The Fall Conference in Philly

Four current students attended this fall’s National College Media Convention Oct. 29–Nov. 2 in at the Downtown Marriott in Philadelphia. Managing editor Kira Maddox, assistant news editor Taylor Zambrano, assistant sports editor Kristen Gowdy and design editor Grace Clauss attended three days of workshops run by journalism professionals and college newspaper advisers. Kira also co-moderated a discussion session on diversity in the newsroom, and I presented a session titled, “Philosophy for Journalists: Journalism and the Problem of Suffering.”

Chris Baxter ’08 presents at the conference.

In addition, alumnus Chris Baxter ’08, currently a reporter with the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger,  presented two conference sessions which were scheduled as the result of his having been a recipient of the prestigious Livingston Award for Young Journalists for 2013, sponsored by the University of Michigan, in the Excellence in Local Reporting category for his story, “Private Schools, Hidden Riches,” which investigated spending practices at New Jersey private schools for students with disabilities.
The Ithacan was presented with Finalist Awards in the National Newspaper Pacemaker and National Online Pacemaker competitions. The Pacemaker is widely regarded as “the Pulitzer Prize” of collegiate journalism.” In addition, the paper won 7th place in the conference’s on-site Best of Show competition in the newspaper category and 8th place in the website category.

From left, Taylor Zambrano, Kira Maddox, Kristen Gowdy
and Grace Clauss with the Ithacan’s Pacemaker Finalist
Awards.

The high point of the trip, apart from the cheesesteaks, was getting together with our Philadelphia alumni. We’ve built up a small concentration of alums there, so we got them together with the students attending the conference. Most of them were able to make it to dinner at Smokin’ Betty’s for an evening of good food and good conversation.

Clockwise from left, design editor Grace Clauss, Tricia Nadolny ’09, assistant
 news editor Taylor Zambrano, Josh Mellman ’09, Cory Francer ’10, Michelle
 Skowronek Horner ’11, assistant sports editor Kristen Gowdy, Noria
 Litaker ’06, Chris Baxter ’08 and managing editor Kira Maddox.