Policinski is a Ball State journalism graduate, married to a Ball State grad and one of his sons is a Ball State journalism graduate.

Policinski oversees the center’s offices in Nashville at Vanderbilt University, and in Washington, D.C. , at the Newseum. He is co-author of the weekly national newspaper and online column, “Inside the First Amendment,” and executive producer and host of the touring multimedia stage production, “Freedom Sings.”

Policinski began his journalism career in 1969 while attending Ball State. He was Washington editor of USA TODAY when the paper launched in 1982, and was Managing Editor/Sports when he left in 1996 to join the Freedom Forum. He is the founding editor of USA TODAY Sports Weekly. From 1991 through 1993, he was the on-air host of three programs on USA TODAY Sky Radio, and helped develop the paper’s first Internet ventures.

At the Freedom Forum, he has held a number of executive roles. He also was host of “Newseum Radio,” a one-hour program that aired on National Public Radio Worldwide from 1997 to 2000, and was executive producer of “Speaking Freely,” which aired nationwide on public television for five seasons and which was recognized in 2010 with an Emmy award.

Policinski is a member of the boards of trustees of the Newspaper Association of America Foundation and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is an adjunct professor at Winthrop University, and a member of the Ball State journalism alumni board. Born in South Bend, Ind., Policinski was inducted in 1991 into the Ball State Journalism Hall of Fame, and was a recipient in 1996 of the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

Special emphasis is placed on finding promising students from populations that are underrepresented in America’s newsrooms.

Click here for the application.

Click here for more information from the Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists.

The Ball State University Department of Journalism has a commitment to excellence, and we want the best and brightest students to help continue that tradition.

The Department of Journalism at Ball State University offers up to nine scholarships for incoming freshman who will major in journalism, public relations or advertising.

Your application should include letters of recommendation as well as samples of your journalistic work. Additional details for each specific scholarship can be found on the application forms.

Click here to download the scholarship application.

Applications are due March 1, 2010.

Available scholarships are:

• Robert L. and Sherles K. Barnet Scholarship- a $500 award that can be renewed for three additional years; awarded to an incoming freshman declaring intentions to major in journalism. The recipient must have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The recipient must maintain full-time status while receiving the scholarship. If the recipient leaves the study of journalism, he or she will no longer be eligible for the award.
• Freshman Achievement Scholarships- a one-time $500 award funded by alumni and general scholarship funds; open to all incoming journalism students. The Department of Journalism awards four freshman achievement scholarships.
• Holmes-McFadden Journalism Scholarship- a $1,000 award that gives preference to a minority student majoring in journalism. This scholarship can be renewed for up to three additional years by students who continue their enrollment in the Department of Journalism, maintain a minimum 2.7 GPA and obtain approval of the department chairperson.
• Louis E. Ingelhart Scholarship- a one-time $1,500 award granted by the Journalism Alumni Association to an outstanding high school journalism student.
• Michael Smith Scholarship- a $1,000 scholarship, eligible for renewal for three additional years; awarded to an incoming freshman journalism major with an academic index of 3.0 or higher, or transfer student with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Minimum SAT score of 1.000 (old system) or 1.500 (new system), or an ACT score of 21.
• Theresa C. and Leonard S. Sowar Scholarship- a $500 award intended to help an incoming freshman with the cost of books and supplies. First preference is given to applicants who are Muncie residents; second preference to a nontraditional student.

Click here to view this information on the Ball State University Department of Journalism Web site.

Hey there, this is Anna Kaiser and I am a current freshman at Ball State University. I have decided to major in journalism education here at Ball State. I was fortunate enough to get a job as one of the new staff workers in the Journalism Workshops office and have taken full advantage of the opportunities it offers. Ball State is a great school, with an amazing journalism program, and I am very excited to share with you all my experience as a freshman in the department.

Coming from a large high school with a journalism program that was essentially nonexistent, I was nevertheless extremely nervous to enter a nationally-ranked journalism program. I had no clue what to expect. Reoccurring questions kept circling my mind. Will I be able to keep with the curriculum? What will the teachers be like? Do I have enough experience or skills? And even though I was editor-in-chief of my high school’s paper, will my writing be good enough to be printed in a college paper? However, once I finally arrived to Ball State’s campus these fears were put to ease.

Walking down the hallways of the Art and Journalism building on the first day of school was really intimidating, but Ball State’s Journalism department made the transition from high school to college easy and enjoyable. First off, unlike high school, they offer a variety of classes that touch all aspects of journalism. Coming from a school that offered just one journalism class, I was excited, and a little overwhelmed, to be able to take classes I knew I would like and be able to use the new skills in my future journalism career.

These classes are, however, challenging. The classes that my friends and I have taken have had many projects, papers and quizzes that make up your grade. It takes time and work to get a good grade, but it is not impossible. Ball State is fortunate to have teachers that enjoy teaching and are willing to help their students. They are generally pretty clear in giving directions and what their expectations of you are in class, but if you are even a little confused, never hesitate to email them or stopp by their office. If I ever had any concern on a paper or project, I would email my teacher and within no time, he would reply to me. The combination of hard work and communication with my teachers was why I was able to succeed.

One of my greatest fears, like in high school, was that I wouldn’t make any friends in my classes. I’m a shy person, so coming to a large university and only knowing four other people was really nerve-racking. But I quickly came to realize that every freshman on campus was in the exact same situation that I was in. Everyone is embarking on this new adventure, and looking for new friends and my journalism classes were best place to find them. Most freshmen take the same journalism classes, so you are bound to see familiar faces in your classes (especially since you will be with these people for the next four years). And luckily, the classes are not too large, so you actually get to know most of the students in the class.

Coming to the university, I knew I wanted to get real journalistic experience. The first week at school, I walked into the Daily News, Ball State’s newspaper, and was welcomed by the staff. I was assigned my first story and by the third week of school, I had three published articles. The editors are willing to work with your schedule, and will let you write as much or as little as you want. Even though they may seem intimidating at first, they will help you improve your writing and become a stronger journalist. However, attending Ball State’s journalism workshops was a key reason why I was able to enter the newsroom. Getting to know the atmosphere of the newsroom two summers earlier in the Daily News Experience was extremely helpful and one of my most rewarding experiences.

The journalism department puts on a “Super Party.” Each semester they put up booths and show off opportunities the department has. Students can sign up to be part of on-campus organizations that will help them get more involved or sign up to be on publications like the Daily News or Ball Bearings. While some high school publications are ranked and rewarded for their work, these collegiate organizations and publications are what will count in when it comes time to look for a job. They offer real experience; you will be put under pressure trying to hit deadline, it may be stressful at times and you won’t get as much guidance as you did in high school, but the experience will be worth it in the long run.

I am extremely fortunate to have had such a successful first semester. From the first day I knew Ball State was the place for me. I have multiple bylines in a college paper, I am part of the Journalism Education Association organization and I have succeeded in my classes. With so many opportunities, great teachers and ranked publications, Ball State is an excellent place to start a journalism career.

That has been my experience as a freshman in the journalism department so far, but here are some general tips that I would have liked to know before I came to Ball State. Hopefully these will help you in the future!

• Go to one of the earliest orientation dates. You will be more likely to get the classes you want, at a time you want.
• If you get the opportunity come to one of the early start programs. Chances are you will get to move in early (that way you can pick the side of the room you want first) and you will meet so many people that you will become friends with.
• Go around and find where all your classes are before the first day of school actually starts.
• Go to campus events (especially welcome week events). 1. They are free. 2. You will mostly likely get free food. 3. You might get free things like a t-shirt. 4. They can be really fun. 5. You might even learn something there.
• Take advantage of any clubs or organizations you think you might like. Give a couple a try. You might find something you are really interested in and could benefit you in the future. Be involved.
• Find an on-campus job. Some can be really fun, and the extra cash doesn’t hurt either.
• Leave your door open and get to know the people on your floor. It will make the dorm experience so much more fun.
• Even if your parents drive you insane, talk to them at least once a week. They just want to make sure you are alive.
• Make sure you have a refrigerator and microwave in your room.
• Girls, don’t bring all your purses or bags. Chances are you will not use them and they will just take up space in your room.
• Bring as many storage bins as you can fit in your dorm room. These will be essential to keeping your room organized and they are great for taking your belongings home in.
• Bring an umbrella, rain boots and raincoat.
• If you decide not to loft your bed, buy bed risers. They give you an extra five to seven inches of height and creates more storage room.
• Bring air freshener for your room.
• Bring bottles of hand-sanitizer for your room and travel size bottles to keep in your backpack or purse.
• Bring cleaning supplies for your room. Even if you hate to clean or dust, you will want to at least have Clorox hand wipes to wipe down your room when people on your floor are starting to get sick.
• Invest in a good, sturdy backpack.
• Bring pictures and posters. The walls in all the dorm rooms are extremely bare. Bring color into your room and it will feel more like home.
• Subscribe to a magazine or try to have someone at home send you mail regularly. Getting mail will be a highlight of your day.
• Buy, order or reserve your books early.
• Make sure you have a good shower caddy. And most importantly, bring shower shoes. Always wear shoes in the bathroom!
• Bring two sets of sheets if you can. That way, you will have at least one pair of clean sheets around.
• Bring multiple fans for your room (this does not apply to those who are lucky enough to have air-conditioning).
• Bring a rug or a large piece of carpet for your room.
• Bring your favorite movies.
• Put the phone numbers of your favorite delivery places in your phone. That way when you are starving and don’t want to go get dining hall food, you are not searching all over for the Jimmy Johns’ number. It will just save you time.
• You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, but make sure you respect each other. If you don’t, it will make for an extremely awkward school year.
• Find a good group of friends. They will become your family.
• You do not need a printer in your room. It will just take up space.
• You will need a winter coat.
• College will be one of the greatest experiences of your life. Take advantage of it. Work hard, get good grades, but make sure you are having fun!

Maps

Click here for maps of Ball State and surrounding areas.

Getting Here for Summer Workshops

There are several ways to get to campus for our Summer Student Workshops:

Drive Yourself

Students  can drive their cars to Workshops and park on campus for free. However, students will not be allowed to use their cars during the week.

Drop Off

Students can be dropped off during registration and then picked up after the week is over.

Airport Shuttle

Students can fly into the Indianapolis International Airport. The Workshops office will provide a shuttle to campus both Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25 and from campus to the airport Thursday for departure. For On the Ball Workshop students, the shuttle will be available on Friday for arrivals and will leave on Sunday for departures.We generally schedule two or three different shuttles to accommodate various flight schedules and will release shuttle times and transportation forms closer to the date of the workshops.

The shuttle fee is $45.00 round-trip per student. Students arriving Saturday also need $30 to stay in the dorms an extra night.

Getting here for Journalism Days

It is the responsibility of the school to provide transportation to and from Journalism Days. Students may be dropped off in front of Emens Auditorium and picked up anywhere on campus, although we suggest the Art and Journalism Building’s parking lot. Parking passes will be provided to participating schools and buses may park without passes on College Avenue. Maps will be mailed to schools detailing these locations a few weeks before each Journalism Day event.

Five-Day Workshop: July 25-29, 2010

Join us for five days of intense journalism workshops! At our Five-Day workshops, you’ll choose an area of interest and attend classes in that area all five days. Topic areas include newspaper and yearbook writing, design and editing, photography and sports writing, online journalism, infographics and alternative storytelling and broadcast journalism. During the workshop, attend mini-sessions for the chance to learn more about areas of journalism outside of your main classes. Mini-sessions will cover topics like new and social media, photography for the non-photographer, how to spice up a publication’s designs and other topics that will get you thinking about different aspects of your publication. .

You’ll be staying on campus in our Noyer Complex dormitory.

Although class instruction does take up a good portion of the day, enjoy nightly social activities like a talent show, karaoke and athletic competitions.

Tuition and housing: $350
Meal cards (optional): $35 or $60

Attend our Five-Day and On The Ball for a discounted price: $500 for both!

Want more information about available classes, scholarships, dorm life, meal cards, social activities, transportation and more? Click here!
Want to see what happened at our 2009 workshops? Click here to see a student-produced Web site about our 2009 workshops!

Click here to register!

On the Ball: July 30-Aug. 1, 2010

On The Ball is a three-day weekend workshop oriented toward staffs or groups of editors. As soon as students arrive to On The Ball, each staff meets with one of our advisers to discuss their goals for the workshop and the upcoming school year. By setting their own goals, each staff ensures a workshop experience that fits their needs. Some staffs will spend their time here developing a yearbook theme and designing a cover, while others may spend their time developing a marketing strategy and media kit or online strategy and Web site. On The Ball is a great way for staffs to get a head start on the school year!

Tuition and housing: $185
Meal cards (optional): $35 or $60. Click here for more information on meal cards.

Attend our Five-Day and On The Ball for a discounted price: $500 for both!

Click here to register!

Professor Suzy Smith of BSU's Department of Telecommunications teaches workshop students how to use a green screen in a TV studio.

Daily News Experience: July 25-29, 2010

Get the scoop on working for one of the best college newspapers in the country! At our Daily News Experience Workshop, or DN|X for short, you’ll be given the role of a Ball State Daily News staff member and get to experience what it’s like to work for college media.

You won’t just be covering what what’s happening during workshops. Under the supervision of Daily News editors and advisers, you’ll go out into the community and cover real news stories. At the end of the week, your work will be published in a real edition of the Daily News, which will be distributed to the entire campus.

NOTE: You must apply for this competitive program. Click here for more information on applying, links to the issue of the DN workshops students made last year and video interviews with participants.

Tuition and housing: $375
Meal cards (optional): $35 or $60. Click here for more information on meal cards.

Click here to apply!

Classes requiring the use of technology are held in the same state-of-the-art labs as Ball State's journalism classes. Above, the online class works on 20" iMacs.

April 23, 2010

Ball State University’s Journalism Workshops will host its annual High School Journalism Day on April 23, 2010.

This year’s theme, “Are we there yet?” will focus on the idea that the journalism field is always changing. The technology, ideas and tools are changing and advancing so rapidly that we often wonder,”when is it going to stop? Do I know enough yet? Have we reached the final destination? How much more is the industry going to change?”

In other words,  “Are we there yet?”

Students in attendance will have the opportunity to attend three sessions that will focus on developing their traditional media skills and improving their multimedia skills. These sessions will better help students understand that now is the time for them to get involved in how the journalism industry is changing.

We encourage you to attend and help make this year’s High School Journalism Day a success. Last year, 1,700 students attended! Come enjoy the experience of a real college campus, while learning more about journalism and the direction the industry is heading!

Register

Registration cost will be $15 per student. CLICK HERE to register for Journalism Day!

Technology Track Special Sessions

This year, we are offering the following Tech Track Sessions. When you register, you can sign up to two students into each of the following two-hour, intensive training sessions:

Advanced Adobe Photoshop

There’s a lot more that goes into making a picture look good than just getting a good shot. In this session, you’ll discuss dpi, ppi, lpi, tone, channels, layers, filters, tools, palettes and much more. Digital ethics will play a big role in this class as you
explore ways to cut out backgrounds and manipulate photos.

Graphics Reporting & Visual Presentation

There are lots of ways to tell a story without writing a 1,000-word narrative. Several years ago, professional newspapers and magazines alike began telling stories through alternative methods. These methods include a combination of text, photos and illustrations to explain processes and situations pertinent to the reader’s understanding and depth of the story. In this session, learn how to effectively communicate a story through this alternative method of communication.

Basics of Multimedia Reporting

A lot of high school newspapers are putting content online, but most simply duplicate content that was in the printed issue of the papers. You want to give your readers a reason to check out your Web site, and multimedia reporting is one way to do this. Come to this session to learn the basics of multimedia reporting, including how to create an audio photo slideshow using SoundSlides.

Photo Illustration & Lighting Techniques

A large part of newspapers and magazines are dedicated to what is known as soft news or features. The problem is that these types of stories are oftentimes difficult to photograph. This is where a knowledge of photo illustration techniques and lighting can be helpful. Come to this session to learn more about how to illustrate photographs to make your publication look just as nice as the professionals!

Program

We will post our event program in early spring. Check back!

Schedule

• 8 a.m. – Check-in begins at Emens Auditorium
• 8:45 a.m. – Gene Policinski, Executive Editor of the First Amendment Center, presents keynote speech. Click here for bio!
• 10 a.m. – Session 1
• 11 a.m. – Session 2
• Noon – Session 3
• 1 p.m. – Session 4
• 1:50 p.m. – Students dismissed from final session

Sessions

Students will attend three sessions throughout the day. About half of our session topics are geared toward a general journalism audience, while the other half are tailored to newspaper, yearbook, photo and broadcast students.

Session topics include:

• News, feature, review and sports writing
• Publication design
• Editorial leadership
• Headline and cutline writing
• Yearbook theme development and design
• Interviewing
• Photography, photo editing and photo management
• Visual storytelling and news and sports broadcasting
• Alternative story formats
• Much, much more!

Contests

Click here to download the contest entry form.

Click here for more information about our contests. Contest entries due March 17.

Workshop dates: June 18 – 20 and June 25 – 27, 2010

Earn CRUs and up to three graduate credit hours per course!

The non-credit workshop fee is $325 per course. If you are interested in earning up to two graduate credits, additional associated fees are required (estimated $260 per credit hour; actual fees will be set by the university in May, 2010). Note on the online application that you are interested in receiving graduate credit and we’ll contact you to begin the process.

June 18-20, 2010 course offerings:

• Build a Web site - Create a Web site for your student publication! In this course, you won’t just learn how to create and manage a Web site, you’ll actually make one, meaning your students will have a new journalistic tool when they return to school in the fall. Course topics also include content management, the difference between online journalism and traditional print journalism and how to create an online environment conducive to incorporating photos, podcasts, videos and more.
• Media Advising Strategies – Whether you advise newspaper, yearbook or another medium, you’ll learn strategies to help you become a better adviser. Topics include staff organization, grading, budgets, flow charts, editorial policies and deadline management.
• Journalistic Writing for English Teachers – Designed primarily for English teachers, the course covers reporting, interviewing, writing and editing techniques currently practiced in the professional media. This class will be great for any teacher interested in learning a new style of writing, and is open to teachers in any subject area.
• Journalistic Writing for Advisers – Learn the latest writing and editing techniques for both print and online publications that will help you better teach your students.

June 25-27, 2010 course offerings:

• Build a Web site - Create a Web site for your student publication! In this course, you won’t just learn how to create and manage a Web site, you’ll actually make one, meaning your students will have a new journalistic tool when they return to school in the fall. Course topics also include content management, the difference between online journalism and traditional print journalism and how to create an online environment conducive to incorporating photos, podcasts, videos and more.
• Media Advising Strategies – Whether you advise newspaper, yearbook or another medium, you’ll learn strategies to help you become a better adviser. Topics include staff organization, grading, budgets, flow charts, editorial policies and deadline management.
• Publication Design Using InDesign and Photoshop – Learn the principles of design and how to apply them to high school newspapers, yearbooks and magazines.
• Media Law – Stay up-to-date on media laws affecting high school publications. With an emphasis on new and emerging media law and ethics, this course covers the intricacies of media law, ethics and copyright law.

Register

Click here to register!

Can’t make it to campus?

If you’re unable to make it here this summer, you can earn up to three hours of graduate credit by completing a special independent study project. Past projects have included the creation of new high school journalism classes, realignment of curriculum to standards and creation of staff policy/design manuals, to name a few.

Call us at 765-285-8900 if you are interested, to find out more about this option!

Want to move your students’ publication online?

As media audiences consume less traditional media and more online and social media, today’s high school students are tomorrow’s digital journalists. Give your students the tools they need to excel in today’s media landscape.

Using content management system training at our Build a Web site adviser workshop, we can help you get your school’s publication online. Just check out these Web sites, created at our 2009 adviser workshops:

Jason Block, Prospect High School, Mount Prospect, Ill.

Josh Davis, Beachwood (Ohio) High School

Melissa Deavers, Portage (Ind.) High School

Wendy Eberhardt-Gilliam, Eastern Hancock High School, Chalottesville, Ind.

Christie Gold, Freedom High School, Tampa, Fla.

Mark Haab, Warren Central High School, Indianapolis

Michelle Harmon, Borah (Idaho) High School

Sara Hennes, Kettering High School, Detroit, Mich.

Cindy Horchem, Piper High School, Kansas City, Kan.

Kathy Jesse, Broad Ripple High School, Indianapolis

Bob Kay, Grayslake (Ill.) Central High School

Shea Kerkhoff, Knightdale (N.C.) High School

Lisa Koch, Little Miami High School, Morrow, Ohio

Liz Marcello, Colonial Christian School, Indianapolis

Rachel McCarver, Columbus (Ind.) North High School

Julieanne McClain, Rutherford B. Hayes High School, Delaware, Ohio

April Moss, Pike High School, Indianapolis

Karen Sipes, South Side Middle School, Anderson, Ind.

Sue Skalicky, Century High School, Bismarck, N.D.

Carolyn Wagner, Lake Zurich (Ill.) High School

Tracey Ward, Olentangy Liberty High School, Powell, Ohio

Web sites. Blogs. Twitter. Text messaging. YouTube. We know we hear these words from our students constantly. But we’re starting to hear it from professional journaists, too. It’s clear professional journalism is changing, and to be viable and relevant to young readers and viewers, scholastic journalism also must change. This workshop will help you make the switch to the Web. Plus, you’ll learn how to use emerging media technologies to help your students better connect with their readers. In their world. Now.

What will I learn?

You’ll walk away from the class having set up a basic publications Web site. Plus, we’ll go over exciting new media opportunities, including how to use social networking to connect with readers. Don’t worry about the cost of all this, by the way! We’ll show you how to be state-of-the-art without blowing through the entire year’s budget by talking about affordable (and free) options.

Click here to see Web sites our participants made at last year’s free workshop!

Who should apply?

All advisers are welcome to apply. Preference will be given to advisers from diverse backgrounds and diverse schools and those who meet financial need. Preference will be given to teachers who are new to advising but have had some teaching experience.

How much will it cost me?

Nothing. Through a generous grant from The McCormick Foundation, the fees for the workshop and housing are covered. You’d be responsible only for your transportation and some food. Only a limited amount of travel assistance is available and will be discussed upon acceptance into the program. If you elect to receive graduate credit for this workshop, you’d pay those fees. Call us about taking it for credit at 765-285-8900.

Now what?

Click here to fill out an online application. The deadline to apply is May 21, 2010.

What if I don’t get in?

Check out our three-day intensive summer courses. Leave with a Web site that’s ready for your students to use (using the same software we used to build this Web site)!

Click here for more information.

But I am a high school student and want to make a Web site!

Sign up for our Five-Day Student Workshop Online Journalism class. Leave campus with a Web site ready for your school’s publication staff to use!

Click here for more information.

Check out just a few of the Web sites built on Ball State’s campus by advisers at our Adviser Workshops:

Bob Kay, Grayslake (Ill.) Central High School

Sue Skalicky, Century High School, Bismarck, N.D.

Carolyn Wagner, Lake Zurich (Ill.) High School

Get a head start on the upcoming school year at our On The Ball Workshop!

On The Ball is oriented toward entire staffs or groups of editors. As soon as students arrive to On The Ball, each staff meets with one of our advisers to discuss their goals for the workshop and the upcoming school year. So some staffs will spend their time here developing a yearbook theme and designing a cover, while others may spend their time developing a marketing strategy and media kit or online strategy and Web site. On The Ball is a great way for staffs to get a head start on your school year!