Kandell outstanding HS instructor

Unsuspecting Palo Alto High School journalism adviser Paul Kandell (right) was lied to by his best friends and ambushed at the JEA/NSPA Spring 2009 National High School Journalism Convention and presented with the Cal-JEC High School Adviser of the Year Award by JEANC President Sarah Nichols. Paul’s students joined in the presentation ceremony.

Survey shows obstacles for HS papers

A Survey of High School Journalism in Southern California Reveals Obstacles of Funding, Teacher Training and Future of Student Newspapers

Los Angeles, March 2009 – A new study of high school journalism in Southern California commissioned by the McCormick Foundation has found that high school student newspapers are more likely to be published at schools that offer journalism classes. In addition, the McCormick Foundation-funded study indicates that First Amendment issues, poor literacy skills, and lack of time and resources are among the challenges facing high school journalism teachers and students.

Waddell, DeBolt, McLeod honored

David Waddell

Paul DeBolt

Paul McLeod

Two communitiy college professors and one universtiy professor were honored as outstanding instructors by the California Journalism Education Coaltion at the annual convention of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges March 29.

Honored were:

• Paul McLeod, who teaches journalism and advises student publications at both Los Angeles Harbor (Wilmington) and Saddleback (Mission Viejo) colleges,
• Paul DeBolt, who teaches journalism and advises the student publication at Contra Costa College (San Pablo), and
• Dr. David Waddell, who teaches journalism and advises the student publication at California State University, Chico.

April 30 deadline for SPJ Project scholarships

Student journalists seeking funding for multimedia and pioneering storytelling projects should consider applying for the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2009 scholarships. The application deadline is April 30, 2009.

The financial awards range up to $1,000 each in these areas: ethnic minorities, broadcast journalism, investigative or political reporting, and general journalism.

Applications and details are available here.

BAMMA deadline extended

The Bay Area Multicultural Media Academy at San Francisco State University has extended its deadline for application for the 2009 program. All materials must now be received by April 30, no exceptions.

BAMMA is a free two-week residential program to develop journalism skills and careers for Bay Area high school students. This year’s program will run from Sunday, June 21 through Saturday, July 4, 2009. For more information, see below or follow this link: http://bamma.ciij.org.

ONA opportunity for students

Applications are now open for the ONA09 Student Newsroom at the Online News Association’s annual conference, Oct. 1-3, in San Francisco.

All college/university students who are actively pursuing a degree in journalism or who produce digital media as of the conference dates are eligible. Membership in ONA is not required. The approximately 20 available spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and a wait list will be maintained.

NLGJA scholarship for NorCal students

The Northern California Chapter of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) is has announced its 2009 Bob Ross Student Scholarship. For the third year, the Bob Ross Foundation has offered $2,500 for the winner of this scholarship. Additionally, the scope of the scholarship has been expanded to include students who are from Northern California but may be pursuing their education out of state.

All entries must be e-mailed or postmarked by June 30, 2009. Electronic submissions are preferred. Winners will be informed no later than October 1, and honored at the Chapter’s Excellence in Journalism Awards in San Francisco in October 2009.

Download an application at: http://nlgja.org/chapters/northerncal.htm.

IRE`s Watchdog Journalism Training

Annenberg School of Journalism, USC | Los Angeles
April 17-18, 2009
ire.org/training/watchdog/

The world is changing; are you prepared to cover it? Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Online News Association and the USC Annenberg School of Journalism present a Better Watchdog Workshop with a digital twist. Learn skills necessary for reporters who want to dig deeper, navigate the Web better, mine social sites, negotiate for information and be more efficient while producing quality work. In addition, attend the Selden Ring Award lunch and hear from the winners at a special workshop session. Offerings are sure to benefit journalists of all experience levels.

Biola students get cross-cultural experience

By Dr. Michael Longinow
Chair Department of Journalism
Biola University

It’s not an ordinary course. But it is an attempt at cross-cultural learning. Students at Biola University, in La Mirada, took a Monday, Wednesday, Friday course spring semester with an interesting twist to the syllabus: on Fridays, class was called off.

Instead of that hour of class — and whatever prep they’d have done for it — students were directed to use the 90 minutes or so to visit a place of worship or spiritual experience different than what they’d ever seen before.

Printing Industries Seek Nominations

Education Awards of Excellence
2009 Call for Nominations – Due May 15

Printing Industries of America is seeking to honor an academic educator and an industry trainer from the graphic communications field. Nominations for the Education Awards of Excellence are due May 15, 2009.