NOTE: This brand new FAQ page is currently in progress as we work to add as much information as possible for our NHSJC speakers.

What is the deadline to submit sessions for this fall's convention?

While the usual deadline for fall submissions is Aug. 15, we have moved the deadline to Sept. 10 this year to account for the delay as we switched over to this new platform. Please submit your proposals by 11:59 p.m. CDT on Sept. 10 to be considered. If you miss the deadline, we will first prioritize scheduling all on-time submissions before considering any others.  

How do I submit a session proposal?

Please visit the Call for Submissions page to learn all about this process.

What should I speak about?

Please read through our topic guide on the speaker portal. While we welcome any submission related to scholastic journalism, the planning committee is especially seeking sessions on the following topics:

• Diversity, equity and inclusion in student media (the importance of representation, covering underrepresented areas, accessibility practices, building newsroom diversity, best practices for coverage, inclusive leadership, etc.)
• Broadcast and multimedia topics (video production and editing, podcasting, news anchoring, visual journalism, technology and tools, etc.)

Below are more ideas, based on attendee feedback from the previous convention.

Topics for students or any attendee:

• Sessions focused on literary magazine or newspaper publications 
• Sessions focused on middle school media programs
• Photojournalism topics (all areas, including using Lightroom, camera skills, and more practical, hands-on sessions)
• Writing topics (tips and tricks, copywriting, writing leads, arts and entertainment writing, editing, etc.)
• Newsgathering topics (covering controversial topics or breaking news, navigating politics, investigative journalism, etc.)
• Marketing topics (social media marketing and management for student publications, etc.)
• Design topics (typography, magazine design, etc.)
• Law & ethics topics (media literacy, journalism law, First Amendment, accessing public records, etc.)
• Yearbook topics (design theory and application, spread design, layout, writing cutlines, etc.)
• Interviewing and storytelling skills
• Sports journalism and photography
• Editor-in-chief training / student leadership skills
• Advanced technical skills (reporting, photography, yearbook, design, etc.)
• Artificial intelligence in journalism / AI classroom policy
• Applying journalism skills (to daily life, to non-journalism careers, etc.)
• The business of journalism
• College journalism
• Journalist etiquette
• Public speaking skills for journalists
• Publication productivity / project management timeline
• Tips for students who want to become journalism teachers

Topics for advisers:

• Tips & best practices for new advisers
• Overcoming challenges and troubleshooting problems as an adviser
• Coaching student photographers / student leaders
• How to teach the journalism basics
• Staff recruitment, management and motivation / building classroom culture
• Yearbook grading systems
• Running a media or yearbook club
• Advising student media at a Title 1 school / small school
• Working with yearbook vendors
• Advising multiple publications / converged media
• Structuring journalism programs with high turnover
• The logistics of student media (distribution, printing, etc.)

Should I plan to present using a specific format?

The format is up to you. You can plan a lecture, workshop, panel, Q&A or whatever works best for you. All we ask is that you don't go over your time slot and that you present something that aligns with the session title and description you provide. We also require all speakers and attendees to follow our rules of conduct throughout each presentation.

Can I submit a session I presented at a previous convention?

While we do allow repeat sessions from past conventions, we do ask for you help in keeping the convention's content fresh and relevant. Please ensure you are fully reviewing the session details and making continual updates each time you resubmit. This could be as simple as rewriting the session title to something new, or could involve reworking your lesson plan to include information specifically designed for student media work in 2025. 

With the move to this new submission platform, we do ask that ALL speakers fully resubmit their session information so it exists within this platform. However, the good news is that this platform will preserve a personal archive of all your sessions for you to reference moving forward. We hope this will help make future submissions much easier, so you don't have to worry about finding or requesting this information from the NHSJC team. If you do need help finding past session details, please email Amber James at amber@jea.org.

Can I submit more than one session proposal?

Yes, you can submit up to six session proposals. Please note there is a chance all will be accepted, so please only submit what you are actually willing to present.

How long is an NHSJC breakout session?

Our standard breakout session time slot is 45 minutes. Each session will begin at the start of the hour (i.e. 9-9:45 a.m.) and you can arrive up to 15 minutes prior to get set up as the previous session concludes.

How big will my room be and how will it be set up?

Room sizes vary depending on the venue. Once you receive your room assignment, you can reference the Gaylord Opryland facility guide to find out the location, size and capacity.

All breakout rooms will be set up in either classroom (rows of tables with chairs) or theater (rows of chairs, no tables) seating. If you would like to request a room with a specific set, please make note on the session proposal form. Due to the large volume of concurrent sessions, we are usually unable to provide a room set that differs from these two options. However, you are welcome to move around the chairs and/or tables in the room as long as you reset before the next session begins.

I need a big/small room for my session. How can I request this?

Please include this request in the "Notes for organizers" field on the session proposal form. Due to the large number of sessions, we are unable to guarantee anything, but we will do our best.

Please note that the more flexible you are in the scheduling availability you provide, the easier it will be to accomodate this kind of request.

How many attendees should I expect? What kind of attendees?

Session attendance is first-come, first-served, so beyond learning the max capacity of your assigned room, there isn't a good way to estimate how many attendees you can expect. We encourage you to plan a flexible presentation that can accomodate any size group. NHSJC usually has between 3,000 to 4,000 attendees, so many sessions will max out the room's capacity.

NHSJC attendance is roughly 80% middle and high school student journalists and 20% journalism advisers, teachers and professionals. Standard session attendance is open to all attendees, so please note that even if your session is geared toward advisers, students may still choose to attend (and vice versa). Please plan accordingly.

Is there any compensation, reimbursement or registration discount for speaking at NHSJC?

Presenting a NHSJC session is an unpaid volunteer opportunity to benefit the education and professional development of student journalists and their advisers. JEA and NSPA are unable to reimburse speakers for travel and lodging expenses. 

All speakers will need to register for the convention. Advisers, if you are interested in learning how to qualify for discounted or complimentary registration, visit this page for more info. Students, there are no fee waivers for speaking, but you are welcome to apply separately for our student scholarship opportunity. 

Featured Speakers and Break with a Pro speakers who are invited to participate by the Nashville local committee will receive complimentary parking at the event venue on the day(s) they speak. These specially designated individuals, who will not otherwise be attending the convention, do not need to pay to register - please visit the Speaker Check-in desk (near registration) upon your arrival to receive your name badge.

When should I arrive for my scheduled session?

You can arrive up to 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time to get set up as the previous session concludes. For example, if your session starts at 11:00 a.m., you can arrive at 10:45 a.m. We recommend arriving at least 10 minutes early. If you are speaking during the first session of the day (8:00 a.m.) you can arrive up to 30 minutes early.

What audiovisual equipment is NHSJC able to provide for my session?

We can provide a "standard breakout set" which includes a screen and projector with HDMI hookup. Additionally, if your presentation will include audio elements (music, video, etc.) we can provide a simple laptop speaker that can connect to your computer via a headphone jack, but only if you make this request on your session application.

Due to the large volume of breakout sessions at the convention, we are unable to accommodate A/V requests beyond these basics. Please note in your proposal what equipment you will need. Remember, if you fail to note this correctly, your assigned room may not include that equipment.

NHSJC is not able to provide laptops. Speakers are required to bring their own laptop with all presentation materials preloaded and ready to go. If your laptop does not have an HDMI port, please bring an adaptor. We may have a couple adaptors available, but the quantity is limited as there are usually 20-30 sessions happening concurrently.

Will there be speaker Wi-Fi?

Yes! However, it is limited, so we ask that you only use it during the sessions you are speaking at. NHSJC is unable to provide attendee Wi-Fi. 

We recommend that you ensure all your presentation materials are available offline whenever possible. Live events have an odd tendency to invite technical difficulties and internet issues.  

What should I bring to my session?

• Any materials you will use during the session (i.e. handouts, etc.)
• A laptop with your presentation downloaded and ready to go. We recommend having your presentation available offline, if possible - while we do provide speaker Wi-Fi, it's never a good idea to rely on internet during a live event.
• An HDMI adaptor for your laptop, if needed (Apple users, we're looking at you!)
• A flexible mindset! NHSJC breakout sessions are first-come, first-served and there are usually between 20-30 presentations happening concurrently. While it can be a little chaotic and unpredictable, it can also be a lot of fun, especially when you're prepared to embrace flexibility and creative problem solving when needed. For example, even if your session is primarily intended for advisers, students may still decide to attend - we encourage you to be ready for any audience!

Do I need to submit any of my materials ahead of the convention?

No. Due to the large volume of sessions at each convention, we are trusting that your presentation materials will align with the session description you provided. Additionally, please ensure all session materials align with the convention's Rules of Conduct. If we receive any reports from attendees about a violation of those rules, you may be subject to disciplinary action.

What happens if I run into a technical issue with the room's AV or internet?

If you will be using AV during your session, you will be in charge of connecting your laptop to the projector and/or audio speaker. If you encounter any issues, we will have some tech support available. To request support, please call the convention hotline (the number will be listed on a piece of paper on the podium in your session room). We recommend arriving no later than 10 minutes before your session start time, just in case troubleshooting is needed.

Question not answered here?

Visit the speaker portal for more guidance. Please email Amber James at amber@jea.org with any other questions.