Why isn’t the conference at Webster this year?

While journalismSTL is eternally grateful for the years of hospitality Webster University offered us, there were limits to the size and availability of rooms there and we found that the spaces available to us were no longer suiting our needs. We required more and more rooms, which in turn required more and more speakers, and sessions began to sprawl across more of the campus, which created some safety and supervision concerns. We wanted a place where we could fit more people in fewer rooms that were nearer to each other.

I’m on spring break during the conference, would that have happened if we were still at Webster?

Unfortunately, yes. Webster and SLU are on spring break the same week. Over the summer, the jSTL executives discussed cancelling the 2017 conference altogether, simply because nearly a third of our member schools are on spring break that week. The frequent overlap of the university spring break with many of our member schools’ breaks is why we are looking to move the conference to the fall beginning next school year.

What is the schedule for the conference?

While we are still coordinating speakers, here is the tentative schedule for the day’s events:

• 8:30-9:00: Check-In
• 9:00: Welcome
• 9:15-10:15: Keynote
• 10:25-11:10: Session One
• 11:20-12:05: Session Two
• 12:15-1:00: Session Three
• 1:00-1:45: Lunch

Why is lunch at the end of the day?

We moved lunch to the end of the day because we know some schools will have to leave earlier than others due to bus schedules and we didn’t want folks to have to leave during the middle of a session.

Do we have to stay for lunch?

No. Because it is at the end of the day, you now have the option to register for the conference without lunch for $10 per person.

What about the adviser lunch meeting?

We are moving the member adviser meeting to during a session so advisers are able to assist with lunch supervision and distribution. The specific session time is TBA.

Will we receive paper copies of session schedules this year?

As was the case last year, we will use the Guidebook app for the conference schedule. Encourage your students to download the app prior to attending the conference. A digital copy of the schedule will also be sent to advisers in advance and you are welcome to print copies for your students who need one, but we will not have paper copies available for students at the conference.

Why is there no awards ceremony this year?

In order to maximize our conference time, we have removed the awards ceremony from the end of the conference. Awards will be distributed during the April jSTL meeting, along with posts on journalismSTL.com and social media. Beginning in the spring of 2018, the awards ceremony will be a part of the annual trivia night.

I’m unable to make the April meeting, how will my students receive their awards?

First off, we encourage every member to attend meetings whenever possible. They are a fantastic opportunity for fellowship and networking with your local scholastic journalism colleagues. That being said, we recognize that people’s schedules do not always allow meeting attendance to be possible. Just as we have always done after awards are handed out during past ceremonies, any awards not picked up at the April meeting will be mailed to schools.

Why do I have to pay the registration costs for students who do not attend?

We base our lunch order off of the number of people who register for the conference. Even if someone doesn’t show up, we still have to pay for the food we ordered for them.