Yearbook and Journalism Field Trip
Students from Weston High School’s Yearbook and Journalism programs attend CSPA’s 86th Annual Conference at Columbia University in New York City on November 2nd.
At the college, students were able to attend a variety of classes and sessions taught by experienced teachers, analysts, and experts in their field. Session topics varied from discussions over yearbook themes, tips to conduct interviews, how to avoid copyright disputes, and much more. Students were able to expand their knowledge about journalistic strategies and learn more about topics that directly interested them.
Ariya Shah, a freshman in Mrs. Eisenman’s Journalism class signed up for five meetings: “The Entrepreneurial Journalist,” “12 Ways to Make Your Website Next-Level with Digital Storytelling,” “Digging Up Secrets,” “Feature Magazine Design,” and “Using Photo Story Elements to Build Layouts.”
“It was a fun event,” said Ariya. “I enjoyed spending time with my club members, visiting the campus, and listening to all the speakers.”
Meanwhile, Santino De Lucia, a staff member of both Yearbook and the Weston Warhorse, attended three sessions: “Investigative Reporting,” “Libel and Slander,” and “Pick Me! Pick Me!” sessions.
“I tried scheduling the day to have an overall theme,” said Santino. “I wasn’t sure what ‘Pick me! Pick me!’ would be about, but it was actually really interesting! We learned some important life skills like how to present and prepare yourself for job opportunities. The host, Bonnie Blackman, did a really great job.”
“Without a doubt, my favorite lecture was about Investigative Reporting,” said Santino. “It caught my interest as it’s the field of journalism I’d like to specialize in.”
“I liked all of my classes that I chose, but one that stood out to me the most was the photography-focused one, where they use different photos to tell a story,” said Ariya.
After the conference concluded, our students hitched a ride on the train and returned to Westport safely. Everyone who attended was able to learn something new that they can carry with them throughout their journalistic journey.
“One takeaway I have is that you have to keep your readers engaged with interactive activities or something to look at in your piece,” said Ariya.
“The event really reignited my passion for journalism,” said Santino. “It enlightened me to the vast amount of opportunities there are for a field in which I thought was decaying. I also really enjoyed having the opportunity to hear from professionals in fields I’m interested in pursuing.”