Business Journalism: J-IDEAS to offer regional workshops

by Warren Watson

J-Ideas has received funding to conduct four one-day regional workshops on the business-related topics of high school newspapers beginning this fall.

The Oklahoma-based Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Journalism Institute for Digital Education, Activities and Scholarship (J-Ideas).

J-Ideas Director Warren Watson said the workshops will cover advertising, circulation and distribution, promotion and marketing, and budgeting. Watson said sites for the four workshops will be announced later this spring.

“There is more to a high school newspaper than just covering news,” said Watson in announcing the program. “The Foundation will enable us to introduce high school students to the basics of advertising and marketing – and all the disciplines that make up a newspaper. Students will find there are fine vocational opportunities. They’ll learn about the whole newspaper through this program.”

Each session will accommodate up to 75 people, Watson said. Students, teachers, advisers and administrators are invited to attend. There will be no tuition fee.

J-Ideas conducted a pilot workshop on the business of high school newspapers on March 4 at the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Foundation in Harrisburg, Pa. More than 35 students and teachers attended.

For more information on the new program, or if you would like to be a site for a workshop, please contact Warren Watson (765) 285-8211 or Assistant Director Christi Girton (765) 285-8923 at J-Ideas.

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