Hopi High broadcast students attend journalism conference in San Francisco
Students enter contests, have professional journalists critique their work, visit Youth Radio in Oakland and find time for sightseeing

Sacheen Mike gets pointers from Jahlil Jackson at Youth Radio in Oakland, Calif. Photo/Stan Bindell

Sacheen Mike gets pointers from Jahlil Jackson at Youth Radio in Oakland, Calif. Photo/Stan Bindell

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Five Hopi High media students picked up pointers on broadcasting and photography while attending the national Journalism Education Association (JEA) Conference at the Marriott Hotel in downtown San Francisco.

The Hopi High media students listened to speeches and went to breakout sessions where they had a chance to learn from professional journalists. Each of the members of the quintet also entered media contests where jornalists critiqued their work.

The students also visited Youth Radio in Oakland and had a chance for some sightseeing.

Hopi High radio students Santia "Skeemo" Coons, Mariah "Squince" Humeyestewa and Otivia "Big O" Puhuhefvaya along with journalism students Sacheen "Shano" Mike and Jennifer Lomayaktewa were among the Hopi High entourage. More than 4,000 students from throughout the country attended the JEA Conference.

Coons, a senior, said she learned from the sessions because the teachers explained everything clearly. She entered the broadcast public service announcement category.

"The other students videos were amazing," she said. "Their videos seemed so professional and they looked like miniature movies. It was a learning experience I'll never forget."

Coons said the visit to Youth Radio was awesome and she liked it best of all the activities. Youth Radio teaches students 14 to 24-years-old broadcasting skills to help keep them out of trouble.

"I would like to attend that. It seems fun and you can also learn a lot," Coons said. "I think every state or city should have one of these places especially to keep students out of trouble. It inspired me to at least think about moving forward in a broadcast career."

In a video broadcasting sessions, Coons learned that the top three skills for video students are balance, audio and composition.

Puhuhefvaya, a senior, said she learned the importance of using B-roll - the background video that is playing while someone is being interviewed. She said pictures and sounds make the film more interesting.

She entered the portrait photography contest. During the critique she learned that every photo should tell a story, have good lighting and effects.

"The judges also taught me how to properly crop a photo," she said.

Humeyestewa, a junior, said she learned in the sessions that videos can be edited to make the stories more interesting. She also learned that most broadcasters use sound effects for their stories. She noted that most of the videos are based on true stories and usually about the schools.

Mike, a senior, said this trip was one of the best trips she has taken. She was happy about picking up tips on photography and journalism.

"I would recommend more students take journalism so they could experience this kind of journalism field trip," she said.

Mike also enjoyed visiting Youth Radio and seeing youth serving as mentors for other youth. She entered one of the photography contests.

"It was an awesome experience because I felt like I was an official photographer. It was cool carrying around a camera and taking so many different photos," Mike said.

She especially enjoyed the photo session led by Judy Babb from Friesens Yearbooks as she picked up techniques on photography.

Jennifer Lomayaktewa, a junior, said her favorite part of the JEA trip was the visit to Youth Radio. Lomayaktewa entered the contest for feature writing.

"I thought it was challenging, but it taught me how to become a better writer," she said.

More than 1,800 students entered the contests with more than 600 winners. Aside from visiting Youth Radio, the five media students walked the entire span of the Golden Gate Bridge and visited Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown.

"Sharing the experience with my journalism and radio classmates was worth it," Lomayaktewa said.

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