Founded in 1946, the Florida Scholastic Press Association comprises over 300 student publications, online media teams and broadcast programs throughout the state. Yearly, the organization, seeking responsible exercise of freedom of expression involving adherence to the highest standards of journalism, hosts an educational convention for all student publications in Florida to attend.
On April 17-20 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive in Orlando, more than 1 ½ thousand students attended the convention, with the theme of Amplify. The theme, created by the student representatives of FSPA, was designed to emphasize each and every student journalist and their voice that is delivered through their work covering all areas of journalism- as yearbook, photography, newspaper, or print publications.
Yael Weinfeld, the Content Editor and Editor-in-Chief of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s yearbook “Aerie,” was this year’s student state chair for FSPA.
“This position really opened my eyes to how big the journalistic community in Florida is and how important it is for the young students, because we have students coming to the convention from middle school and all the way to their senior year of high school, and they come back because they keep learning and growing as journalists. It made me realize how important is to have this event for the future of journalism in Florida,” Weinfeld said.
The event started Wednesday, as students started checking into their rooms that evening, but Thursday is when the journalistic activities began. The opening session was unlatched by an inspirational speech by Nancy Alvarez, the keynote speaker of Amplify. Alvarez works for Wesh 2 News where she covers catastrophic weather events, elections and personal story features.
Thursday was the day dedicated to virtual contests, where students had the opportunity to show off their camera, writing, digital design, videography, and broadcast skills. By submitting their entries online, they were too eligible to receive valuable feedback. Thursday’s FSPA was concluded with the iconic Lip Sync battle.
Friday, however, was full of educational sessions and seminars for students to attend and gain valuable knowledge from experienced journalists and instructors. And in the evening, attend the yearly banquet and dance.
“My ultimate experience at FSPA was a lot of fun. Putting it all together and organizing the events was a lot of work, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I will forever cherish this experience and would do it again in a blink,” Weinfeld said.
And with the loud weekend full of camera flashes, audio equipment surrounding the convention center, and students organizing their media, it is time to rewind and get ready for next year’s convention.
“I think FSPA turned out great this year- even better than I hoped- everyone had a great time. The convention went smoothly, people won contests, and I really loved seeing the keynote speaker as well as students running around the lobby while interviewing others and getting their quotes,” Joanie Webster, president of FSPA, said.
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