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CSMA Adviser Update

America needs journalists... and journalism teachers

CSMA AdviserUpdateAmerica needs journalists... and journalism teachers

House Education Committee approves our bill 13-0, full House to vote today

The first step in adding explicit protections for advisers simply supporting lawful expression by their media students was the unanimous approval of our bill amending the 1990 student free expression law. The bill is scheduled for its third and final reading TODAY in the House. upon passage, it will be assigned to a Senate committee and a hearing date will be scheduled.


Congratulations to Rep. Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango) who is sponsoring HB20-1062 in the House. Sen. Don Coram (R-Montrose) will be sponsoring the bill in the State Senate. We will try to keep everyone in the loop, as it were, as this bill makes its way through the legislative process.


If you wish to listen to the audio of the Feb. 6 committee hearing, click here.

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Start planning for spring and summer

There is plenty of time, but we all know how fast the second semester goes...


Our Best of Colorado individual contests return in April. You can check the details here.


April 15 is the deadline for our individual portfolio competitions, including Reporter of the Year, Designer of the Year, Photographer of the Year, Broadcast Journalist of the Year, and Middle School Journalist of the Year. Go to our site and check out each competition from our Student Contests & Awards pulldown.


reTHINK and the Summer Adviser Workshop will run concurrently June 3-5, again at Rock Canyon HS in Highlands Ranch. You can find reTHINK details here, and SAW details here. All registration is online only.

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Join us March 2 for our annual state capitol conference

The Capitol Hill Press Conference has been a long-standing tradition for our association and we are back in the renovated Old Supreme Court Chambers on Monday, March 2.


This event is free for our members, though we ask that advisers bring only TWO students per medium. If you have questions about this policy, just contact Jack Kennedy.


Registration is online using this form. The form contains lots of additional information on timing and the plans for the day.

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Portfolios for Greer Scholarship due Friday

The Dorothy Greer Scholarship is our most prestigious student award and is better known as the Colorado Student Journalist of the Year.


It brings a $3,000 scholarship for the winner and a $1,500 award for the runner-up.


Read all about the requirements on our site. If seniors have not begun putting together their online portfolio, no time to waste. The winner will be advanced to the JEA National Student Journalist of the Year competition.


Contact JEA State Director and Greer Chair Justin Daigle at jdaigle@sd27j.net with questions.

CSMA is looking for its next executive director

Colorado Student Media Association - Executive Director

Approximate Start Date: between April 1, 2020 and June 1, 2020

Summary:

The Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA) is in search of an Executive Director to oversee the administration of programs for the membership of the organization with the objective to increase the quality of scholastic journalism in the state of Colorado. Other key duties include organizing J-Day (our state convention), coordinating our contests and critique services, outreach to membership, maintaining our online and social media presence, and overseeing the finances of the organization. The position is part-time and the number of weekly hours varies based on the time of year. The Executive Director reports directly to the CSMA Board of Directors.

Salary:

The Executive Director will be paid a salary range of $20,000-$25,000 annually and, depending on experience and desire, the executive director may be able to gain employment teaching courses at a partner university.

The Executive Director will have the following responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with the CSMA Board of Directors and partners, including the Colorado Press Association and local universities, among others

  • Membership office work

  • J-Day organization (state journalism conference each fall)

  • Contest and critique coordination

  • Recruit and maintain relationships with judges for contests and critiques

  • Collaborate with the Journalism Education Association and with state press association directors

  • Ad hoc and summer workshop/special event organization

  • Regular website, social media and direct email support of members

  • Financial accounting office work

While flexible, the Executive Director should have the following preferred qualifications and skills:

  • Preferred experience advising and/or teaching journalism grades 6-12

  • Conference organization skills/experience

  • Basic office workflow and management

  • Financial reporting including filing annual IRS forms for non-profits

  • Flexibility -- the time commitment of the position varies greatly throughout the year

Interested applicants should send current CV/resume to CSMA President, Jessica Hunziker, MJE at jmhunziker@dcsdk12.org, 720.327.8500.

Looking for a chance for students to explore CSU plus get some great instruction?

This is a terrific opportunity, as a bargain price of $30!


New easy online application! (due by March 1)


Thanks for being an important part of our state association

Colorado Student Media Association memberships are by school medium, and we offer four options: print news, yearbook, online, and video media. A single membership is $65. We offer a convenient online membership form, and you can choose either to pay with a school credit card or ask to be invoiced.


Spring is busy for everyone, with lots of scholarship opportunities, individual contests, and much more. Watch for your weekly e-newsletter for details and be sure to check our website for the latest information.

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Connect with CSMA

Email: jpkjournalism@gmail.com
Website: colostudentmedia.com
Location: 9253 Sori Lane, Highlands Ranch CO
Phone: 303-550-4755
Facebook: facebook.com/coloradostudentmedia
Twitter: @ColoradoSMA