Jewish student journalists to convene in L.A.

Jewish high school journalists from around the country will meet in Los Angeles later this month at the Jewish Scholastic Press Association’s (JSPA) inaugural convention and Shabbaton.

The convention, which will be held Oct. 24-27 at B’nai David-Judea Congregation in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, will feature lectures and workshops that cover issues such as Jewish journalism ethics, Israel coverage in the college press, freedom of the press in religious high schools, copyright law, photojournalism, layout techniques and more.

“The JSPA wants to improve high school newspapers and Web sites [and] wants to improve journalism education in Jewish schools,” said JSPA founding director Joelle Keene, who is also the faculty adviser for Shalhevet high school’s award-winning newspaper, The Boiling Point. The conference will be co-sponsored by Shalhevet, a Modern Orthodox school, and the American Jewish Press Association.

Among the featured speakers at the conference will be Jennifer Medina, a New York Times reporter who will speak at a session titled “Life as a Modern Orthodox Journalist at The New York Times.” 

The event’s keynote will be given by Dana Erlich, Israeli consul for culture, media and public diplomacy in Los Angeles. Speaking Oct. 24 at a private home in Beverlywood, Erlich will answer questions from the students and offer ideas for how Jewish journalists can cover life in Israel.

Students coming from other cities — as of now, San Francisco and New York — will be hosted by local families. On Friday night, Oct. 25, attendees will have Shabbat dinner at B’nai David and listen to an address on journalism ethics by Gary Rosenblatt, editor and publisher of the Jewish Week of New York.

For more information about the Jewish Scholastic Press Association’s convention and Shabbaton, e-mail Joelle Keene at j.keene@shalhevet.org.