April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session I | 1:30 p.m. | 60-90 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center - Caraway I-III (Lower Level)

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session V | 11:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Conway - Marriott 2nd Floor

Topic: Community Building Branded Documentary Opportunities

Description: In this session, we'll watch and discuss examples of short-form branded content documentaries with minimal elements such as food beauties, location b-roll, sitdown interview questions, and cinema verite. We'll also discuss how to engage with local businesses and vendors to pitch these short-form branded docs to help them market their brands while giving your students opportunities to produce short-form mini-documentaries.

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session I | 1:30 p.m. | 60-90 mins
Location: Harris Brake - Marriot 2nd Floor

Topic: Press the Issue - All Things Journalism

Description: UARK students will have a Q&A with attendees about their interests in journalism: Media Production, Broadcast, Podcast and its changing landscape. Lauren Burgess, Rachell Sanchez-Smith, Alo Hernandez and Jazzy Dorsey are all student journalism majors and members of the newly approved RSO, NAHJ UARK. This is an opportunity for ASPA students to "interview" university students about the reality of journalism life and what is needed to be the best!

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session I | 1:30 p.m. | 60-90 mins
Location: Conway - Marriot 2nd Floor

Topic: Becoming A Photojournalist Today

Description:

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session II | 4:15 p.m. | 60-90 mins
Location: Conway - Marriot 2nd Floor

Topic: WordPress versus…. ????

Description: Which online hosting platform is best for journalists, filmmakers, content creators and business owners?

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session I | 1:30 p.m. | 60-90 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center - Miller (Lower Level)

Topic: Impact of Digital Journalism on Broadcast & Print Journalism

Description: Digital Journalism is becoming more and more of a staple in broadcast and print journalism especially in streaming spaces. There is a need to add more curriculum preparing students to work for traditional broadcast organizations as well as broadcast and print news organizations streaming platforms.

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session I | 1:30 p.m. | 60-90 mins
Location: White Oak - Marriot 2nd Floor

Topic: Editing in the Real World

Description: Tips, guidance and perspective on leading newsrooms, coaching reporters and getting the most from your resources in a digital media world.

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session I | 1:30 p.m. | 60-90 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Gov. Hall III (Lower Level)

Topic: Prose, Poems and Drama!

Description: Students will hear interpretations of well-known writers and learn ways to reach under represented audiences. Additionally, students will practice editing words while learning to write descriptively.

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session I | 1:30 p.m. | 60-90 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Izard (Lower Level)

Topic: Inking YOUR Future: Turning High School Journalism Skills Into a Career

Description: If your experience as a high school journalist has helped you find your passion, follow it to a career! Whether you want to work in journalism, advertising or another related field, the skills you’re practicing now are setting a solid foundation you can build on in the future. In this session, hear from two Arkansas high school journalism alums about their careers as a Digital Copywriter and Digital Art Director at one of Arkansas’ top advertising agencies, and learn how their experience as student journalists helped prepare them for the work they do every day.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session V | 11:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Miller (Lower Level)

Topic: Crafting Copy People Want to Read

Description: In a world where a million things are competing for our attention at every moment, it’s asking a lot for people to stop what they’re doing and read our words. Having an important message isn’t enough — you have to hook them, keep them reading and make your writing worth their time. In this session, hear from a Digital Copywriter at one of Arkansas’ top advertising agencies about techniques you can apply to your writing to make it more creative and compelling, whether you’re writing a newspaper column, a yearbook caption or anything in between.

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session II | 4:15 p.m. | 45 mins
Location: Harris Brake – Marriot 2nd Floor

Topic: Photography/Photojournalism Today

Description: My desire is show my photography of past events, the Black Lives Matter protests in Bentonville and Fayetteville, and talk the truth in what we record.

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session II | 4:15 p.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Fulton (Lower Level)

Topic: Telling the Story in Pursuit of Justice

Description: How I took the 5Ws and 1 H from reporting to the courtroom.

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session II | 4:15 p.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Pope (Lower Level)

Topic: Capturing the Moment: News Photography Skills

Description: Photography plays a crucial role in telling compelling news stories, capturing moments that words alone cannot convey. Don't miss this opportunity to hone your photography skills whether you are covering feature stories, sporting events and/or breaking news. We'll provide you some tips that will inspire you to capture the world around you through the lens of a journalist.

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session II | 4:15 p.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Miller (Lower Level)

Topic: Story Ideas and True-Crime Podcasting

Description: It doesn't matter if your medium is text, audio or video, every journalist needs to know how to find good sources and good story ideas. We'll discuss tips and techniques to add to your reporting toolkit.

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session II | 4:15 p.m. | 45 mins
Location: White Oak – Marriott 2nd Floor

Topic: Capturing the Moment: News Photography Skills

Description: Photography plays a crucial role in telling compelling news stories, capturing moments that words alone cannot convey. Don't miss this opportunity to hone your photography skills whether you are covering feature stories, sporting events and/or breaking news. We'll provide you some tips that will inspire you to capture the world around you through the lens of a journalist.

April 25, 2024 - Thursday
Session II | 4:15 p.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Caraway I-III (Lower Level)

Topic: Ethical Storytelling on Sensitive Issues

Description: This session will take a deep dive into different ethical processes for reporting on sensitive topics. This session will examine the murder of George Floyd, and apply classical journalism theories to his case. The theories that will be applied are the Ends-Based Thinking, Rule-Based Thinking, the Golden Mean and the Golden Rule. This session will be interactive, allowing participants to work through each theory out loud.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session III | 9:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: White Oak – Marriott 2nd Floor

Topic: Feature Writing

Description: It's all about people. From the pitch to the final draft, we will discuss how to write compelling stories by focusing on people rather than events.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session IV | 10:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Caraway I-III (Lower Level)

Topic: It’s No Big Secret

Description: Four (fairly) simple techniques to making readers pay attention to your stories

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session III | 9:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Harris Brake – Marriott 2nf Floor

Topic: Producing a Captivating Newscast

Description: Basic tips and decisions for executing an effective TV newscast.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session IV | 10:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Harris Brake – Marriott 2nd Floor

Topic: The TV News Package

Description: Tips and rules for TV package storytelling.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session III | 9:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Caraway I-III (Lower Level)

Topic: Algorithms and AI: What Journalists Need to Know

Description: This session will provide an overview of algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) and how the technology can affect real world experiences, particularly in journalistic practices. Examples of how AI-powered language models (e.g. ChatGPT) can be used to assist with news reporting will be discussed. Participants also will be engaged in exercises and discussion that demonstrate how algorithms and AI can be combined to create biases and injustices in society, which in turn, might affect reporting if left unchecked.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session III | 9:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Conway – Marriott 2nd Floor

Topic: Find Your Photo Voice

Description: Strong visuals should start every story. Learn how to use good light, great composition and storytelling elements to lure readers onto every page. This session will feature select winners in the 2023 NSPA Photo of the Year contest.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session IV | 10:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Conway – Marriott 2nd Floor

Topic: Time to Sparkle & Shine

Description: Colors, typography and icons create a style that will make your publication a showstopper. Come see what the pros are doing right now to step up your design game.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session IV | 10:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Miller (Lower Level)

Topic: Getting Involved with the Emmys

Description: Available scholarships and awards for students

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session IV | 10:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Gov. Hall III (Lower Level)

Topic: Hear from Social Media Creator Noah Washington

Description: Noah Washington, of "The Ridin' Around Show" YouTube channel, will talk building an online brand and being a student entrepreneur. Come with questions for Noah.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session IV | 10:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Fulton (Lower Level)

Topic: Broadcast News: What is it, Where is it going, How you sign up

Description: The presentation is an insider's look at the broadcast news business through the eyes of a professional journalist who has practiced his craft for decades. This will be a first-person account of journalism told through actual video reports of major news events. Attendees will learn the responsibilities of journalism and how to begin their own journey. The lecture traces the origins of broadcast news, reviews the current status, and looks to the future.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session IV | 10:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Statehouse Convention Center – Izard (Lower Level)

Topic: Effectively Using JEA’s Curriculum

Description: Advisers will be introduced to the vast resources available through the JEA Curriculum Initiative. Teachers will leave with an understanding of what JEA offers in terms of curriculum, ideas for how you can map out your semester or year-long courses using the lessons, and tips and tricks for deploying the curriculum in the classroom.

April 26, 2024 - Friday
Session V | 11:15 a.m. | 45 mins
Location: Harris Brake – Marriott 2nd Floor

Topic: The Modern Web

Description: An introduction to modern web best practices, concepts and trends, using examples from media websites. Topics include: accessibility, responsive and component design, using APIs to retrieve and send data, how modern websites are created and publishing website must-haves.