Take nine student journalists between the ages of 16 and 20 and toss in a couple of seasoned communication professionals from far-flung locations plus a trio of AASA staff members who know the routines. Mix together and shake well for a dynamic potion that’s resulted the past three days in the 2023 edition of Conference Daily Online in San Antonio.
It’s the multi-media newsletter that captures the ins and outs of the biggest event on the AASA calendar each year, the National Conference on Education. Since Wednesday morning, the young and eager news gatherers have been encamped in a corner office of the convention center, pulling together news stories and features, dozens of photos, video clips and blog posts.
Conference Daily Online has updated its web page with fresh contents each evening and distributed its e-newsletter by 8 a.m. Central Time the next day to inboxes of every conference attendee and all AASA members.
“I’m always amazed at the ambitious talent that we bring on board as intern reporters, photographers and videographers, whom we attract from some strong high school journalism programs as well as local universities,” said Jay P. Goldman, the publication’s editor in chief.
He said he was especially proud that AASA, relying on mostly student talent in whatever city hosts the AASA event, has been named the best online daily conference news publication among professional associations and trade groups in national contests the past two years.
The 2023 staff was directed by two editors from AASA’s School Administrator magazine staff, Goldman and Jacqueline Hyman, who served as editor in chief and managing editor, respectively, in San Antonio. Their AASA colleague Jimmy Minichello, who directs communication for the association, served as a senior editor of the conference newsletter. Liz Griffin, also of the magazine staff, served as senior editor (off site) for the conference newsletter.
Other staffing roles at Conference Daily Online were filled by the following:
Digital Editor: Stephanie Compton, consultant, Penrose, N.C.
Videography Coordinator: Michael Ellson, media arts teacher, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, Tenn.
Senior Editors: Linda Chion Kenney, editorial freelancer, Pop-Up Media and Marketing, Lithia, Fla., and Brad Domitrovich, communications consultant, Georgetown, Texas
Reporters: Angelina D’Elia, sophomore, Trinity University, San Antonio; Emily Hughitt, freshman, Howard Payne University, Brownwood, Texas; Emma Siebold, senior, Smithson Valley High School, Comal ISD, Spring Branch, Texas; Isabella Sandoval, senior, Judson High School, Judson ISD, Converse, Texas; Samara Penny, junior, Judson High School, Judson ISD, Converse, Texas; and Rebecca Salon, consultant, Silver Spring, Md.
Videographers: Logan Reid, senior, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, Tenn.; and Silas Bryant, junior, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, Tenn.
Photographers: Micah Anthony II, freelance photographer, San Antonio; Brianna Driver, junior, Robert G. Cole High School, Fort Sam Houston ISD, San Antonio; and Paige Heller, freshman, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio
