Media workshop at SEMO draws hundreds of students

Whether their interest be yearbook design, sports photography, social media, print or broadcast journalism, high school students were given a dose of media knowledge at the 38th annual workshop of the Southeast Missouri Student Press Association held Thursday at Southeast Missouri State University.

Amanda Flotron, a junior from Jefferson High School in Festus, Mo., was one of 17 students in her high school's yearbook class who attended. She said she came for tips on how to make their yearbook one to keep and be proud of but left with a lot more.

"I've been the editor all three years I have been on the staff," she said, "but I think we really got some things this year that are going to help us."

She has attended the conference all three years she has been in high school.

Flotron said a presentation given by University of Nebraska-Lincoln journalism professor Scott Winter titled "Duct Tape and High Funkadelity" made her start thinking about how to enforce deadlines for students but still make their work fun.

Organizer Pat Kuper, a teacher at Cape Girardeau Central High School and the adviser of the school's newspaper, The Tiger, said she heard Winter speak at a Kansas City conference and knew he would be perfect to bring to the workshop.

Winter also gave a presentation on journalism ethics and the value of studying journalism in college.

Kuper said she thought the workshop was a success and was happy that 250 students attended.

eragan@semissourian.com

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