Spring National High School Journalism Convention • April 4-6, 2024 • Kansas City, Missouri
Adviser-only events
Adviser recognition luncheon
Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6
Registration deadline: March 22
Meat and vegetarian options.
JEA will honor fall award and certification recipients. NSPA will honor Pioneer Award winners. Speakers include 2023 Yearbook Adviser of the Year.
Thursday kickoff reception with JEA Centennial celebration
9–10:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4
No cost to attend.
Following the keynote speech, this reception will give new and first-time attendee advisers a chance to meet the local committee, the JEA and NSPA board members and staffs.
Join us for the party of the century with food, friends and fun. JEA members and former JEA leaders, award winners and program participants are especially encouraged to attend the Thursday welcome reception for a JEA reunion with multi-generational group photos and giveaways.
“We are planning one of the most exciting adviser receptions ever,” JEA President Val Kilber, MJE, said. “You will want to get there as soon as the keynote speaker wraps up Thursday evening. It’s going to be the celebration of the century!”
Adviser lounge
7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
No cost to attend.
Meet with colleagues from across the country in the adviser hospitality suite. Local team members will be available to recommend sightseeing, dining and entertainment options.
First-time attendee orientation meeting
6:15 p.m. Thursday, April 4
No cost to attend.
Advisers attending their first convention are encouraged to attend this short orientation, which includes a general overview and explanation of events and how to get the most out of them.
Deeper connections
Friday morning
New! Time and space has been set aside on Friday morning for affinity group adviser meetings that are meant to connect advisers with shared professional or social identities. The goal is to help develop colleagues and support one another in a difficult profession.
Affinity groups:
- Advisers of color
- Queer advisers — any adviser who identifies as a member of the LGBTQIA+ communities
- Private school advisers
- Unprotected press freedom advisers — advisers in states without New Voices or preexisting student press freedoms
- Urban school advisers
- Rural school advisers
- First-year advisers — first year advising any publication
- Young advisers — those advisers new to the profession and under the age of 35
- “New publication” advisers — advisers are wanting to create or just started a new newspaper, website, broadcast, yearbook or journalism class
JEA certification testing
3:30-6 p.m. Friday, April 5
CJE applicants • $60
MJE applicants • $85
Application deadline: March 15
> Apply online.
Test takers are encouraged to bring their own laptop computer to access the test but other computers will be available.
All applicants must be current JEA members. Fees cover a portion of administration, judging, mailing, certificates.
Applicants will be notified of testing selection in late March. Test results will be sent about eight weeks after the convention. Those who pass the test in Kansas City will be honored at the fall convention in Philadelphia.
Questions? Contact 785-532-5532 or staff@jea.org
Continuing education units
No cost.
Attendance certificates signed by both organizations are available at convention check-in, at the JEA booth in the trade show, at the Information Desk. These certificates are for advisers only and do not have an affiliation with a university. Check with your school district to learn if these certificates will be recognized for CEU credits or professional development.
JEA curriculum consultations
JEA is offering 30-minute curriculum consultations for $25.
Members will meet one-on-one with curriculum specialists to learn how to best utilize JEA curriculum in their own schools.
Curriculum consultations are offered Thursday, April 4, and Friday, April 5, during trade show hours. Space is limited.
JEA Outreach Academy
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday,
April 4
Free • Application process to qualify
Apply online by Feb. 15.
Outreach Academy is a Journalism Education Association initiative to promote diversity in the journalism teaching profession. The Outreach Academy is a free, intensive seminar for publication advisers who need help teaching and advising students in journalism while dealing with issues surrounding diversity.
The program is hands-on and focuses on practical information advisers need. It includes discussions on teaching journalism to diverse populations, diversifying school coverage, engaging your staff and school community and understanding the resources and organizations ready to help advisers.
This program is committed to helping all advisers, especially advisers of color who are underrepresented in nine-12 education, who work in challenging circumstances, including 1) have five years or fewer advising experience and 2) teach in schools traditionally underrepresented in JEA membership, especially low-income, urban and rural schools.
Participants who are accepted to the Outreach Academy and attend the Thursday workshop earn the following benefits, in addition to the instruction received at the workshop:
- One year’s membership to Journalism Education Association.
- Waived registration fee to the Spring 2024 JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention, courtesy of JEA.
- Up to $100 in substitute pay, paid to school.
- One-day parking reimbursement.
- Waived registration fee to the 2024 summer JEA Advisers Institute
Questions? Contact 785-532-5532 or staff@jea.org.