Workshops

kentucky high school
journalism association

EKU Department of Communication Presents

FRIDAY FUNDAMENTALS

High school journalism teachers: Here is a great opportunity to bring highly qualified professionals from Eastern Kentucky University into your classroom at no cost. Because our Friday Fundamentals program was so popular last year, we’ve expanded our offerings. These faculty members have offered to come to your school to present the following 45-minute “traveling workshops” as a service to you and your students. Longer workshops are available on request.

Please note that all workshops are offered on FRIDAYS ONLY and will be scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis.

If you are interested in scheduling a session, please e-mail the professor directly at the e-mail address included in his/her bio (below).

Reggie Beehner:

Digital Photography: Using digital cameras to take better photographs.

InDesign: How to use InDesign for your newspaper.

Photoshop: Basics of using Photoshop.

News Writing and Reporting: Fundamentals of good news writing and information gathering.

Deborah Givens:

Tapping Community Resources: Learn how high school journalism programs can use the news bureau model to develop community recognition, to build partnerships with professional media outlets, to provide additional publication opportunities for students, to increase support from school staff and administrators, and perhaps to generate additional program funds. And the best part all of this can be accomplished with resources already on hand!

Mapping The School Community: Homecoming, basketball games, student government elections, final exams…. If your newspaper and yearbook pages are filled with the same stories every year this workshop based on civic journalism principles will help high school journalists develop new skills in finding and reporting stories

News Writing: Fundamentals of writing the basic news story.

Feature Writing: Fundamentals of writing feature stories for newspapers and tips for taking your feature writing to new levels.

Interviewing: How to conduct interviews for news and feature stories.

Mike Branstetter:

The Coming Digital Age of HDTV: This workshop offers a brief review of the development of motion images leading up to High Definition Television. Much of Thomas Edison’s early work with motion pictures set the stage for the television system we use today. The advent of High Definition Television and Digital Movie Making are leading us toward a convergence of media that sets the stage for the future of media application—a future that is very relevant to students. (Colorful PowerPoint presentation)

Titles and Graphics in Film and Television: This workshop offers a brief discussion of factors that should be considered when preparing graphics for media production. Color attributes, contrast ratio, font sizing and composition of images will be discussed. Avoid the “home-video” look by applying a few of the techniques professional videographers and editors use every day. Your audience may be glad you did. (Colorful PowerPoint presentation)

Broadcast Writing 101: Learning how to write clear, concise, conversational scripts for broadcast.

Liz Hansen:

Media Law: A fundamental look at the First Amendment rights enjoyed by the media and by high school journalists in particular.

Media Ethics: Ethical issues high school journalists may encounter and basic tools for making tough ethical decisions.

News Writing: Fundamentals of writing the basic news story.

Feature Writing: Fundamentals of writing feature stories for newspapers and tips for taking your feature writing to new levels.

Interviewing: How to conduct interviews for news and feature stories.

John Taylor:

The Final Cut: A presentation of Final Cut Pro, LiveType, and Soundtrack.

Touring the Global Village: A look at media from around the world.

Video 101: The fundamentals of shooting professional video...special attention is given to shooting video in the field

Instructor Bios:

Reggie Beehner is a former reporter for several daily newspapers (Biloxi Sun Herald and Lexington Herald-Leader, among others). He has lately turned his attention to design and layout programs, teaching such courses as digital photography, desktop publishing and digital image processing. He is also the faculty adviser of Eastern Kentucky University’s award-winning student newspaper, The Eastern Progress. You may contact him at reggie.beehner@eku.edu.

Dr. Mike Branstetter received his BA in Mass Media and an M.A. Ed. from Western Kentucky University. His doctorate degree is from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. He has taught broadcasting and film courses at Western Kentucky University, University of Tennessee at Martin, Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia, Palm Beach Community College in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and at Shelby County High School in Kentucky. Dr. Branstetter brings more than 35 years of broadcast education experience to the department, which he jointed in 2005. He was general manager of a PBS affiliate station for four years, and Film Technology department head at Palm Beach Community College. He is a past member of the Florida Institute for Film Educators, and past president of the Tennessee Public Television Council. Additionally, he has been instrumental in the startup and construction of two FM radio stations and one low-power television station. You may contact him at mike.branstetter@eku.edu.

Deborah Givens joined the faculty at Eastern Kentucky University after a 20-year career as a community newspaper editor/publisher. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ball State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Western Kentucky University. Deborah was accepted into the University of Kentucky College of Communication doctoral program in 2003 and successfully completed the qualifying exam in 2006. She has taught Writing and Reporting News, Advanced News Writing, Public Affairs Reporting, Copyediting and Design, and Issues in Mass Communication. Deborah also has experience as a high school adviser. When the local high school was without a yearbook adviser, Deborah agreed to teach part time to fill the position. The second year a newspaper was added and the third year a high school news bureau was formed. You may contact her at deborah.givens@eku.edu.

Dr. Liz Hansen teaches Writing and Reporting News, Media Ethics, Community Journalism, Public Affairs Reporting, Feature Writing, and Writing and Selling Nonfiction classes at Eastern Kentucky University. She is a former newspaper reporter and freelance writer who has won more than 50 awards for her writing, editing and photography. She is the former adviser of The Eastern Progress, EKU’s award-winning student newspaper. She is also immediate past president of the Bluegrass Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Dr. Hansen has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas, a master’s degree from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. You may contact her at liz.hansen@eku.edu.

Dr. John Taylor teaches video production, international media and new media courses at Eastern Kentucky University. He has produced videos in the United States, Republic of Malta, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates. He is a former Senior Fulbright Scholar who has lived abroad in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the Republic of Malta, and the United Arab Emirates. You can contact him at John.Taylor@eku.edu.

If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. Liz Hansen at Liz.Hansen@eku.edu. Her telephone number is 859-622-1488.