Northern California JEA

1. How will my staff benefit from attending the JEA State Convention?
Students and advisers will have an opportunity to attend sessions hosted by some of the best media professionals and advisers from northern California and other areas of the nation. Beyond networking with other schools, your students will have the chance to enter contests and competitions, as well as seek input to guide their publications through the rest of the year.

2. What is the cost to attend the convention?
Registration for the convention is $45 per person when you register prior to Oct. 1. After the early-bird cutoff date, the fee to register is $55. For every 10 paid registrants, get one registrant FREE! And advisers, if you volunteer to judge on-site contests and present a session, your registration is FREE!

3. What is the Best of the West contest?
Enter your publication in competition with other schools in attendance. Similar to NSPA's Best of Show competition from national conventions, this contest is divided by school size for yearbook, page count for newspaper or newsmagazine and type for online media. Results are announced at Sunday morning's closing ceremony. ($10)

4. What are the on-site contests?
During this Friday afternoon activity, students will compete in a category of their choosing (maximum two per school) in a self-contained contest similar to the JEA write-offs at national conventions. These contests do not involve any special preparation; in most newspaper categories, participants will hear a guest speaker from which the contest topics are based. For the other contest categories, sample information is provided and all participants create designs or copy using the same scenario. Results are announced at Sunday morning's closing ceremony. Note: Pre-registration required, limit two per school per category. ($10)

5. What is the Photography Excursion?
Bring a digital camera and enjoy a walking photo shoot through midtown Sacramento with a veteran photojournalism adviser. Gain valuable tips on photography while seeing part of the city and photographing as you go. Afterward, you'll upload your images for critique/discussion in an afternoon follow-up session. Images will be showcased at Sunday morning's closing ceremony. Note: Pre-registration required, limit two per staff. (free)

6. What is the Convergence Excursion?
Up to three students from each staff can sign up to participate in this exciting hands-on workshop. Friday afternoon, the group will meet to discuss the principles of convergence journalism. After getting practical tips on teaching your staff how to communicate and work together better, teams will head out to report and take photographs before returning to design a newspaper page, yearbook spread, or multimedia presentation. This workshop does not include technical instruction, so staff members should be experienced. Note: Pre-registration required, limit three per publication. ($15 per person)

7. Why should I consider signing up for an on-site critique?
Bring your editors or your entire staff to meet with an experienced adviser who will provide valuable feedback about your publication's content and coverage, writing, design and photography. Bring a few recent copies of your newspaper or your most recent yearbook volume. For online media, choose the best way for you to bring samples but please understand that the critique rooms do not have a live Internet connection. Learn the strengths and improvement areas of your publication from award-winning advisers with the opportunity to ask questions and get individualized feedback. ($10)

8. What is web consultation?
Web consultation is a new service we are offering to staffs hoping to expand their coverage to the web or who are looking for ways to improve their existing online media. Staffs will be matched with an experienced adviser and student for a one-on-one conversation specific to the staff's needs. ($10)

9. Is it possible to attend the convention for one day only?
While it is possible, we encourage staffs to stay for the entire convention to take advantage of all of the exciting sessions, contests and activities we have to offer. Regardless of the duration of your stay, all registrants pay the same fees.

10. What is there to do outside of sessions?
A lot! From a Halloween costume dance to a Rock Band competition, we've got a lineup of activities that will give students an opportunity to meet others and have fun. Watch the convention blog for more on the many things to do at the convention and nearby.

11. What should we bring?
Students attending the Photography or Convergence Excursions should bring their own equipment, including cameras, card readers, flash drives, recorder and any other necessary external devices. All convention-goers will want basic writing materials for breakout sessions. You'll receive a nametag and schedule with session descriptions when you check in on site.

12. Where should we stay?
You are welcome to stay anywhere you'd like near the convention center. JEANC has arranged a block of rooms at a discounted rate at the Sheraton Grand, which is next door to the convention center where all activities will take place. Simply mention the JEANC State Journalism Convention to take advantage of the special price: $129 + tax per room with up to four occupants.