TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama will host the Alabama Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) annual state convention on Friday, Feb. 25.

The convention welcomes high-school journalism students and teachers from across the state to attend sessions devoted to newspapers, yearbooks, literary magazines, broadcasts, photography and desktop publishing.

During the day-long convention, students will be offered several sessions about freedom of speech from Randy Swikle, a Newsweek First Amendment mentor. According to an alarming study of more than 100,000 students released by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation last week, high school students do not find the First Amendment to be an important issue. Almost one-third of surveyed students felt the First Amendment goes “too far” in the protection it offers citizens. Only half of the survey’s participants thought the press should be able to publish free of the government’s approval of content.

In addition to Swikle’s First Amendment sessions, a number of other journalists, journalism educators and media professionals are scheduled to speak and lead informative workshops at the ASPA Convention. Some of these professionals include:

• Erin Coggins, newspaper and yearbook adviser at Sparkman High School in Huntsville for three years. She was named ASPA Adviser of the Year in 2002.
• Pam Doyle is an associate professor of telecommunications and film at UA, where she specializes in teaching broadcast news.
• Dewayne Fatheree, online manager for The Tuscaloosa News.
• Carolyn Haldeman, English and writing teacher at Woodward Academy in College Park, Ga. She co-advises Silent Voices, Woodward’s Gold Crown-winning literary magazine. Haldeman judges literary publications for both CPSA and NSPA.
• Deborah Mayer, English teacher and writer’s workshop leader at Maclay Jr. Day School in Tallahassee, Fla. She advises the Maurader yearbook, the Andalusian newspaper and the Stylus literary magazine.
• Eartha McGoldrick, customer service manager for JS Printing. She spent five years working as a copy editor and page designer for the Birmingham Post-Herald and The Fresno (Calif.) Bee.
• Brian Peters, meteorologist for ABC 33/40. He worked for the National Weather Service for more than 35 years.
• Doug Ray, executive editor for The Tuscaloosa News.
• Rebecca Reed, advertising coordinator for The Crimson White, UA’s student-run newspaper.
• Sandra Slider, Upper School English teacher at Woodward Academy in College Park, Ga. She is the design adviser for Silent Voices, Woodward’s Gold Crown-winning literary magazine. Slider also advises The Blade newspaper and The Phoenix yearbook.
• Randy Swikle, the 1999 DJNF National Journalism Teacher of the Year. He taught for 34 years before retiring in 2003 and additional honors include the NSPA Pioneer Award and the JEA Lifetime Achievement Award. Swikle is JEA’s Illinois state director, a member of JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission and a Newsweek First Amendment mentor.
• David Wasson, executive sports editor for The Tuscaloosa News.

The Alabama high-school journalist, adviser and administrator of the year will be announced, as well as the results of ASPA’s winter competitions. The recipient of the $2,500 J.B. Stevenson Scholarship, made by the Alabama Press Association also will be announced.

The per-person early bird registration fee is $40 for ASPA member publications and $50 for non-member publications and includes an awards pizza party Friday night and a continental breakfast Saturday. Day-of registration for this convention begins at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25, outside the Ferguson Theater.

For more information contact the ASPA office at 205/348-9298, or Deidre Stalnaker at dstalnaker@sa.ua.edu.