ASPA to Host Weekend Journalism Camp at UA in July

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Scholastic Press Association will host a three-day journalism camp for high school students and teachers at The University of Alabama July 14-16.

The ASPA, part of the UA Office of Student Media, is a high school journalism outreach program that seeks to empower newspapers, newsmagazines, yearbooks, literary magazines and broadcasts across the state.

The Thursday through Saturday camp will feature an intensive workshop designed to teach creative and efficient ways to communicate through high school newspapers/magazines and yearbooks. The long weekend also will give students a chance to experience college life – including dorms, roommates, meal tickets and more.

Advisers can participate in one of the tracks along with their students, or could choose the adviser track to possibly receive continuing education credits.

University faculty and area media professionals will join with nationally known journalism educators to serve as workshop instructors. Those instructing are Bruce Watterson (yearbooks) and Jennifer Seavey (newspapers). The workshop fee of $150 covers room and board expenses. Advisers who bring 10 or more students and assist with dorm supervision will receive a $70 tuition waiver.

Watterson advised yearbooks and student magazines in Arkansas for 20 years and is a former executive director of the Arkansas Collegiate Press Association. He teaches journalism at Shorter College in Rome, Ga., where he is vice president of public relations. He served on the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s 2003 Board of Crown Judges.

Seavey teaches at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va. She is an adviser to tjTODAY, the school newspaper, as well as a teacher of journalism and integrated biology, English and technology. Seavey is the daughter and mother of journalists.

For more information, contact the ASPA office at 205/348-9298, aspa1@sa.ua.edu or P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403.