ALHS broadcasting, newspaper, yearbook, and photography students attended the Fall 2025 JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention, in Nashville, TN, from November 13 – 16. Journalism teachers Hillary Blayney and Gerry Appel chaperoned the event.
Sophomore, and sports journalist, Kinnick Driscoll, won the National honorable mention for sports writing award, and the journalism team attended a blend of breakout rooms, working towards offering students a new perspective.
“Over the Journalism trip we were given the opportunity to explore the city which was rewarding. I learned about the culture of Nashville. At the conference I learned ways to progress my journalism skills, and more about college journalism programs,” said Driscoll. “I won an award, and it meant a lot to me. It made me very proud realizing how I’m doing compared to other schools across the country.”
The conference was a great opportunity for students to take advantage of, to greatly improve their journalism skills.
“I enjoyed taking an entirely new group of students to a national conference. I was super proud of all of them competing on a national level against hundreds of students from all over the country,” said educator Hillary Blayney.
Advisors attended sessions, while the students attended private sessions. Sessions for journalism advisors targeted tips on how to tackle situations with students, ways to reinforce hard work, and expand journalism to middle schools and receive a larger public eye on their students’ hard work. These teachers also had the chance to judge a cartoon contest.
“While students attended the sessions, Mrs. Blayney and I had the opportunity to judge an editorial cartooning contest. It was a fun activity,” said journalism teacher Gerry Appel.
These students had the chance to not only expand their skills but also had the great opportunity to go sightseeing.
“On the Nashville trip we did lots of walking so I enjoyed getting the exercise and all of the activities we got to do before the conference. I also got to know my classmates better. I went to the museum next to the hotel with new people,” said photography editor Bryton Weaver, sophomore. “My favorite thing about the trip was all of the opportunities I had to take photos, and practice my photography skills.”
The group arrived on Wednesday, Nov. 12, and went to Waffle House. Thursday night they went to the Opry Hills Mall, and attended a game show. Students went to the Dukes of Hazards Museum and many tourist shops downtown.
“On the trip, we had lots of fun, I met people all the way from London, and South Korea. The sessions were very fun and I learned a lot from them. The ideas I learned were very creative,” said junior, and yearbook editor in chief, Olivia Tallman.
The journalism conference was a great opportunity offered to all journalism students. It gave students insights into other perspectives across the nation, offering new ideas, and a nice social experience in a different environment.
