Jessica Birthisel | June 12, 2009
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| Photo by Greg Ruhland |
| Adviser Christina Webb describes her lesson plan during an HSJI workshop session last year. |
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The institute offers four workshops every year, including two or three fundamentals courses for high school journalism instructors seeking certification credit, recertification units or enrichment hours. Indiana University is one of only three schools in the state that offers this journalism certification.
According to HSJJI Director Teresa White, workshop participants generally fall into two categories. Members in the first group already have their high school teaching certification in journalism so they are looking for a renewal of skills or a renewal of their certification through continuing education.
Attendees in the second group, says White, are often new to journalism, with little-to-no experience or certification.
“What these folks are looking for is help,” said White with a laugh, explaining that many high school teachers end up taking on journalism responsibilities as part of a package deal with an English teaching position. “A lot of them feel like they’re drowning.”
This is White’s first HSJI workshop season as director, a position she began last year upon the retirement of long-time director Jack Dvorak. But White she first became involved with the program 30 years ago as a high school student participant. She went on to teach high school English and journalism and was a newspaper adviser for 23 years. During that time, White was an HSJI instructor for 20 years and has been involved in various capacities with the Indiana High School Press Association.
Regardless of their path to the Institute, attendees leave with renewed enthusiasm and important relationships that can sustain them during the school year, White said.
“A lot of people who teach high school journalism feel like they teach on an island, because they are often the only people in their building doing it,” she said. “What our participants take away is a connection to a network of people in similar situations and more self confidence.”
This week, June 15-19, IU Student Media Director Ron Johnson will teach a session called Reinvent and Redesign Your Publication, which will cover trends among student publications, design critiques, developing story-telling tools and fundamentals in design, visuals, graphics and typography.
The yearbook advising session, taught this week by Greenfield Central High School assistant principal Susie Coleman, will cover topics such as staff supervision techniques, Web-based resources, financial management, legal and ethical responsibilities, and trends in yearbook design and production.
The next week, June 22-26, journalism associate professor Tony Fargo will teach Law and Ethics for the Student Press, a workshop devoted to court cases and legal principles involving freedom of expression, protected and unprotected speech and libel. Participants will develop an advising philosophy in order to develop appropriate polices and strategies for understanding law and media ethics as they pertain to official school media.
Journalism associate professor Steve Raymer will teach a session that week on digital photography and photo editing in order to help participants sharpen storytelling and editing skills through hands-on experience. The course will also incorporate basic sound collection and editing for multimedia presentations.
In July, high school students arrive for their sessions July 6-10, July 12-16 and July 18-22.
