National Conference2015

InformationPack

To find out more visit www.journalistworks.co.ukCall 01273 540350 or email info@journalistworks.co.uk

FAST TRACK TO A CAREER IN JOURNALISM

New NCTJ Courses for September 2015● Fast-Track Diploma in Journalism ●● Part-Time Diploma in Journalism ●

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Welcome from Chair + meet the teamItinerarySocial mediaSpeakersAccommodationAwards nominationsAGM + committee electionsA special thanks to

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CONTENTS 33

up a Graduate Schemes newsletter; and worked with some big name conference sponsors, including Press Association, Brighton Journalist Works, The National Student and Highbury College Portsmouth. It has certainly been a whirlwind year at the SPA - the Regional Offi-cers and members of our Exec have worked incredibly hard.

We are extremely grateful for your continued support and very much look forward to working more closely with you over the coming years and months. Our association is strongest when members work together - so make sure you keep in touch.

Finally, a special thank you must go to SUSU for hosting what promises by far to be the biggest and most successful SPANC so far.

See you on the conference floor, delegates!

Sophie

WELCOME FROM CHAIR 4

Dear delegates,

We are extremely excited for you to join us for SPANC at the very place where our organisation began, just three years ago - in Southampton. It’s going to be a fun-filled weekend with lots on offer from training sessions and our awards event, to breakouts and industry talks.

We’ve had an incredibly successful year, having introduced eight regional officers to spearhead local initiatives; gotten record numbers of entries for awards nominations; support-ed our members in the face of threats to freedom of the press; created a forward-thinking social media strategy; set

MEET THE REST OF THE TEAMAubrey Elliot Kerry Megan Jem

Marion Katrina Jon Rachael Kylie

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ITINERARY

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Friday 10 April19:00 Welcome event20:00 Social

Saturday 11 April09:00 Arrive. Welcome event for newcomers10:00 Keynote11:00 Session 1: News writing / Opinion and column writing11:45 Breakout A: Swap shop12:15 Session 2: Working with SUs / How to get a job13:00 Lunch and careers fair14:15 Session 3: Digital journalism / Managing a paper15:00 Session 4: How to FOI effectively / Ethical journalism15:45 Session 5: SEO and viral content / Writing satire16:30 Debate: Viral content and the value of readers17:15 Break

Awards evening18:30 Drinks reception 19:30 Dinner21:00 Awards start23:00 Social

Sunday 12 April09:30 Welcome back10:00 Breakfast10:45 Session 6: Censorship debate11:30 Breakout B12:00 Session 7: The future of journalism13:00 Lunch14:00 Session 8: What can the SPA do for you15:00 AGM16:00 Feedback16:30 Goodbyes

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@spajournalism

bit.ly/SPAgroup

SOCIAL MEDIA

spajournalism

#SPANC15

spajournalism

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ADVERT 4

Work with us to...Widen the reach of news from your campusOffer unique journalism opportunities to your writersAccess advice and support

The best student journalism since 2003

thenationalstudent.com

Talk to us at SPANC 2015 to get involved and set up your publication as a Student Media Partner.

@NationalStudent The National Student @TheNationalStudent

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SPEAKERS 6Simon O’HaganSimon is the editor of Independent Voices, overseeing opinion articles and columns for The Independent, i and independent.co.uk. After getting his start on the Kent Messenger and then the Times, Simon joined the Independent in 1990, shortly after it was found-ed. In his 25 years there he has written on subjects from music to cycling, edited everything from sports to arts, and was even the paper’s quizmaster for its Saturday magazine. Before taking charge of the Voices desk he worked as the newspaper’s assistant editor.

Nick PetireNick was editor of Birmingham University newspaper and SPA member Redbrick, and went on to co-found WannabeHacks, a blog that provides advice to aspiring journalists. He has since worked for the Guardian as content coordinator and the Telegraph as their community manager. Currently at the Times, Nick was first em-ployed as the newspaper’s social media and campaign editor, then deputy head of news development and is now their deputy head of digital.

Tom WhitelyTom is the deputy editor of The Daily Mash, Britain’s biggest com-edy website. He became a journalist after an unexpected five-year apprenticeship in call centres. He then spent three years as a junior reporter on the South Wales Argus before joining the Sentinel as a feature writer. He moved into corporate communications with the Co-op Group, and started writing for The Daily Mash on the side. He now satirises full-time while looking after two children. If you say anything even halfway funny to him, he will steal it.

Lucy HolmesLucy is an author, actor and the founder of ‘No More Page 3’. She started the movement during London’s Olympic Games, after buying a copy of The Sun – only to find that the largest picture of a woman was not Jessica Ennis, who had just won a gold medal, but a topless model. ‘NMP3’ now boasts 242,000 signatures and is supported by students’ unions and MPs and even the Welsh and Scottish parliaments. In early 2015 The Sun appeared to drop Page 3. A topless model has not appeared in print since 22 January.

Matt BurgessMatt is a digital journalist who works on a range of trade magazines and also runs the popular FOI Directory website. He has written a book on the Freedom of Information Act and how journalists can use it. Recently he, along with a number of other journalists, was banned from making FOI requests by the Met police for asking the force about its use of RIPA snooping. Matt will be talking to delegates at SPANC15 about ways student journalists can use the FOI Act to un-earth powerful stories and help enhance their publication’s stature.

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SPEAKERS 7

James ThornhillJames is Head of Communications at BigChoice Group. Following a stint freelancing for the Lincolnshire Echo and working with stu-dent media James launched The National Student in 2002, as a free national newspaper for students. The publication has helped launch the careers of journalists at places like The Daily Mail, The Guardian, NME and Heat. James is now in charge of all editorial, B2B market-ing, digital marketing and PR output for the BigChoice Group. He is a veteran SPA speaker, having contributed to SPANC 2013 and 2014!

Brenda WongBrenda is the community manager of Student Beans’ University programme, and is the chief advisor for 17 local publications and 150 student writers all across the UK. Having graduated with a law degree from the University of Warwick, she is now the Sex & Re-lationships section of online magazine Eat More Cake. Brenda will be providing the delegates of SPANC15 with insights into all things viral content, and giving insider tips about the art of social media marketing for student publications.

Alastair ReidAlastair has been covering developments in digital journalism at Journalism.co.uk since the start of 2013 and organises the indus-try conference news:rewired. He has freelanced for local, national and international publications on a range of topics and has a back-ground in international development, current affairs and weird mu-sic. His session will explain in what ways the internet has changed how news organisations go about their work, but consider why the basics of journalism remain the same.

Paula O’SheaPaula is a Royal Television Society-winning journalist, with extensive experience in both national and international TV news, as well as multi-media local news. She has reported for regional newspapers, BBC Radio, produced news on BBC TV News Producer and for ITN. Having taught at the University of Brighton and Brighton & Hove City College, Paula established Brighton Journalist Works 7 years ago. She is well placed to offer careers advice and is an excellent example of the different places an NCTJ qualification can take you.

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ACCOMMODATION 8

There are two types of accomodation we’re working in partnership. Some of you will be in Southampton University’s ‘Glen Eyre Halls’ and others in closely-situated Highfield House Hotel; some joining us for one night, others for two.

Glen Eyre:· Check in from 3pm· Keys collected from Halls Reception· Check out at 9am· Keys to be returned to Halls Reception· Parking on Friday 10 – Hospitality will issue car parking permits If you have not done so already, please request one through the form here· Parking on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 is free, in any carpark on campus· Breakfast for Glen Eyre residents served at conference venue

Highfield House Hotel:· Check in from 2pm, (however, rooms are usually ready before this)· Check out at 11am· Breakfast for Highfield resident served in hotel between 7am and 9.30am· Parking is free· Complimentary Wi-Fi (please ask at reception)

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AWARDS NOMINATIONS

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Best InterviewAlex KronenburgAmar DesaiAnette LienBlindia Toor Ellis WhitehouseEmma Shelton Harrison Jones Hebe Clegg James BeesonJonathan Bucks Lauren Boyd Olivia JonesVictoria CoxVictoria Rodrigues-O’Donnell

Best FeatureAimee-lee Abraham & Jason RobertsDulcie LeeEstel Farell RoigFlora CarrJack PethickJasleen KaurJason RobertsKemi AlemoruLuke BrownMai VaboMatt CharlesMichael O’Connell-DavidsonPriya ThethiSam MeaghanSophie Harrison

Best News StoryBridie Pearson-Jones Caroline Chan Christopher SomersDanielle ButlerDulcie Lee Georgia HamerHarrison Jones Ruby LyleJayna RanaKatrina ChilverMichael O’Connell-DavidsonRachael MillerRebecca MyersSarah Manavis

Best Use of Digital MediaBlueMoonConcreteEpigramGair RhyddImpactInQuireLe NurbLondon StudentThe BadgerThe RabbitThe SaintThe Stag

Best Entertainment PieceAdam WhiteAlex NicholsonBharat Samra Charlotte Mullin Daniel EnglishHannah Hemmings Harry LawsonHolly McDedeJacob West Kate Lovatt Luke BrownMaxine Harrison Peter SheehanStepehen Dudley Tom Watchorn

Outstanding CommitmentBridie JonsElsa VulliamyEmmi BowlesGeri ScottJacob BentleyJames PhillipsJem CollinsKealie MardellKerry SclaterMeg LawrenceMichael O’Connell-DavidsonNatalie TippingRebekkah HughesTahlie CooperZaki Dogliani

Best PublicationConcreteEpigramExeposéForge PressGair RhyddImpactInQuireLe NurbRedbrickRoar NewsThe BadgerThe DemonThe EdgeThe SaintWessex Scene

Best University Sports CoverageExeposéInQuirePlutoRedbrick SportThe BadgerThe BoarThe DemonThe GalleonThe RiverThe SaintTrident Media

Best WebsiteConcreteDemon OnlineExeposéGair RhyddImpactInQuirePlatform MagazineRedbrickRoar NewsThe BadgerThe EdgeThe GalleonThe RabbitTrident Media

Best Design (Magazine)BlueMoonConrete KAOSCUB MagazineImpactPlatform MagazinePolitics Made PublicPOW MagQueen Mary ReviewQuenchThe Birthday PartyThe EdgeVenueWessex Scene

Best Design (Newspaper)ConcreteExeposéGair RhyddInQuireLe NurbPlutoRoar NewsThe BadgerThe BoarThe PrintThe SaintThe StagThe Student

Best Student PhotographerAndreas Theodoroux Conor ClarkeDaniel JohnEdwin YeungJake BonhamJohnny Tam Rosy HowellSophie Jones Will CockramYousif Sadik

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AGM & COMMITTEE ELECTIONS 12The SPA is guided and developed by its executive committee, a group of five members who are elected annually and tasked with leading the association for 12 months following their appointment.

Our constitution (available here) has all the intricacies regarding how we make sure the affair is as democratic and fair as possible, but put simply there are five posts any SPA member can stand for. You only need to have been on a student publica-tion within the last year (provided that it is a member, or if it isn’t, that you signed up by yourself). The positions up for grabs are:

ChairOverall leadership, management, and in charge of finances; external face when li-aising with external contacts/ companies; aids all other exec members

Development OfficerPublication support, collaboration, creating training sessions/events

Marketing and Events OfficerExternal marketing, sponsorship, events management, overseeing the organisation of the SPANC

Membership and Communications OfficerInternal communications, blogs and newsletter writer/ editor, membership manage-ment and affiliating new publications

Digital Media OfficerWeb development, digital and social media presences, technical support

Elections will take place during the last session of SPANC - our Annual General Meeting. There’s no need to register or inform anyone in advance, just turn up on the day and decide to run.

EXEC: The 2014/15 committee elected at SPANC14

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“I want a journalist who knows their stuff and that is whatI get from Highbury.”Mark WaldronEditor of The News, Portsmouth

More than 90% of our graduates get jobs in journalism within 3 months of fi nishing their NCTJ-accredited course. Why? Journalism at Highbury is hands-on, and highly practical – our students are routinely ge� ing their stories published in local and national news outlets. What’s more fees for both our award-winning One Year and 20 week fast track courses are a fraction of the price of an MA and we can off er cost eff ective on-site accommodation.

For more information about our NCTJ Diploma coursesemail journalism@highbury.ac.uk or call 023 9238 3131

Make headlineswith Highbury CollegeWhat do News at Ten presenter Mark Austen, TV presenter Simon Reeve, CNN Anchor Manisha Tank and the Executive Editor of the Huffi ngton Post, Stephen Hull have in common? They all started their careers in journalism at Highbury College, Portsmouth. They aren’t the only ones. It seems you can fi nd Highbury-trained journalists in newsrooms all over the world. We are really proud of our 50 year reputation as one of the country’s top places to study if you are serious about a career in Journalism. At Highbury we work closely with employers who know we are producing exactly the kind of graduates they want to hire. Gary Shipton, Editor in Chief, Sussex Newspapers North and himself ex-Highbury, said: “I am always enormously impressed by the standards you set and the enormous fl exibility you show in adjusting to the fast-changing needs of the industry.”

Tony Meenaghan, Director of Solent News Agency, is also complimentary: “I have considered applicants for employment from numerous institutions across the UK but I can honestly say those best qualifi ed have without exception come from Highbury.”

Perhaps the best testimony comes from an ex student. Tom Cotterill is now Chief Reporter at the Littlehampton Gazette: “I completed my course on the Friday and walked into a job, on a local paper, the following Monday. That is the quality of training and connections Highbury is able to off er students. I would recommend the course to anyone keen about becoming a journalist.”

Our postgraduate Fast Track 20 week NCTJ accredited Diploma courses run twice a year in September and February. We have on-site halls of residence available at very competitive rates.

CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORE ATjournalism@highbury.ac.uk

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A SPECIAL THANKS TO

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OUR SPONSORS

&OUR CONFERENCE TEAM

Tahlie Cooper, Megan Downing, Rebecca James, Hannah Mylrea

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