2022 FHSU Regional Conference

8:30-9 a.m.

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

9:00-9:20 a.m.

Our local host, Latisha Haag of Fort Hays State University, will welcome students and teachers to Hays while providing an overview of the day and preview upcoming events on the KSPA calendar. 

9:25-10:10 a.m.

“Change is Not a Bad Word”

Memorial Union: Ballroom
Adjust. Alter. Change. Modify. Pivot. Shift. In the past three school years, journalism staffs have had to do all of the above. However, doing so can be good! In this session, learn from a 20-year journalism adviser who, along with her students, have changed the news format and various other attributes at Hays High. Be prepared to converse, sharing changes and challenges in your programs, asking questions, and offering advice to others!

Jessica Augustine, Hays High School & KSPA Area 1 Board Member

Jessica has been instructing journalism for 20 years, including at Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Rock Creek and Hays, the latter being where she currently advises newsmagazine and yearbook and teaches journalism, photography and webpage design. She is the KSPA Area 1 representative, in addition to being in JEA and NSPA.

“Marketing Yourself: Advice from a Young Professional”

Memorial Union: Trails Room
This session features tips I wish someone had told me before and during college. Discussion topics will include relationship building, creating an online presence, data-driven results, and diversifying your skills.

Noelle Husmann, Fort Hays State University Marketing Program Specialist

Noelle has worked on marketing and communications teams in Hays, KS for over eight years. Her work history includes PR Coordinator, Social Media Specialist and Creative Director for businesses like the Hays Public Library, Eagle Communications and Fort Hays State University. Areas of expertise include: Email Marking, Website Management, Organic and Paid Social Media Development, and Digital Advertising.

“From Boring to Brilliant”

Memorial Union: Stouffer Lounge
Learn writing and interviewing techniques that will turn boring, mundane stories into something you’ll enjoy writing and your audience will read.

Cristina Janney, Hays Post/Eagle Radio Reporter

Cristina Janney has 30 years experience in journalism and a master’s degree in journalism from Kansas Sate University. She worked as a newspaper reporter, editor and publisher before making the switch to radio and online news five years ago. She has many state, regional and national awards to her credit in writing, design and photography.

“Take YOUR Best Shot!”

Memorial Union: Black & Gold Ballroom
Getting that awesome photo that will wow your readers takes practice. Come learn some of the basic photography tools and tricks. We’ll have a variety of photos on hand for you to test your eye in selecting the best shots for use in your publications.

Susan Schlichting, Retired Extension Agent

Susan found the love of photography in high school. She continues to teach youth and adults photography through workshops and day camps.

“Different Faces, Same Spaces”

Center for Student Success: Room 104
While we all share the same space with Tiger Media Network, we all came from different places. Learn how our experiences in the same media technology space is different.

Omar Alvarez, David Pratt & Jaxson Webb, Play-by-Play Analysts

Omar, David and Jaxson bring a combined 15 years of broadcast experience through work at places like StriveTV, NFHS, MLBA and the KC Monarchs.

Tiger Media Network Tours

Hammond Hall: Meet outside Ballroom
Get a firsthand look at the headquarters of Tiger Media Network and the Department of Informatics at Fort Hays State University. Students will see what the university has to offer for future students, including a look at the state-of-the-art control room, two studios, the school’s radio station, newsroom and more.

Nick Schwien, Tiger Media Network Director

Nick Schwien is the director of Tiger Media Network, the convergent media hub for students at Fort Hays State University. He has spent more than 20 years in the journalism industry and is an FHSU graduate.

10:20–11 a.m.

“Leading & Working in Teams”

Memorial Union: Ballroom
The world of journalism can be a crazy place but being in a good team can make it feel calmer. In this session, we will discuss the characteristics of a good team, how to plan for success, and how overcome any obstacle you encounter.

Kaley Klaus, Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies & International Coordinator

Dr. Klaus holds a BA in Communication Studies, an MPS in Organizational Leadership, and an EdD in Higher Education & Leadership. She has worked in higher education for 10 years, specializing in leader development program assessment and evaluation and destructive leadership in organizations.

“Advertising & Adjusting to Your Audience”

Memorial Union: Trails Room
During a high-Level discussion, this session focuses on the basics of advertising and adjusting your message for different audiences. Topics will include direct mailings, email campaigns, magazine advertising, radio advertising, video advertising, digital and social advertising.

Noelle Husmann, Fort Hays State University Marketing Program Specialist

Noelle has worked on marketing and communications teams in Hays, KS for over eight years. Her work history includes PR Coordinator, Social Media Specialist and Creative Director for businesses like the Hays Public Library, Eagle Communications and Fort Hays State University. Areas of expertise include: Email Marking, Website Management, Organic and Paid Social Media Development, and Digital Advertising.

“The New Journalist”

Memorial Union: Stouffer Lounge
During this session, Hays Post reporter and Eagle Morning Show Host James Bell, will take attendees through what a day in the life of a small-town multimedia journalist entails. Attendees will see how journalism in small towns can thrive, through the use of a multimedia approach and explore what it takes to become a journalist now and in the future. Having earned a Master degree, focusing on the connection between legacy and new news media, James continues to develop multimedia news strategies in his position as a reporter and broadcaster for Eagle Radio, owner of multiple radio stations in the region as well as Hays Post.

James Bell, Hays Post Reporter & Eagle Radio Morning Show Host

James has worked as broadcaster, reporter and freelance writer since 2002 in Western Kansas. After launching his career as a writer for a startup newspaper in Hays, he worked as a university instructor and currently works as a reporter for Hays Post and host of the Eagle Morning Show.

“Creating a Successful Portfolio”

Memorial Union: Black & Gold Ballroom
Students will learn how to utilize fundamentals of design and online media to make an attractive, organized, accessible portfolio of work.

Brittney Reed, Department of Communication Studies Instructor

Brittney has taught classes in Visual Design, Public Relations and Advertising, Media Studies and Oral Communication at Fort Hays State for over 5 years. Her primary research interests focus on Communication Design and Visual Rhetoric.

“Covering the Game: Involvement with Collegiate Sports Media”

Forsyth Library: Room 217
Covering sports at the collegiate level is an exciting prospect, especially when there are so many options. This session will discuss how, especially at FHSU, students can explore their sports media career through covering events through both multimedia and broadcast.

Russell Heitmann, News and Sports Director, Tiger Media Network

Russell coordinates and oversees broadcast operations for all FHSU home athletic events and multicam productions as well as oversees content creation for tigermedianet.com He has experience in on-air commentary, radio and television, print, video and audio journalism and broadcast operations.

“Working as a Journalist Freshman Year”

Center for Student Success: Room 104
Raegan and Cayden will share their experiences with media/journalism before coming to Fort Hays and all that we have been involved in during our short time with Tiger Media Network.

Raegan Neufeld & Cayden Sanders, Multimedia Content Creator, Tiger Media Network

Raegan writes articles, makes videos, helps anchor and produce a weekly newscast, and hosts two, hour-long radio shows. For TMN, Cayden writes articles, makes videos, and helps anchor and produce a weekly newscast. He also is on the live sports production team and works for Eagle Communications.

11:10–11:50 p.m.

“Starting and Building a Reporting Career”

Memorial Union: Ballroom
During a keynote presentation, Dr. Lucchesi describes how she started her career in journalism and gained the skills needed to write books, long-form journalism, and features stories meant to help others.

Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, PhD, Author & Journalist

Emilie is an author, journalist and lecturer. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Discover Magazine, and The Atlantic. She has contributed more than 800 stories to the Chicago Tribune. She is the author of “Ugly Prey: An Innocent Woman and the Death Sentence that Scandalized Jazz Age Chicago” (Chicago Review, 2017), “This is Really War: The Incredible True Story of a Navy Nurse POW in the Occupied Philippines” (Chicago Review, 2019), and the co-author of the forthcoming memoir “A Light in the Dark: Surviving Ted Bundy and More” (Chicago Review, 2023).

noon–12:40 p.m.

“Using Business Communication Strategies for Interview Recruitment”

Memorial Union: Ballroom
Do you need to interview someone for your next story? How you request an interview may determine if a person will respond favorably and give you good information. This session will help you identify communication goals and develop core communication competencies for recruiting interview participants. You will learn how to write and practice skillful persuasive requests during the session.

*All session participants are expected to wear masks and practice social distancing.

Rachel Dolechek, Assistant Professor of Business Communication & Rose Helens-Hart, Associate Professor of Business Communication

Dr. Dolechek teaches courses in business, corporate and managerial communication and professional development. Her research interests involve business communication and strategies for teaching and learning. Dr. Dolechek has over ten years of teaching and advising experience across various roles in higher education. Dr. Helens-Hart teaches courses in professional development and business and corporate communication. Her research interests are in the areas of employability and identity management. She completed her PhD in Organizational Communication from the University of Kansas, Master’s degree in International Studies from North Carolina State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

“Podcasting: Not Your Normal Story”

Memorial Union: Trails Room
In this session, students will be introduced to the world of podcasting. The session begins with an explanation of how to start your own podcast, the purpose of them, and the need. Discussion of the role of storytelling in podcasting, journalism, marketing and why this is important will also be covered.

Hallie Mayes, Fellow with Lead for Kansas

Previously, Hallie was the managing editor of The Butler Lantern. She is the current host of the podcast The Mav on Campus at Northwest Tech in Goodland, KS.

“The Tools of the Trade”

Memorial Union: Stouffer Lounge
During this session attendees will learn about some of the tools that can help journalists tackle their growing list of responsibilities in a multimedia news landscape. From audio recording to website building, the session will touch on the skills needed to work as a reporter in the coming years and what tools can make it happen.

James Bell, Hays Post Reporter & Eagle Radio Morning Show Host

James has worked as broadcaster, reporter and freelance writer since 2002 in Western Kansas. After launching his career as a writer for a startup newspaper in Hays, he worked as a university instructor and currently works as a reporter for Hays Post and host of the Eagle Morning Show.

“New Media and Journalism”

Malloy Hall: Meet outside Ballroom (This session is limited to the first 15 registrations. Please register prior to 8:00am on Monday, Feb. 14 using this link: https://forms.gle/wsVUw9fEA8kpXxCn7)

Participants will learn about visualization of information using virtual reality and interactive tools available in industry or research options in college. Participants will tour the institute, view demonstrations, and have the opportunity for hands-on experiences.

Gordon Carlson, Associate Professor Department of Communication Studies

Gordon is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies and the Director of the Institute for New Media Studies. He has training in new media research including technology, pedagogy and policy.

Tiger Media Network Tours

Hammond Hall: Meet outside Ballroom
Get a firsthand look at the headquarters of Tiger Media Network and the Department of Informatics at Fort Hays State University. Students will see what the university has to offer for future students, including a look at the state-of-the-art control room, two studios, the school’s radio station, newsroom and more.

Nick Schwien, Tiger Media Network Director

Nick Schwien is the director of Tiger Media Network, the convergent media hub for students at Fort Hays State University. He has spent more than 20 years in the journalism industry and is an FHSU graduate.

“Take YOUR Best Shot!”

Memorial Union: Black & Gold Ballroom
Getting that awesome photo that will wow your readers takes practice. Come learn some of the basic photography tools and tricks. We’ll have a variety of photos on hand for you to test your eye in selecting the best shots for use in your publications.

Susan Schlichting, Retired Extension Agent

Susan found the love of photography in high school. She continues to teach youth and adults photography through workshops and day camps.

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