Welcome to J-Day!

Location: Macky Auditorium

J-Day’s opening session will feature keynote speaker and 9News reporter Marshall Zelinger (Jour’02). 

How to Improve Your Sports Announcing

Location: CASE E330

Learn some tips and approaches to broadcasting live sports that are applicable to high school students and unique to high school sports. This includes how to prepare for your broadcast like the pros do without the benefit all of their gadgetry and personal assistants, how to connect to the story while broadcasting, some essential tips for smooth interplay with your commentators, and more!

Led by: Jeremy Goldson

Writing for Broadcast

Location: CASE E422

Frequently the key to a good broadcast is the writing, but this is not like your average English class. We’ll use professional and real student samples to discuss how good writing can improve your production value and what it looks like in the broadcast setting.

Led by: Patrick Moring

Moments of Truth: Navigating Digitized History, Myths and Misinformation

Location: Norlin Library

We all carry narratives of the past as we create and explore digital content, some shaped by factual information and others purely myth. Building on the work done in Poytner’s new museum exhibit, Moments of Truth, which explores 1,000 years of journalism history, this session will look at how false history forms, how it manifests as modern disinformation and what are practical skills we can use to navigate the content we see.

Led by: Jessi Hollis McCarthy

Trade Magazines as a Journalism Career

Location: UMC 235

Journalism skills are career skills. There are numerous opportunities beyond traditional journalism outlets that are open to students with the skills learned in high school journalism classes. This session will highlight those skills and some of the nontraditional career opportunities that exist for people with the right skill set.

Led by: Jack Kennedy

Covering Breaking News

Location: UMC 368

The scanner is screaming and breaking news is happening NOW. Do you know what to do? Learn the basics of covering breaking news, including producing, reporting and covering online.

Led by: Shannah Bober

Broadcast Video Story Methods

Location: UMC Aspen 285

Tell engaging, informational, quick and fun visual stories for broadcast and social media using the C.O.O.L., WALDOS and "Hey, You, See, So" methods from professional broadcast journalists.

Led by: Adam Dawkins

Cohesive Culture: Strategies for Staff Success

Location: UMC Aspen 287/289

In this session, participants will explore feedback protocols, motivating staffers and managing workflow. You will leave this session with tools you can use to improve your staff culture and build your program. Whether you have a small staff or a large one, you will come away with strategies you can use to improve and strengthen your team culture.

Led by: Anastasia Harrison

Photocomposition

Location: UMC East Ballroom

This session will be full of the fun stuff — PHOTOS! Come explore sample photography to learn about what makes a photo visually appealing, interesting, full of life and worth sharing. This session will look into elements of photography as it is used in storytelling.

Led by: Alexis Bailey

Beyond Objectivity: New Models of Journalism Ethics

Location: UMC Middle Ballroom

This session explores the evolving debate around whether “objectivity” is still the best guiding principle in journalism. While traditional models stressed a “both sides” approach, today’s newsrooms face new challenges: government officials who knowingly spread falsehoods, polarized audiences that expect affirmation and a digital landscape where misinformation spreads faster than facts. We will examine what “beyond objectivity” really means—shifting from strict neutrality toward a commitment to truth, transparency and accountability. Using real-world examples, we’ll discuss how journalists can remain fair and balanced without giving equal weight to lies. The presentation will highlight tools such as source vetting, contextual reporting and transparent methodology to maintain credibility. Students will leave with a sharper understanding of how to navigate complex stories with accuracy and integrity, while still upholding journalism’s democratic role as a watchdog and truth-teller.

Led by: Marshall Zelinger and Karla Shotts

Crafting Compelling Copy for Now and the Future

Location: UMC West Ballroom

A yearbook with no words is like TV with no sound. In this hands-on session, you'll learn how to elevate your journalistic writing by focusing on the process—from in-depth research to effective interviewing. We’ll explore how the LQTQ (Lead, Quote, Transition, Quote) structure can guide your storytelling. Leave with practical tools to craft compelling, well-researched articles that connect with readers this year and 20 years from now.

Led by: Nick Monastra

Managing Multiple Mediums

Location: CASE W260

A yearbook with no words is like TV with no sound. In this hands-on session, you'll learn how to elevate your journalistic writing by focusing on the process—from in-depth research to effective interviewing. We’ll explore how the LQTQ (Lead, Quote, Transition, Quote) structure can guide your storytelling. Leave with practical tools to craft compelling, well-researched articles that connect with readers this year and 20 years from now.

Led by: Sarah Linville

Be a Reporter with PBS News Student Reporting Labs

Location: CASE Auditorium

PBS News Student Reporting Labs is a hands-on journalism training program for young people and their educators. Join this session to learn about how you can get involved — from learning multimedia journalism basics and producing for our podcast to pitching stories for national publication with support from professional journalists. You’ll learn how student reporters are reporting on the issues that matter to them in their communities and how you can get involved in future projects. We’ll also share free resources for educators from our team: lesson plans, tutorials, training, and more.

Led by: Becky Wandel and Emily Hope Dobkin

Be a Reporter with PBS News Student Reporting Labs

Location: CASE Auditorium

PBS News Student Reporting Labs is a hands-on journalism training program for young people and their educators. Join this session to learn about how you can get involved — from learning multimedia journalism basics and producing for our podcast to pitching stories for national publication with support from professional journalists. You’ll learn how student reporters are reporting on the issues that matter to them in their communities and how you can get involved in future projects. We’ll also share free resources for educators from our team: lesson plans, tutorials, training and more.

Led by: Becky Wandel and Emily Hope Dobkin

Creating a Streaming Service for Student Programming

Location: CASE E330

During the past 10 years, online streaming platforms have become a major source of program delivery, including channels such as Netflix, Prime, YouTube and many others. It's also possible to create a streaming service for your school. Steve has led the way at CSU to create Ram+, a streaming service that features many types of programming, from documentaries to student podcasts, narrative films and karaoke on a golf cart, among others. Steve will present this fun and current method of delivering student media work.

Led by: Steve Weiss

Show and Tell: The Art of Storytelling

Location: CASE E442

Storytelling is more than just gathering the facts and the wide, medium and tight shots. Adam Knapik and Alasyn Zimmerman will walk through their process of telling a compelling and memorable story from the first phone call. How to find a compelling character, where to shoot the interview, find the visuals that elevate your story and how to tell a story beyond traditional broadcast.

Led by: Adam Knapik and Alasyn Zimmerman

Local TV/Streaming News and Sports Jobs

Location: UMC 235

Learn about all of the amazing on-air reporting/anchoring and behind-the-scenes writing jobs available in local TV/streaming stations around the country. You'll hear from 9News sports anchor/reporter Ashley Moore and 9News producer Amanda Alicea who perform those roles daily, along with TEGNA/9News senior content recruiter Noah Cooper, who hires and trains graduates for those jobs.

Led by: Noah Cooper and Ashley Moore

Covering Breaking News

Location: UMC 286

The scanner is screaming and breaking news is happening NOW. Do you know what to do? Learn the basics of covering breaking news, including producing, reporting, and covering online.

Led by: Shannah Bober

Broadcast Video Story Methods

Location: UMC Aspen 285

Tell engaging, informational, quick, and fun visual stories for broadcast and social media using the C.O.O.L., WALDOS, and "Hey, You, See, So" methods from professional broadcast journalists.

Led by: Adam Dawkins

CSMA Student Board Opportunity

Location: UMC Aspen 287/289

Interested in representing your school at the state level in a state leadership capacity for journalism? If you are a returning staff member or an editor, this opportunity is for you! Come to this session to learn more about the CSMA student board and how to apply. We are currently looking for sophomores and juniors from across the state to join the board. If you are an adviser interested in how this can benefit your students, please attend as well.

Led by: Anastasia Harrison

Photo Storytelling/Photo Composition

Location: UMC East Ballroom

This session will talk about how to tell stories visually while offering some tips on composition and considerations on how to make visuals better.

Led by: Ross Taylor

Best Frenemies: How A.I. Can Help (and Hurt) Your reporting

Location: UMC Middle Ballroom

While many people view A.I. as a shortcut that produces mediocre work, journalists are using A.I. ethically to enhance their reporting. From finding new stories in massive datasets to developing new ways to tell existing stories, we will explore how you can use A.I. ethically and responsibly to deliver accurate news and information to your audience. We will also discuss ethical and environmental concerns surrounding A.I. tools, and how to avoid missteps in A.I. use by keeping the human and the audience at the center of your decision making.

Led by: Sean Marcus

A Survey Saved Our Yearbook

Location: UMC West Ballroom

Take deep dive into how one survey became the lifeline for a yearbook last year. With one well thought-out survey, we got content for all people mods and several spreads. We'll also look at how you can plan and design your own survey. Bribery suggestions included to get the best results from your school.

Led by: Mackenzie Brockman

Streamline and Shine: Organizational Strategies for Advisers

Location: CASE W260

This session is designed to help yearbook and broadcast advisers streamline their classroom management and enhance productivity. I will share the strategies I use for organizing physical and digital materials, and welcome you to also share your ideas as well. Having a unique organizational issue? Please ask! We can discuss it as a group and help each other find solutions to our unique settings/classes. No need to feel like an "island" anymore.

Led by: Gina Claus, CJE

Be a Reporter with PBS News Student Reporting Labs

Location: CASE Auditorium

PBS News Student Reporting Labs is a hands-on journalism training program for young people and their educators. Join this session to learn about how you can get involved — from learning multimedia journalism basics and producing for our podcast to pitching stories for national publication with support from professional journalists. You’ll learn how student reporters are reporting on the issues that matter to them in their communities and how you can get involved in future projects. We’ll also share free resources for educators from our team: lesson plans, tutorials, training and more.

Led by: Beck Wandel and Emily Hope Dobkin

Managing Interview Documentation

Location: CASE E330

Getting the quote correct is one of our most important jobs. Smoky Hill High School has created a system for capturing, transcribing, archiving and retrieving interviews. This system helps students to write stories and document events accurately and also provides a great backup if doubts about quotes come up later.

Led by: Carrie Faust

Producing Effective Television Stories

Location: CASE E422

There are many different ways to distribute television and video programming, including Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, TikTok, streaming services and broadcast TV. Regardless of the distribution channel, the elements of quality TV storytelling have more similarities than differences. This session will explore the many ways to create effective television/video programs and how to make sure they find an audience.

Led by: Greg Luft

Local TV/Streaming News and Sports Jobs

Location: UMC 235

Learn about all of the amazing on-air reporting/anchoring and behind-the-scenes writing jobs available in local TV and streaming stations around the country. You'll hear from 9News sports anchor/reporter Ashley Moore and 9News producer Amanda Alicea who perform those roles daily, along with TEGNA/9News senior content recruiter Noah Cooper, who hires and trains graduates for those jobs.

Led by: Noah Cooper and Ashley Moore

Writing Reviews that Rock

Location: UMC 247

For some reason, people always think writing a good review will be easy. Everyone who has tried writing one knows it is not. Let's look at some samples to see what makes a critical review pop. We'll practice crafting some of our own hot takes, too.

Led by: Seth Fine

Yearbook, Newspaper and Broadcast Can Work Together

Location: UMC 386

Do your yearbook, newspaper and broadcast classes/clubs feel disconnected? Come learn techniques and communication tools to get them working together. We will share our experience in merging multiple publications to bond, communicate and post their work on each other's platforms.

Led by: Scott Roberts and Matt Varca

Stop, Collaborate and Listen: 10 Tips for Leaders

Location: UMC Aspen 285

One of the toughest (but best) opportunities you can have is to serve as an editor or leader of a publication. Learn 10 tips to help guide you as you lead your staff to produce the best publication for your school.

Led by: Justin Daigle

Making Media Fun!

Location: UMC Aspen 287/289

Being in publications should be fun! In this session, participants will game-plan for the school year and develop timely and engaging strategies to keep the class enjoyable year-round. Attendees should come prepared to share what has and hasn’t worked for them.

Led by: Jessica Hunziker

Photo Storytelling/Photo Composition

Location: UMC East Ballroom

This session will talk about how to tell stories visually while offering some tips on composition and considerations on how to make visuals better.

Led by: Ross Taylor

Investigative Reporting Crash Course

Location: UMC Middle Ballroom

How do journalists report an investigative story? How do you start an investigation? In this mini crash course, we will learn how to protect sensitive sources, rely on data and public records, discover stories in the field, fact check our reporting, and stand our ground when those who'd prefer we DON'T investigate something try to get in our way.

Led by: Erin Douglas

Everything Has Its Place: Ideas to Maximize Your Yearbook Coverage

Location: UMC West Ballroom

Whether it's strategies to increase your yearbook coverage or the latest trending topics, this session is packed with ideas that will help you include students in manageable and interesting ways.

Led by: Tina Cleavelin and Peter Griffin

Contest and Critique Roundtable

Location: CASE W260

CSMA is updating our Best of Colorado contest categories this year. We will also be examining our critique forms and processes. Advisors and student editors are invited to this session to see a preview of the Best of Colorado categories and to give initial input on the critique process. Come with your questions and ideas.

Led by: Jed Palmer and Jo Powell

Meet the Student Media

Location: CASE Auditorium

Find out how you can be a DJ, news editor or sports reporter and get hands-on experience through student media at CU Boulder. Students from Radio 1190, the CU Independent newspaper and Sko Buffs Sports will be on hand to share their experiences and tell you what it's like to be a part of CU student media.

Led by: Vicky Sama

Sports Broadcasting Q&A

Location: CASE E330

This session is designed for those journalism programs who are just starting their foray into broadcasting live sporting events or are interested in what broadcasting might entail. Every question is a good one, and we'll try to answer all of them, including the thorny technical ones!

Led by: Jeremy Goldson

Why Should You be Livestreaming?

Location: CASE E442

A lot of programs are trying to incorporate livestreaming events into their programs. We’ll talk about the benefits and difficulties that come with the livestreaming format, as well as the different methods you can use, ranging from a simple iPad livestream to a multicamera HD livestream.

Led by: Patrick Moring

Moments of Truth: Navigating Digitized History, Myths and Misinformation

Location: Norlin Library

We all carry narratives of the past as we create and explore digital content, some shaped by factual information and others purely myth. Building on the work done in Poytner’s new museum exhibit, Moments of Truth, which explores 1,000 years of journalism history, this session will look at how false history forms, how it manifests as modern disinformation and what practical skills we can use to navigate the content we see.

Led by: Jessi Hollis McCarthy

News Production

Location: UMC 235

Topics will be the workings of what happens behind the scenes in control rooms during live news broadcasts, including what each position is responsible for and the importance of that position.

Led by: Amy Smith and Shannon Finn

Beyond the Photo: Storytelling That Sticks

Location: UMC 247

We will guide you through the process of creating an impactful and moving story. We discuss elements, step-by-step moments, how to use what you’ve got and the importance of storytelling as a whole. You will learn that the photography is just the surface, and the stories are the real gold of yearbook.

Led by: Natalie Barnard and Kyrie Rogers

Yearbook, Newspaper and Broadcast Can Work Together

Location: UMC 386

Do your yearbook, newspaper and broadcast classes/clubs feel disconnected? Come learn techniques and communication tools to get them working together. We will share our experience in merging multiple publications to bond, communicate and post their work on each other's platforms.

Led by: Scott Roberts and Matt Varca

Stop, Collaborate and Listen: 10 Tips for Leaders

Location: UMC Aspen 285

One of the toughest (but best) opportunities you can have is to serve as an editor or leader of a publication. Learn 10 tips to help guide you as you lead your staff to produce the best publication for your school.

Led by: Justin Daigle

CSMA Awards 101

Location: UMC Aspen 287/289

The Colorado Student Media Association offers a variety of individual competitions in photography, broadcast, reporting, social media and design, along with our Colorado Middle School Journalist of the Year and our High School Journalist of the Year/Greer Scholarship competitions. If you want to compete to win these honors, the work starts now. In this session, we will go over the application process, look at past winners' portfolios and provide tips for success in each competition.

Led by: Annie Gorenstein-Falkenberg, CJE

Sports Photography for Storytellers

Location: UMC East Ballroom

Explore the fundamentals of capturing high-impact sports images for school publications in this classroom session tailored for aspiring photographers. Students will learn the core principles of action photography, composition, exposure, and visual storytelling as they apply to journalism and yearbook coverage—no experience required.

Led by: Jen Lammey

Stand Up for Your Rights

Location: UMC Middle Ballroom

More than ever, the First Amendment is under attack, including the right of student journalists to express their freedom of speech. In this session, we'll take a close look at what you can and can't say and when you should stand up against censorship.

Led by: Ben Reed

Studio Tour and Green Screen On-Camera Performance*

Location: UMC Middle Ballroom

We'll fire up the studio and show you our virtual sets. Read from our teleprompter and develop skills as an anchor or TV presenter. Get a tour of our facility to show you what our students learn.

Led by: Ben Daugherty

Join us at Macky Auditorium for the CSMA awards ceremony.