YSU Hosts 79th Annual Press Day Oct. 16

More than 300 high school students and advisers from over 20 schools are expected to attend the 79th Annual Press Day at Youngstown State University 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, 2017 in Kilcawley Center.

The event’s goal is to provide support and help improve journalism and publications (including yearbooks, newspapers, and online news websites) in Mahoning Valley high schools. More than 25 journalists, media professionals and educators from across northeast Ohio, along with about 30 student journalists from YSU, will make presentations. Press Day is presented by YSU’s Anderson Program in Journalism, Department of Communication.

"YSU has been hosting Press Day since 1977, this year marks 40 years of Press Day,” stated Amy Crawford, Department of Communication acting chair. “There will be nearly 20 sessions that will provide instruction for students and advisers on reporting and writing for school newspapers and news websites.”

There also will be equal attention given to design, photography and video production.

Advisers who are still interested in attending with their students should contact Dave Davis for a registration form at ddavis03@ysu.edu. The cost is $5 per person.

Keynote speaker is Rachel Dissell. An award-winning reporter for The Plain Dealer who focuses on the impact of violence against women and children and other social justice issues, Dissell has written extensively about the juvenile justice system, teen dating violence, and Cleveland’s response to sexual assault and the backlog of thousands of rape kits that were evidence in crimes but had gone untested for years.

Press Day highlights:

• Amy Crawford, acting chair of the Communication Department, welcomes students and advisers, and introduces WYTV’s Corban Baker. (Chestnut Room);
• 9 a.m. - Corban Baker, a graduate of Brookfield High School and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, opens Press Day, talking about his life and work in the Mahoning Valley, the place where he grew up and now covers as a reporter and evening anchor. (Chestnut Room)
• 9:30 a.m. - Dissell delivers the keynote talk. Her stories have led to the reinvestigation of thousands of rape cases and indictments in 600 previously unsolved crimes. (Chestnut Room)

Other breakout speakers and sessions include:

• Freelance photographer David Dermer will talk about how to "capture the moment" for yearbooks, newspapers, and online news websites. Dermer, who is based in Kent, shoots everything from high school sports to the Cleveland Indians and the NFL. His work regularly appears in The Vindicator, The Tribune Chronicle, The Akron Beacon Journal and the Associated Press.
• Laura McDonough and Jordan Unger, the two top editors for The Jambar, YSU’s student newspaper, will talk about the value of working for a school publication, radio or broadcast station, even for those who aren’t pursuing a degree in journalism or communication. They are joined by editors, producers, reporters, and designers from YSU’s other student media outlets.
• Mary Beth Earnheardt will lead a discussion on the most pressing issues facing high school yearbooks, newspapers, online websites and broadcast stations. Earnheardt, who has been the major force behind YSU’s student publications, is director of YSU’s Anderson Program in Journalism.
• Trevor Ivan will discuss how stellar yearbooks harness the power of compelling storytelling. A journalism educator and communications professional, Ivan talks about how everything from theme, text, images and design contributes to telling stories that leave a lasting impression. Ivan has extensive experience in scholastic journalism and frequently judges yearbook and journalism competitions.
• Shelley Blundell - information doctor, journalism professor and collector of ‘social media mistake’ stories - will share research gathered from college recruiters and potential employers about what can make or break one online. Blundell will also present real-life examples of social media missteps (some funny, some deadly serious) and provide attendees with tips on how to increase their SIQ and create positive online presences.
• Players and coaches from the Youngstown Phantoms hockey team will hold a press conference on the new season, what brought them to Youngstown and their life here. Students will cover it live using social media.
• Fred Owens of YSU’s Communication Department will talk about 10 things that high school journalists need to know about script writing.

Parking is available in the M30 Wick Avenue parking deck via Walnut Street (GPS address is 100 Wade Street, Youngstown OH 44502) for a nominal fee. Patrons are advised to watch for posted detours as construction progresses on Wick Avenue.