyoming Valley West High School; andTony Reid at The Hill School in Pottstown.Mrs. Zweibel has won numerous awards inthe eld of journalism education, includingPennsylvania Journalism Teacher of the Year and DJNF National High School JournalismTeacher of the Year. In the southwestern partof the state near Pittsburgh, Janice Hateld,who advised both the award-winning literarymagazine and the newspaper at West GreeneHigh School and is newspaper coordinator for PSPA, now mentors Naomi Beres at ThomasJefferson High School in Jefferson Hills and

Dawn Begor at Mt. Lebanon High School.Speaking of her experience as a mentee,Mrs. Beres says, “I feel that the expertise thatJanice Hateld brings to the table as my mentor is so worth the small contribution of time thatis required of me. I have learned much moreabout the craft of teaching journalism duringour few months together . . .”

If you are interested in working with amentor, please contact Janice at [email protected] or Kathy at [email protected] .

Students...Get Your Story

Published/Known

PSPA wants your story! How hasnewspaper, lit mag, broadcasting, or

yearbook affected your life? Do you wish tosend out props and thanks to your adviser?Did you overcome incredible obstacles toget your issue out? Do you have strongviews about censorship or other issues?Here’s your chance. Send your stories to

PSPA and we will post them on our websitefor the whole state to read. Some might

even make it to this newsletter. Email allsubmissions to:

[email protected] “PSPA Student Story” in the subject

eld. We can’t wait to receive your opinionsand stories.

pennsylvania school press association newsletter may 2011

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