2022 KU 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 before the opening remarks on the fifth floor of the KU Union, Kansas Union, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045.

9:00-9:20 a.m.

KSPA executive director Eric Thomas will welcome students and teachers to Lawrence while providing an overview of the day and preview upcoming events on the KSPA calendar. 

9:25-10:10 a.m.

“The basics of photojournalism”

International Room: Fifth floor

Let’s start at the very beginning as we learn to be an amazing photojournalist.

Jim McCrossen, Blue Valley Northwest High School

Teaching journalism, newspaper and yearbook at Blue Valley Northwest has been Jim McCrossen’s passion, professionally, for the past 29 years. Teaching is a second career for McCrossen after spending five years as a photojournalist in Southern California.

“Covering your school community”

Woodruff Auditorium: Fifth floor

This session will help you learn how to cover your diverse school community, to look for interesting stories that are often hiding in plain sight. Students will get tips, tools and discuss ways to look beyond the usual story idea.

Patricia E. Gaston University of Kansas

Patricia Weems Gaston is the Lacy C. Haynes Professor. She came to KU in 2018 after nearly 40 years in journalism, most notably at The Washington Post. She is a graduate of the WAW School of Journalism and The George Washington University.

“It’s not creeping, it’s journalism”

Big 12 Room: Fifth floor

Learn about the public information you can access in county and state databases, and brainstorm story ideas that use this public information.

Peter Bobkowski, University of Kansas

Peter Bobkowski is an Associate Professor in the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. He was previously a high school journalism teacher and adviser in Texas for seven years.

“Make Journalism Fun Again!”

Jayhawk Room: Fifth floor

The pandemic may have made it difficult over the past few years to carry on with traditional team-building activities, but it’s time to get back to making this a priority! In this session, you will be presented with several ideas that help boost morale and build bonds, as well as have time to share out ideas of your own that your staff has used.

Julia Walker, Olathe West High School

Julia Walker teaches at Olathe West H.S. where she also advises the Parliament yearbook and Owl Post online news site. In her five years advising, her students have earned several awards from NSPA and KSPA. In 2020, Walker received a JEA Rising Star Award.

“Google Trends”

Kansas Room: Sixth floor

Dan Petty, ProPublica

Dan Petty is the director of audience strategy for ProPublica, a non-profit investigative journalism outlet. He was previously director of audience development at MediaNews Group, the parent company of publications including The Denver Post, San Jose Mercury News and Boston Herald. At ProPublica, he leads efforts to build direct relationships with audiences on the organization’s digital platforms. He previously spent seven years at the Denver Post in a variety of production and editing roles and was a part of the staff that won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news. He is currently pursuing an MBA at the Wharton School and is expected to graduate in August.

“Careers in Journalism”

Parlor ABC: Fifth floor

Learn about the opportunities available to students interested in writing, editing, design, photography, videography and digital communication.

Steve Rottinghaus, University of Kansas

Steve Rottinghaus is in seventh year as the career and outreach coordinator at the KU School of Journalism and Mass Communications, assisting students with internship and job placement. He previously was a sports writer, editor and public relations director.

10:20–11 a.m.

“Section 230 — What It Is, Why You Should Care”

International Room: Fifth floor

These 26 words (“No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider”) have allowed social media and other interactive online content providers to expand. Has it gone too far? Learn about this law and why it matters to you and your media.

Genelle Belmas. KU School of Journalism and Mass Communications

Genelle Belmas teaches and researches in the sexiest of all areas, media law, at KU. She lives and breathes free speech and press, and she wants to help students understand the rights and responsibilities that come with the First Amendment. She also loves cats, yarn, MMORPGs, office supplies, and strong coffee.

“Sports, Media and Society”

Woodruff Auditorium: Fifth floor

This Power Point Presentation provides a brief, critical look at the way sports have impacted American Society and Media.

Alva D’Andrea Wallace, KU School of Journalism

After a 40 year career in sports broadcasting, I retired from the industry in 2018. I current lecture at the University of Kansas in the School of Journalism, teaching two classes: Sports, Media and Society, as well as Ethics and the Media.

“Cover breaking news free of breakdowns”

Big 12 Room: Fifth floor

In a time when news seems to break every day, discover how you can put your entire staff to work producing high-quality work on deadline.

Barbara Tholen Lawrence High School Journalism

Barbara Tholen spent 10 years working as a newspaper reporter before making the leap to teaching in 2010. Her students at Lawrence High School routinely take on tough stories and embrace covering breaking news.

“Visual storytelling through infographics”

Jayhawk Room: Fifth floor

This is what your readers want: Infographics are the combination of vital text and visual reporting. But how do you get started? And what are the elements that you need to collect? This session will show you how to construct infographics.

Eric Thomas, University of Kansas

Eric Thomas is the executive director of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and a lecturer at the University of Kansas. He teaches photojournalism and visual journalism, where his students produced a photography book about the pandemic and its effect on campus.

“Google Maps”

Kansas Room: Sixth floor

Dan Petty, ProPublica

Dan Petty is the director of audience strategy for ProPublica, a non-profit investigative journalism outlet. He was previously director of audience development at MediaNews Group, the parent company of publications including The Denver Post, San Jose Mercury News and Boston Herald. At ProPublica, he leads efforts to build direct relationships with audiences on the organization’s digital platforms. He previously spent seven years at the Denver Post in a variety of production and editing roles and was a part of the staff that won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news. He is currently pursuing an MBA at the Wharton School and is expected to graduate in August.

“Action Captions!”

Parlor ABC: Fifth floor

Studies show that students often don’t read the stories in their yearbooks until they return to their schools for their reunions. What do they read? The captions. Review/learn about the four parts of a caption and various options to make them interesting and fun.

Deborah Glenn, Blue Valley West High School

Mrs. Glenn is the journalism adviser at Blue Valley West. She enjoys her students’ abilities to learn, be creative, and tell the stories of their school. She has the comfiest room at BVW.

11:10–11:50 p.m.

“Using Conscious Language”

International Room: Fifth floor

Conscious language is about being sensitive to your audience and understanding that words can mean different things to different people. We’ll talk about the topics that have led stylebooks and news organizations to increase their emphasis on using conscious language.

Gerri Berendzen, University of Kansas

Gerri Berendzen worked as a news copy editor for 35 years and now teaches editing, writing, information management and digital media at the University of Kansas School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“Hot Tips for Yearbook Design”

Woodruff Auditorium: Fifth floor

How many typefaces can you use? How do you get the reader to look from your most important to least important element on your page? How do you use white space? This session will give you the answers.

Carol E Holstead, University of Kansas

Carol Holstead teaches design and magazine courses, among others, in the School of Journalism the University of Kansas.

“Tell me more”

Big 12 Room: Fifth floor

Learn proven ways to shape better questions. We’ll go beyond typical advice to avoid closed-ended questions so you can begin to dig below the surface.

Barbara Tholen Lawrence High School Journalism

Barbara Tholen spent 10 years working as a newspaper reporter before making the leap to teaching in 2010. Her students at Lawrence High School routinely take on tough stories and embrace covering breaking news.

“Video Pointers and Pitfalls”

Jayhawk Room: Fifth floor

Learn the basics of creating storytelling video with this session that describes how to compose shots, how to create sequences and how to avoid typical video mistakes. 

Eric Thomas, University of Kansas

Eric Thomas is the executive director of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and a lecturer at the University of Kansas. He teaches photojournalism and visual journalism, where his students produced a photography book about the pandemic and its effect on campus.

“Google Maps”

Kansas Room: Sixth floor

Dan Petty, ProPublica

Dan Petty is the director of audience strategy for ProPublica, a non-profit investigative journalism outlet. He was previously director of audience development at MediaNews Group, the parent company of publications including The Denver Post, San Jose Mercury News and Boston Herald. At ProPublica, he leads efforts to build direct relationships with audiences on the organization’s digital platforms. He previously spent seven years at the Denver Post in a variety of production and editing roles and was a part of the staff that won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news. He is currently pursuing an MBA at the Wharton School and is expected to graduate in August.

“Ditch Photoshop – Streamline your editing with Lightroom”

Parlor ABC: Fifth floor

With the powerful tools integrated into Adobe Lightroom, the need for photoshop is almost non-existent. Learn how to create albums, cull images, apply basic processing, create presets, and share images from Lightroom for faster editing.

Heather Springer, Olathe South High School

Heather Springer advises newspaper, photojournalism and yearbook at Olathe South High School, where she has been since 2018. Springer earned her bachelor’s from Western Illinois University and her master’s from Emporia State. Outside of journalism, Springer is a professional wedding photographer and HIIT-addicted gym rat with two adorable fur children.

noon–12:40 p.m.

“Nitty Gritty InDesign”

International Room: Fifth floor

So you know the basics, but you want to become a more efficient InDesign user? Learn more advanced tricks and tips to using the program in publication classrooms. This session will be better if you’re able to bring a laptop with InDesign installed. 

Jeni Daley, Gardner Edgerton High School

Jeni Daley is the journalism adviser at Gardner Edgerton High School. She loves all things design, DIY, tech, and making life more efficient in the crazy world of advising.

“The Importance of Media Convergence Skills”

Woodruff Auditorium: Fifth floor

For any student wishing to pursue a career in journalism or broadcasting, learning to develop new skills is a must. Students will consider their own experience in journalism and identify what areas they need to adapt in order to increase their employability in a future professional position.

Dan Page, Newton High School

Prior to teaching, Page spent 13 years in the radio/TV broadcasting industry in Kansas. During this time period, Page received over 20 Kansas Association of Broadcasters awards. Page’s expertise falls more exclusively in sports journalism and broadcasting.

“The High School Sports Page (with an emphasis on photography)”

Big 12 Room: Fifth floor

Ted Cotti University of Kansas

35 years teaching high school English and Journalism and moderating student newspapers. Nearly 20 years College Board AP reader and table leader. 35 years free lance reporter. 11 years as Sports Editor for Ojai Valley News. Currently an Adjunct Professor in William White School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

“Light it up”

Jayhawk Room: Fifth floor

The lighting that we create and select for our photographs has a profound impact on the audience. We can make the viewer feel drama, conflict, mystery, calm and more. Learn how to create many different lighting effects with nothing more than your cell phone camera. 

Eric Thomas, University of Kansas

Eric Thomas is the executive director of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and a lecturer at the University of Kansas. He teaches photojournalism and visual journalism, where his students produced a photography book about the pandemic and its effect on campus.

“Unlocking the SPJ’s Code of Ethics”

Kansas Room: Sixth floor

Ethics are integral to good journalism. Let’s look at the journalists code of ethics and apply it to some controversial or questionable story ideas. Would YOU run this story?

Heather Hooper, Topeka High School

Heather Hooper, CJE, has been a journalism adviser in Topeka for 18 years advising newspaper, yearbook and our news website. She served on the KSPA board for four years before stepping down in the fall of 2021. She believes in the power of student journalists to tell the stories that impact their generation.

“Basics of Adobe Illustrator”

Parlor ABC: Fifth floor

Learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator to create graphics for your publication. We’ll cover getting started and spend time exploring the most powerful tools Illustrator has to offer. Computers are optional but highly recommended.

Heather Springer, Olathe South High School

Heather Springer advises newspaper, photojournalism and yearbook at Olathe South High School, where she has been since 2018. Springer earned her bachelor’s from Western Illinois University and her master’s from Emporia State. Outside of journalism, Springer is a professional wedding photographer and HIIT-addicted gym rat with two adorable fur children.