Event Coverage: National Scholastic Press Association
ODYSSEY Media Group and iliad Literary-Art Magazine editorial board members attended the National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Association Fall 2023 National Fall High School Journalism Convention in Boston, Massachusetts from Nov. 2-4.
Above: SPEAKING FOR ACHIEVEMENT: iliad Writing Director Margo McDaniel (right) and Outreach Director Niles Flath (left) pose inside one of Bostons Duck Tour boats on Nov. 3. McDaniel spoke on the iliad’s victory during the Best of Show competition. “I was really ecstatic about the iliad winning Best Of Show at NSPA,” McDaniel said. “I hope we can continue to achieve new heights of excellence.” Photo by Aza Khan
From Nov. 2-4, editors from the iliad Literary-Art Magazine and ODYSSEY Media Group traveled to Boston Massachusetts to attend the Journalism Education Association (JEA)/National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Fall 2023 National High School Journalism Convention. The group consisted of six iliad editorial board members and 11 OMG editors.
Fall 2023 NSPA featured three days of journalistic activities, which students, advisors and delegates from around the world took part in. One opportunity NSPA offered was participation in informational sessions given by journalists, advisers, and students. The sessions covered a variety of journalistic topics from how to manage staff, to how to tell a southern story.
iliad’s Editor-in-Chief Olivia Hendershot has been able to implement skills she’s acquired at NSPA into her daily work as Editor-in-Chief.
“The sessions allowed us to learn more about our strengths and weaknesses,” Hendershot said. “They gave us helpful information to implement into our magazine's production.”
With six Edboard members in attendance, iliad students had the opportunity to explore other publications and interact with other literary magazine staff.
“It was really exciting to hear the perspectives of other editors and work with some of the best advisers in the country,” iliad Writing Director Margo McDaniel said. “It (ended up being) a really awesome opportunity to bond with the iliad Editorial Board.”
Convention attendees could also take part in quiz bowl, an academic way for schools to show off their journalism knowledge. Although her team didn’t qualify for the final round, McDaniel was thankful for the experience.
“We did try our best, and I’m really proud of (all) the teams that participated,” McDaniel said. “It was a great opportunity to have and hopefully (my team) will do better next year.”
The convention came to a close on Nov. 4, ending with an awards ceremony. The iliad won a variety of individual awards and they were honored to receive a first-place Best in Show award for their 2023 magazine “flourish”.
“I’m proud of the iliad winning Best of Show,” iliad Business Manager Samantha Caspary-Poucher said. “Even though I wasn't on staff last year, I’m confident that we will be able to keep the legacy going.”
As Hendershot begins to plan for the production of her 2023-24 iliad magazine, she is grateful for the wonderful opportunities NSPA has provided her and her staff.
“I hope the attending EdBoard enjoyed (this trip) as much as I did,” Hendershot said. “Going on a five-day trip to learn about journalism is not what you’d expect, because you not only grow as a journalist (but) you grow as a person.”
Story by Niles Flath
Niles Flath is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens Georgia. She serves as Outreach Director for the iliad Literary-Art Magazine. She hopes to make connections with creators both inside and outside the CCHS walls and showcase their work through the iliad program. In her free time, she likes playing tennis, swimming, and hanging out with friends.