Thirty-six student journalists from the Dos Pueblos High School news team, known as DPMedia, are preparing to travel to Orlando, Florida, for the National High School Journalism Convention. The convention is scheduled to take place from November 18-25, offering the students an opportunity to test their skills and engage in a week of intensive learning.
The convention will gather thousands of the nation’s most talented student journalists for several days focused on workshops, hands-on training, competitions, and collaborative activities. Students will have the chance to learn directly from a range of experienced professionals, including award-winning journalists, broadcasters, photographers, designers, advisers, and other media professionals. This immersive environment is designed to help students develop and refine essential skills.
Key areas of skill development at the convention include storytelling, video production, photography, design, leadership, ethics, and emerging media. Beyond training, the DPMedia students will also have the opportunity to compete against other leading student media programs from across the country. The trip is expected to facilitate connections with peers and professionals nationwide, with the goal that the students will return to Dos Pueblos with new ideas and skills that will benefit the entire media program at the high school.
This dedicated team has a history of contributing significantly to their school and community. As DPNews, the students work countless hours producing news content, covering school events, creating the yearbook, and telling important stories. In September, the team provided livestream and recorded coverage of local candidate forums, demonstrating their capabilities in real-time event coverage and "award-winning journalism."
The estimated cost associated with sending these students to the convention is approximately $2,600 per student. For all 36 student journalists, the total projected expense approaches $94,000. These costs encompass various travel necessities, including airfare, lodging, registration for the convention, local transportation within Orlando, meals, and other related travel expenditures.
Support for the DPMedia team helps offset these significant costs. Contributions of any amount, such as $25, $100, $500, or more, directly assist in reducing the financial burden for the participating students. Such donations are crucial in making this valuable educational and competitive experience accessible to more members of the Dos Pueblos High School news team.
