The State Hornet has been the voice of Sacramento State students since 1949, delivering news, sports and culture coverage for the campus community and beyond. That voice will find exciting new range at this year’s State Hornet Digital Academy.
This innovative one-week program from June 3-7, 2019, will develop multimedia stories and promotional campaigns for StateHornet.com.
Participants will collaborate with each other in intensive, hands-on workshops both on- and off-campus in Sacramento. Overseen by Stu VanAirsdale (State Hornet faculty adviser/Professional Journalist in Residence, Sacramento State), they will be guided by professional mentors in one of four tracks:
Multimedia Journalism
Everything you need to tell a story in 2018 is on your smartphone. Emmy-winning ABC10 news veteran George Warren will work with participants to integrate visuals, audio and text while developing, reporting and crafting news stories for publication on StateHornet.com.
About the Mentor
George Warren is a special projects reporter at CBS13 (KOVR) following 35 years as an anchor/reporter at ABC10 (KXTV).
His broadcast career began during his senior year at Chico State at KHSL-TV, the CBS affiliate in Chico. He then spent two years at the NBC affiliate in Medford, Oregon, before arriving at Sacramento’s KXTV in 1981.
George spent the last decade in broadcast news shooting, writing and editing his own stories—a practice known in the industry as a “one-man band.” He now offers multimedia training to other journalists and teaches a weekly broadcast news writing course at Sacramento State.
Web Editing and Publication
More than ever, audiences get their news on the go. Comstock’s Magazine editor-in-chief Allison Joy will work with participants to develop cutting-edge strategies for powerfully presenting the Academy’s digital stories online, from a desktop browser to the palm of your hand.
About the Mentor
Allison Joy is the editor in chief of Comstock’s magazine. She has 15 years experience in writing, editing and communications with an expertise in community engagement, online distribution and multi-platform storytelling. During her time as director of digital content at Comstock’s, Allison oversaw the relaunch of comstocksmag.com, for which it won a 2014 Maggie Award for best web publication.
Social Media Strategy
Few words summarize the modern media conversation as well as “share.” KCRA TV social media manager Maneeza Iqbal will explore with participants how and why news is shared on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and other social media—and how Digital Academy stories can be shared as well.
About the Mentor
Maneeza Iqbal is the senior online and social media editor at KCRA 3, where she has been working for the past three years. She writes, edits and produces content for kcra.com. She manages the social media accounts for the station, as well as trains the anchors and reporters on their social media presence. Iqbal led and developed the 360-video initiative, a project that won the 2018 regional Edward R. Murrow award for innovation. She also works with the investigative team to develop stories online and create interactive features for data-based stories. Maneeza is also a recent alum of the Poynter Women in Digital Media Leadership Academy.
PR, Marketing and Advertising
Past, present and future, The State Hornet has a story of its own. Veteran communications specialist Shirley Kwan Smith will work with participants to refine and showcase that story—and the work of the State Hornet Digital Academy—for an audience at Sac State and the fast-growing region beyond.
About the Mentor
Shirley is a wife, mother, and small business owner who loves her hometown of Sacramento and uses her powers of writing, promoting, and organizing people for good, not evil. After more than 20 years of working for private and nonprofit organizations throughout the region, she started SKS Communications – a consulting company specializing in marketing, communications, and community affairs. Most recently, she has helped her clients create and execute corporate giving strategies – leveraging their philanthropy in order to accomplish marketing and community engagement goals. Shirley can be reached at [email protected], facebook.com/skscommunications on FaceBook, or @HelloSKS on Twitter.
-Each track is limited to four students. Students in all majors are encouraged to participate in the State Hornet Digital Academy. There is no cost to apply or participate.
-Digital Academy participants must be either currently enrolled at Sac State or incoming transfers by the Fall 2019 semester.
-Participants must be available to attend workshops on- or off-campus in Sacramento from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the full week of the Digital Academy—Monday, June 3, 2019, through Friday, June 7, 2019.
-A $300 stipend is available for participants. Light food and beverages will be provided throughout the week.
-Applications must be received by March 29, 2019. Participants will be notified of their application status by April 15, 2019.