Categories Applicable:
- Leadership/Team Building
- Entrepreneurship
In my past four years in journalism, I have had the opportunity to attend many workshops, conventions and retreats in order to improve the Hawkeye and my own journalistic and entrepreneurial skills.
Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference
PBS Newshour Co-Anchors Judy Woodruff (left), Gwen Ifill (center), and me (right) at the 2014 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference in Washington, D.C.
In what was the single most memorable week of my life, I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the 2014 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism conference. Fifty high school journalists were chosen for this once in a lifetime opportunity. It was an incredible week of journalism. We had tours at the Newseum, the Capitol, USA Today and many other incredible places. We met amazing journalists such as Gwen Ifill, David Gregory, Zeke Miller, Judy Woodruff and many others.
To read my column on the trip and the impact it had on me, click here.
JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Conventions
Seattle, Spring 2012
Hawkeye Awards:
- Best of Show: Newspaper Broadsheet 9-12 Pages – 3rd Place
- Best of Show: Publication Website Large School – 8th Place
Trip highlight: Taking an intensive, pre-convention workshop on storytelling and effective writing.
San Antonio, Fall 2012
Hawkeye Awards:
- Best of Show: Newspaper Broadsheet 9-12 Pages – 5th Place
Trip highlight: Strolling along the River Walk on a cool, Texas night.
San Francisco, Spring 2013
Hawkeye Awards:
- Best of Show: Publication Website Small School – 6th Place
- 2013 Online Pacemaker Finalist
Trip highlight: Winning the Online Pacemaker!
Boston, Fall 2013
We traveled to New York City first, where we were able to sit in on a Page One meeting at the New York Times, followed by a tour from one of the assistant managing editors.
Our adviser’s son, Gabe DeMiero, was working as principal intern at an elementary school in Brookline, Mass. Hawkeye staff members and I spent a day at the school hosting a journalism workshop for elementary school students.
Trip highlight: Touring the New York Times and sitting in on a Page One meeting.
San Diego, Spring 2014
I gave a presented with my adviser on a session titled “Journalism’s 3 R’s: relevance, readers, reinvention,” focusing on the transformation our organization underwent and ways to remake student media organizations for success in the digital age.
- Best of Show: Newspaper Tabloid – 5th Place
- Best of Show: Publication Website Small School – 5th Place
Trip highlight: Planning next year’s publication strategy with my staff while sitting on the beach, enjoying the sunset.
Washington, D.C., Fall 2014
Hawkeye Awards
- Best of Show: Newspaper Special Edition – 6th Place
- Best of Show: Publication Website Small School – 2nd Place
Trip highlight: Looking out from the Speaker of the House’s balcony during a tour of the U.S. Capitol.
Other Conventions/Workshops
WJEA Journalism Conventions
- Inglemoor High School, March 2013
- Shorewood High School, March 2014
WJEA Summer Workshops
These intensive, multiple day workshops prepare students for the upcoming school year. My attendance at these workshops played a critical role in preparing me for the redesign and revamping of our publication and organization.
- Western Washington University, Summer 2013
- Western Washington University, Summer 2014
Hawkeye Retreats
Adviser Vince DeMiero (front left) introduces Hawkeye alumni at the 2014 Hawkeye mid-year retreat.
Hawkeye retreats serve as some of the most important and powerful teamwork and planning events of the year. In these retreats, we plan out the next year and how we will continue to adapt and innovate. Many Hawkeye alumni have returned for these retreats, including Seattle Times sports writer Adam Jude, Bloomberg News Cairo, Egypt business correspondent Ahmed Namatalla, Conde Nast Art Director Jody Churchfield, and many others.
- Mid-Year Retreat, Dec. 2011
- Summer Leadership Retreat, Aug. 2012
- Mid-Year Retreat, Dec. 2012
- Summer Leadership Retreat, Aug. 2013
- Mid-Year Retreat, Dec. 2013
- Summer Leadership Retreat, June 2014
- Mid-Year Retreat, Dec. 2014
Nick Fiorillo 