Scott Bush

Day three… tired today, but there was an early session I wanted to see: “Dueling InDesign Divas,” which was only half as annoying as the name made it out to be. There were a few good techniques presented, though they were more applicable to yearbook or magazine design than newspaper. Later, I sat through what was supposed to be a digital workflow session that turned out to be some guy talking about how he backs up his digital camera’s CF cards onto CD before he edits them. Not too exciting, but as I was with a student who chose to sit up front, I couldn’t leave. Oh well. At least I’d had some free hospitality (i.e., coffee, fruit, and a muffin) from the advisor hospitality room so I didn’t have to pay Starbucks today.

Podcast station
Vince and one of his students set up a podcast station in a high-traffic area of the hotel to record students’ and advisors’ stories about first amendment issues in their schools for the JEA ThinkFirst podcast series. It was cool and really got some attention, though they didn’t get as many interviews as they’d hoped they would.

Lunch with Mark
My friend Mark Wong and his girlfriend Julie took me to lunch today. We ate at Maggelino’s, a very nice Italian place. I’m not sure what I enjoyed most: the excellent food, cacthing up with Mark and meeting Julie, or just being in a place without high school students everywhere I looked. Probably it was all three that made it so enjoyable.

The envelope please…
The first of the two awards ceremonies was held Saturday, where Pacemaker Award and Best-of-Show winners are announced. (The Pacemaker award is the scholastic journalism equivalent to the Pulitzer Prize: a “very big deal,” as the presenter reminded the audience.)
The Hawkeye usually places in the top ten at national conventions. That’s not a conceit, it’s the truth. Vince’s program produces excellent results and that effort is often rewarded at these award ceremonies. However, the competition in the category “Newspapers publishing 17 or more pages” must have been rigorous because the Hawkeye did not place. Or, as I told the students afterward, “they probably placed 11th, but they have to draw the line somewhere.” There were some long faces, but Vince reminded them that they don’t write, edit, design, and sell to win awards; they do it to be the voice of the students and the community. And that, he said, they do exceedingly well.
Besides, they took comfort in the knowledge that they received the First Amendment Press Freedom Award at Thursday evening’s keynote.

Seeing Denver… finally
Following the ceremony, we finally had the opportunity see a bit of the city. Most of us (a few remained in the hotel to swim) visited the nearby state capitol, the US Mint, and a nice cathedral. Considering it had been snowing the day before, the sunny weather and warm temperatures seemed out of place but we weren’t complaining.
Later, we split up for dinner. Some went to Maggelino’s while others—myself included—ate at the Lucky Strike Bowling alley, which is way hip. Good food that was resonably priced, pool tables, big screen TVs showing all manner of sports, and of course a few lanes. A quick tour of the shops in the Denver Pavillion mall rounded out the night.

We’re packing up tonight in anticipation of a quick check-out in the morning before the final awards ceremony. It’s there that the students receive recognition for their efforts in Friday’s write-offs. Then we’ll be headed home. Denver’s been great, but I’ll be glad to be home to my regular routine, the thick, thick air of sea level, and of course my lovely wife!