2022 FHSU Fall Conference

We will not be distributing paper programs for this event, both to save paper and to give attendees the most up-to-date schedule of events. But come say hi in the Sunset Atrium of the Memorial Union, 600 Park St, Hays, KS 67601

KSPA executive director Eric Thomas will welcome students and teacher to the event in the ballroom on the second floor. Also, Melissa Hunsicker Walburn, the chair of the department of informatics, will welcome the conference to the Fort Hays State University campus. 

Following that, our keynote speaker, David Condos of High Plains Public Radio will showcase some of his recent journalism from Western Kansas. 

David Condos is High Plains Public Radio’s western Kansas correspondent. Based in Hays, he reports on issues that shape rural communities across the Great Plains — from water and climate change to agriculture and immigration. His coverage of western Kansas has earned him several prestigious awards, including a National Edward R. Murrow award, two national Public Media Journalists Association awards and three regional Edward R. Murrow awards.

His work reaches audiences across Kansas through the Kansas News Service, a statewide collaboration of public radio stations. The stories he’s reported from western Kansas have also aired nationally on NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Here & Now and have been published in newspapers nationwide.

After growing up in Nebraska, Colorado and Illinois, Condos graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

You can find him on Twitter @davidcondos.

KSPA executive director Eric Thomas recommends listening to and reading these stories by Condos: 

• “Eighty million years ago, western Kansas was ‘hell’s aquarium.’ Here’s what it can teach us today”
• “How Kansas could lose billions in land values as its underground water runs dry” 
• “Even competitive hunting can’t stop coyotes from thriving in Kansas”
• “How a meatpacking plant changed one Kansas town 40 years ago and left a Colorado community behind“
• “What The History Of ‘Noose Road’ Tells Us About Kansas, Race And The Lynchings Of Black Men”

“Helpful Hints in Interviewing Someone”

Memorial Union: Trails Room

Linn Ann Huntington, Fort Hays State University

Linn Ann Huntington spent 26 years as the Director of Journalism at FHSU. She has experience advising a campus newspaper and its website; yearbooks; and a campus magazine. Since her retirement she is active as a freelance writer.

“Advisers Social Time”

Memorial Union: Smoky Hills Room

Come gather with your fellow journalism teachers from this part of the state during our Advisers Social Time. There is no agenda, so leave your gradebook and classroom behind for some time of bonding, commiserating and problem solving with your favorite people: fellow journalism teachers!

“The 10 Must-Have Images of Photojournalism”

Memorial Union: Ballroom
Photographers often wonder, “What kinds of photos should I be seeking out when I go on an assignment?” Whether it’s for coverage of a Friday night football game or a story about art classes, photojournalists should have a checklist of essential images to collect on every assignment. This session will show you the photos that you should be seeking as a student journalist. 

Eric Thomas, KSPA executive director & lecturer at the University of Kansas

Eric Thomas leads the Kansas Scholastic Press Association for his ninth year as executive director from the non-profit’s home office at the University of Kansas. He and his staff program a full year of events, scholarships, awards, contests and critiques to help student journalists do their best. During his teaching at KU, Thomas focuses on photojournalism and visual communication. He is a former high school journalism teacher and newspaper photographer. 

“Forget Mistakes”

Memorial Union: Prairie Room

The responsibility of community journalism often falls upon one person’s shoulders, especially in small towns. When you operate with no copy editor, no editor and no peers to share the burden of filling the newspaper, mistakes will happen. You can’t let them get you down if you’re going to keep producing a newspaper every day. Toughen your skin and remember you’re only human.

Whitney Hogdin, Dodge City Globe

I’m privileged to have a job in my field in a town where the newspaper is still printed on paper.

“Bring Your Best!”

Memorial Union: Black & Gold Room

You want the best? You got the best! Bring YOUR most effective and most creative ideas to this student-centered session, in which you will be able to share what works for your publication staffs and to learn what works for other journalism staffs. This session will cover ALL the journalism things – from staff bonding, leadership, organization and team-building to publications design, photography, reporting and writing, plus any other journalism topics that you want to discuss. P.S., there will be candy!

Jessica Augustine, Hays High School

Jessica Augustine started her career at Kapaun Mt. Carmel, where for six years, she advised the newsmagazine and yearbook, along with beginning a video journalism program. She then taught English and journalism at Rock Creek for 11 years, reviving the newspaper, creating a newscast and improving the yearbook. In 2019, she started teaching at Hays High School, where she advises the Guidon print newsmagazine and online newspaper and Indian Call yearbook, along with teaching journalism, photography and web design. She also instructs English, education and leadership courses for Highland Community College, is a JEA, KSPA and NSPA member, has earned her CJE and has judged for NSPA and CSPA.

“Sports Broadcasting and Journalism”

Memorial Union: Pioneer Room

Jaxson Webb, Fort Hays State University

Jaxxson Webb is a sports broadcaster and current senior at Fort Hays State University athletics. 

“David Condos Q&A”

Memorial Union: Stouffer Lounge

A Q&A with keynote speaker David Condos. Come to meet David and ask him questions you didn’t get to ask at the keynote presentation. 

David Condos, High Plains Public Radio

David Condos is High Plains Public Radio’s western Kansas correspondent. Based in Hays, he reports on issues that shape rural communities across the Great Plains — from water and climate change to agriculture and immigration. His coverage of western Kansas has earned him several prestigious awards, including a National Edward R. Murrow award, two national Public Media Journalists Association awards and three regional Edward R. Murrow awards.

“Tours of Tiger Media Network”

Memorial Union: meet outside the Memorial Union ballroom

Students will get an up-close look at what Tiger Media Network facilities and equipment look like during a tour of Hammond Hall.

Nick Schwien, Tiger Media Network at Fort Hays State University

Nick has been director of Tiger Media Network (TMN) since 2018. He has spent more than 20 years in the newspaper industry and convergent media fields. TMN is the convergent media hub for student-produced content at Fort Hays State University.

“The Nuts and Bolts of News Writing”

Memorial Union: Trails Room

Linn Ann Huntington, Fort Hays State University

Linn Ann Huntington spent 26 years as the Director of Journalism at Fort Hays State University. She has experience advising a campus newspaper and its website; yearbooks; and a campus magazine. Since her retirement she remains active as a freelance writer.

“KSPA Advisers Meeting”

Memorial Union: Smoky Hills Room
Come hear all of the exciting ways that your students can participate in KSPA programming. Plus, we are here to listen: let us know how KSPA can better serve you. 

Jessica Augustine, Hays High School

Jessica Augustine started her career at Kapaun Mt. Carmel, where for six years, she advised the newsmagazine and yearbook, along with beginning a video journalism program. She then taught English and journalism at Rock Creek for 11 years, reviving the newspaper, creating a newscast and improving the yearbook. In 2019, she started teaching at Hays High School, where she advises the Guidon print newsmagazine and online newspaper and Indian Call yearbook, along with teaching journalism, photography and web design. She also instructs English, education and leadership courses for Highland Community College, is a JEA, KSPA and NSPA member, has earned her CJE and has judged for NSPA and CSPA.

“Creating Personality with Typography”

Memorial Union: Ballroom
“Should I use this font? Or this font? Or this font?” Spend time in a student publications classroom and you will hear lots of confusion about what kind of font to use — and when. This presentation will teach you how to serve your reader with what they want: clear typography that also has a personality. This session is a great fit, regardless of whether you are a beginning designer or an experience InDesign expert. 

Eric Thomas, KSPA executive director & lecturer at the University of Kansas

Eric Thomas leads the Kansas Scholastic Press Association for his ninth year as executive director from the non-profit’s home office at the University of Kansas. He and his staff program a full year of events, scholarships, awards, contests and critiques to help student journalists do their best. During his teaching at KU, Thomas focuses on photojournalism and visual communication. He is a former high school journalism teacher and newspaper photographer. 

“Keeping on Brand”

Memorial Union: Prairie Room

I will be talking about the importance of keeping FHSU on brand along with examples. I will discuss our latest project and how it was developed from concept to completion – and other fun stuff.

Scott Gross, Fort Hays State University

My name is Scott Gross, I hold 32 years of experience in design, which includes art direction, brand identity, and graphic design. Currently, I am the Art Director of the University Marketing Department at Fort Hays State University.

“Editors Roundtable”

Memorial Union: Calvary Room
Are you a leader on your publication? Do you want to hear how students at other schools solve the problems that you wrestle with every day? If so, come with your publications, your biggest dilemmas and your success stories. There is no formal agenda here. So, your concerns and projects are what we will talk about. 

Editors of publications who are attending the KSPA conference at FHSU

Since there will be no formal leader for this session, students will lead. Of course, this should be super comfy for a bunch of natural leaders and great student editors like you. 

“Sports Media at the Collegiate Level”

Memorial Union: Black & Gold Room

Students will learn what it is like to be a student sports journalist at FHSU: what the week looks like and the every day responsibilities of a sports journalist.

Cayden Sanders, Fort Hays Athletics

“Nothing But Potential”

Memorial Union: Pioneer Room

During this session, reporter and broadcaster James Bell will walk attendees through tools and opportunities for young journalists to launch their own news outlets online. Practical skills and the tools needed to become a successful self-contained news publisher will be discussed.

James Bell, Eagle Radio/Hays Post

James Bell is a journalist and broadcaster for Eagle Radio in Hays. His award-winning multimedia work includes hosting a morning news and entertainment radio show on 94.3FM/1400AM KAYS Radio, hosting the Post Podcast, and writing for the most-trafficked news website in northwest Kansas, Hays Post.

“Learning on Campus”

Memorial Union: Stouffer Lounge
I will present a slideshow with a few of my photographs and/or articles, talk about how interviewing people has impacted my life/ advanced my social skills, and answer any real-life questions anyone may have. 

Jessalyn Kirchhoff, Fort Hays State University

I’m a Junior at FHSU with an Accounting and Finance double major. I work at a bank and as a journalist/photographer/social media coordinator for our collegiate media outlet, TMN. Although I never saw myself working in the media industry, I have fallen in love with multiple aspects of my job. I believe I have a unique perspective as a “non-media major” student and I would like to share my experiences with others like myself.

“New Media and Public Communication Tour”

Memorial Union: meet outside the Memorial Union ballroom

Students will get hands-on experience with virtual and augmented reality, 3D printing, lasers, and other tools for communicating with the public in innovative ways. Students will learn about opportunities to combine studying digital media production and journalism with new media technologies.

Gordon Carlson, Institute for New Media Studies at Fort Hays State University

Associate Professor of Informatics and directs the Institute for New Media Studies. Researcher in disruptive and convergent technologies especially as it relates to education and society.

“Ethical Questions”

Memorial Union: Trails Room

This session will examine common ethics questions–for example right to privacy; anonymous submissions; personal attacks in columns and blogs. After the students have been given some basic guidelines to follow, they will break up into groups. Each group will be given a hypothetical situation involving ethics and will have to decide how to handle the situation. 

Linn Ann Huntington, Fort Hays State University

Linn Ann Huntington spent 26 years as the Director of Journalism at Fort Hays State University. She has experience advising a campus newspaper and its website; yearbooks; and a campus magazine. Since her retirement, she remains active as a freelance writer.

“Advisers Social Time”

Memorial Union: Smoky Hills Room

Come gather with your fellow journalism teachers from this part of the state during our Advisers Social Time. There is no agenda, so leave your gradebook and classroom behind for some time of bonding, commiserating and problem solving with your favorite people: fellow journalism teachers!

“What Infographics Teach Us About Page Design”

Memorial Union: Ballroom
Would you love to create an infographic, but you don’t really know what one is? Or, are you a page designer who wants to learn exciting new ways to tell stories through your page’s coverage? This session is great for yearbook students and newspaper students who want to design visuals that your audience will actually read — and love!

Eric Thomas, KSPA executive director & lecturer at the University of Kansas

Eric Thomas leads the Kansas Scholastic Press Association for his ninth year as executive director from the non-profit’s home office at the University of Kansas. He and his staff program a full year of events, scholarships, awards, contests and critiques to help student journalists do their best. During his teaching at KU, Thomas focuses on photojournalism and visual communication. He is a former high school journalism teacher and newspaper photographer. 

“Working as a Student Journalist”

Memorial Union: Prairie Room

What does working for a campus media organization look like? How can you prepare now? Student journalists from Tiger Media Network are here to answer your questions and provide insights!

Alicia Feyerherm and Reagan Neufeld, Fort Hays State University

Alicia Feyerherm and Reagan Neufeld are studying Journalism at Fort Hays State University. Both currently work for Tiger Media Network covering a variety of stories through different mediums.

“Dealing with Difficult Sources”

Memorial Union: Black & Gold Room

Cristina Janney will look back on her 30 years of reporting and share practical examples of how she coaxed information from reluctant sources. This session is meant to be interactive, so please bring story ideas you are working on and what help you need approaching sources at your school.

Cristina Janney, Eagle Radio/Hays Post

Cristina Janney worked more than 20 years as a news reporter, editor and publisher before making the switch to online news and radio five years ago. She is now a reporter for the Hays Post/Eagle Radio. She has won many state, regional and national awards for her reporting and photography.

“The Bond Between Content Media and Sales”

Memorial Union: Pioneer Room

Sales departments can not be successful without great content. No one dresses up for kindergarten career day as a “Sales Representative”, but there is a fulfilling career to be had in broadcast sales. When you believe in the content of your product, when you can take the headline story and craft it into a display ad or a :30 second radio commercial, you in essence keep Main Street businesses alive. Media and Sales have a special bond that needs to exist in order for both to thrive.

Katie Dorzweiler, Eagle Communications

Katie Dorzweiler is a Digital Coordinator and Marketing Consultant for Eagle Communications, a broadcast media company that operates over 28 radio stations in 4 states across the Midwest, with 9 online news sites. She works with businesses and organizations to craft and promote their story through broadcast media and local new source, Hays Post.

“Tours of Tiger Media Network”

Memorial Union: meet outside the Memorial Union ballroom

Students will get an up-close look at what Tiger Media Network facilities and equipment look like during a tour of Hammond Hall.

Russell Heitmann, News and sports director at the Tiger Media Network

Ground Level

• ATM
• Chartwells Catering and Retail Offices
• National Guard
• Starbucks®
• Student Service Center
• The Market
• The Tiger Market
• Victor E. Apparel & Gift Co. 

Union Station:

• Sonos
• Pizza Hut

Meeting Spaces:

   Meadowlark Room
   Chestnut Room
   Sunflower Room 

---

Lower Level

Second Level

Memorial Union Administration and Tiger Card Center Office

Faculty-Staff Lounge

Meeting Spaces:

   Black and Gold Room
   Cavalry Room
   Fort Hays Ballroom
   Pioneer Room
   Prairie Room
   Smoky Hill Room
   Stouffer Lounge
   Trails Room
   Kanza Room