Q and A with the Pros: Derek Byrne

June 10, 2018

Filed under College, Recent News, Students, Teachers, Writing

As he builds his career in communications, Kansas City-native Derek Byrne found learning every skill he can and his strong writing skills have been essential tools for moving from high school yearbook to a Texas university to New York City and back home to the Midwest. Today, Byrne works in social media at ...

Minarets HS wins First Amendment PSA contest

May 8, 2018

Filed under Contests, Recent News

SchoolJournalism.org’s second annual First Amendment Matters PSA contest had many great entries. States represented in this contest included; South Carolina, Kentucky, California, New Jersey, Missouri, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Idaho, Utah, Michigan, and Texas. Choosing a winner was not an easy...

Service Points in Yearbook Generate Motivation

Leigh Rogers, Hermann, Mo., yearbook adviser

April 24, 2018

Filed under Lesson Plans, Recent News, Teachers

Last year came to a rough close with large chunks of the yearbook incomplete; a team exhausted and frustrated, struggling to work together; and a lack of knowing how to institute work in a class with such a complex grading criteria. When I asked staff members to complete a task, there was not much repercussion for doing a poor job other than a loss of points from their ...

SchoolJournalism.org First Amendment Video PSA Contest 2018

April 1, 2018

Filed under Contests, Current Supporters, Recent News, Students, Teachers, Videos

Multiple surveys and studies have shown that Americans remain unaware of the five freedoms the First Amendment guarantees. When more Americans can name characters from an animated television series than the freedoms outlined by the First Amendment, that is a clear indicator the time for education is...

Q and A with the Pros: Kelly Renkemeyer

Zach Batson, WHS Blue Jay Journal TV staff member, Washington, Mo.

April 1, 2018

Filed under College, Recent News, Students, Teachers, Training

As a child Kelly Renkemeyer watched her father create paintings at home. Through grade school and especially into high school her interest in art increased. Her experiences with her high school art teacher, Karen Dawson, inspired Kelly. She took as many art classes as possible and decided to major in...

Transforming to a Coach When Teaching Photography

Leigh Rogers, Hermann, Mo., yearbook adviser

March 21, 2018

Filed under Learn, Lesson Plans, Photos, Recent News, Students, Teachers, Tech, Training

Each year, I find photography is a challenging concept to teach my new yearbook staffers. I orchestrate a variety of activities and lessons throughout the year on how to use manual settings, as well as how to recognize photographic elements: emotion, background, lighting, rule of thirds, leading lines,...

Q and A with the Pros: Ryan Delaney

Matthew Amlong, WHS Blue Jay Journal TV staff member, Washington, Mo.

March 9, 2018

Filed under Recent News, Training

Ryan Delaney is currently an education reporter at St. Louis Public Radio. He covers higher education and the many school districts in the St. Louis region. He's also won multiple reporting awards for his work, which has aired on NPR, "The Takeaway," and WGBH's "Innovation Hub." You can lea...

Q and A with the Pros: Wanda Parsons

Michelle Turner, Washington, MO, and JEA 2016 Broadcast Adviser of the Year

February 12, 2018

Filed under Recent News, Tech

After a career in real estate, Wanda Parsons now works with marketing, graphic design, and photography in her position with the City of Union, Missouri. Beyond those endeavors, she’s established herself as an award-winning photographer in the region. She sat down recently with SchoolJournalism to share...

Why We Did Not Start Designing the Yearbook Until December

Leigh Rogers, Hermann, Mo., yearbook adviser

January 22, 2018

Filed under Lesson Plans, Recent News, Teachers, Training

I noticed a trend with my yearbook staffs. By second semester they were often frustrated with the process; it's a story I've heard from other yearbook teachers as well. So I evaluated the situation which led me to a solution that we are trying this year. For the first three years of advising the yearbook...

Q and A with the Pros: Ashley Reynolds

Michelle Turner, Washington, MO, and JEA 2016 Broadcast Adviser of the Year

January 7, 2018

Filed under Recent News, Training

Ashley Reynolds' passion for journalism ignited during her first year as a reporter for Hillcrest High School's "HTV Magazine" in Springfield, Mo. Her career may have taken her out of the Ozarks briefly, but she made her way back home to KY3 where she currently produces, shoots, writes, and edits...