ODYSSEY Media Group members pose for a photo in Athens, Georgia’s Classic Center at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association fall conference on Sept. 19. Out of 55 students, 25 of the students in the ODYSSEY Media Group attended GSPA for the first time. “It went well. I feel like by going to different sessions I learned how to put out news in different kinds of ways because I went to a podcast session (and) I went to one about broadcast,” first-time attendee and Journalism I student Jordan Wyatt said. Photo by Krista Shumaker
The ODYSSEY Media Group attended the Georgia Scholastic Press Association fall conference on Sept. 19 at The Classic Center.
Members of the ODYSSEY Media Group gathered alongside 915 other student journalists and 91 teachers from across the state at The Classic Center on Sept. 19 for the annual Georgia Scholastic Press Association fall conference.
Students had the opportunity to attend sessions on topics such as photojournalism and broadcast, compete in on-site competitions for photography and social media and attend on-site critiques. Meredith Dean, Coordinator of Ryan Seacrest Studios and Founder of The Dean’s List, was the keynote speaker at the beginning of the conference.
“I liked hearing (Dean) say that you’re not too young to be successful or do something with an impact on people. I also liked the fact that she talked about building a portfolio for yourself and having confidence in whatever kind of experience or skills that you have,” Journalism I student Jordan Wyatt said. “After hearing her, I feel like I should try the best that I can to gain experience with different things in high school, even if it seems like I’m too young for it.”
After hearing her, I feel like I should try the best that I can to gain experience with different things in high school, even if it seems like I’m too young for it.
— Jordan Wyatt,
Journalism I student
After the keynote, iliad Editor-in-Chief Beatrice Acheson and Managing Editor Georgia Blue Simmons, a first-time presenter, led a session entitled “Lit Mag A-Z”, which was facilitated by OMG adviser David Ragsdale. First-time presenters Digital Editor Owen Donnelly, Social Media Coordinator Lillian Sams and Photography Editor Krista Shumaker presented a session called “Project Management: A lesson in teambuilding and creating multimedia.” Editor-in-Chief Elena Gilbertson Hall and Variety Editor Natalie Ripps, another first-time presenter, hosted a session titled “Convergence.”
“I was definitely super nervous (about presenting) at first. I’m a pretty quiet person and I’m not great at public speaking, so this was definitely a big step for me. Because of that, I think it helped me with public speaking and learning how to sort of fake confidence and also how to project my voice,” Sams said. “I think me, Krista and Owen did a really good job staying composed throughout the whole presentation, even though there were a couple of awkward silences. We did a good job remembering that we’re a team and we’re in this together.”
The iliad Literary-Art Magazine was recognized at the conference and was named the 2019 All-Georgia Literary Magazine.
“It was really nice to get some recognition. I know it’s something I put a lot of time into and (the iliad Literary-Art Magazine staff was) really proud of. So, it’s awesome to see all of the hard work pay off,” Simmons said.
For Variety writer and Journalism I facilitator Tecoya Richardson, seeing the Journalism I students at the conference was rewarding.
“I was really proud that they behaved well outside of the class. Seeing them interact with production (staffers) made me so happy because some of them are really shy or closed off, but it seemed like they were trying to come out of their shells,” Richardson said.
Ragsdale, who has brought students to GSPA conferences since 2003, saw growth from OMG students in attendance.
“We were very intentional about providing our veteran students with opportunities for mentorship, and we wanted our younger students to have opportunities to experience a variety of innovative sessions,” Ragsdale said. “From mentorship to presenting sessions, our kids acted as ambassadors for our school, our district and for scholastic journalism.”
Georgia Scholastic Press Association Awards
The 2019 iliad Literary-Art Magazine received the All-Georgia Literary Magazine award. The iliad also received a rating of Superior. The 2019 iliad also received a General Excellence Rating.
Individual Awards
All-Georgia Photography, “Democracy is Justice”: Katie Grace Upchurch
Superior Cover Design, “Anatomia”: Avery Ray and Beatrice Acheson
Superior Short Story, “Every Day”: Elena Gilbertson-Hall
Superior Spread Design, “Her Page Spread”: Lucy Hines
Superior Poem, “A Spring’s Walk”: Audrey Kennedy
