Workshops/Conventions   

Contra Costa Scholastic Press Association (CCSPA): Meetings are roughly monthly during the school year from 4-5 pm at another high school. This year guest speakers will include sports writers and other news professionals. Attending these meetings also offers you a chance to network with other high school journalists in Contra Costa County.

October 7 (Las Lomas, Walnut Creek)
November 18 (Montevista)
January 13 (Northgate)

If you are interested, please click on the link above and fill out the form. Unless you have your own transportation, a maximum of four students can attend each month.

Journalism Education Association of Northern California (JEANC) Convention, Sacramento, October 23-25

Students attending the convention will have to pay at least part of their registration and/or transportation. We have to decide pretty quickly how many students are going and how we are getting there. Public transportation is easiest (Amtrak), but we could do carpooling (that requires parents to fill out the paperwork, you to bring it back and the district to approve it). We are also looking for chaperones so that we can take more than 10 people.

Amtrak will be about $30/person before any discount or assistance from your publication funds. Registration for the convention is $45/person without contests (which are Friday only) before assistance.

If you are interested, please fill out the form below.

Sign me up for the State Convention!

NewsU Courses

In order to participate in NewsU courses, you will have to register. Use your first name and last initial. If prompted to use an address, use the school address and class phone number (510-231-1429 x25207).

The NewsU courses listed below are FREE. Once you have finished with the course, there is a certificate that you can print. The certificate will serve as proof that you have completed the course. These courses are recommend for you to improve your practice in newspaper, yearbook or other online journalism.

The Interview: Boost your interviewing skills in this interactive simulation. It's a little goofy, but very fun.
The Lead Lab: This is another interactive simulation with Chip Scanlan. It's a great way to get you thinking about how to start a story.
Cleaning Your Copy: This is a tough little course on the finer points of copy editing. Read through the materials, then practice what you've learned. Have your Style Book handy.
First Amendment for the High School Journalist: While not the most exciting of the workshops available, this course is an excellent primer on your rights as a student. You do not have to complete this all at one sitting. Feel free to go back to the course over a few days.
The Be A Reporter Game: This is a short one. Get your assignment from the editor and you're off an running!
Watching TV News: How to be a Smarter Viewer: This is a longer course, but will help you develop the skills to critically analyze the news you are seeing on TV. This course does not require you to complete all activities at once. You can go back for multiple sessions.