Join us for Central Carolina J-Day 2025

The North Carolina Scholastic Media Association is partnering with Elon University’s School of Communications and The News & Observer to host its annual Central Carolina J-Day.

When: Thursday, Oct. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Where: Elon University School of Communications, 123 N. Williamson Ave., Elon, NC 27244

Sponsors: North Carolina Scholastic Media Association, Elon University School of Communications and Raleigh News & Observer

Cost: $20 each for students and teachers/advisers/adults; fee includes lunch. Preregistration is REQUIRED, and on-site registrations will NOT be accepted. No refunds will be issued. No cancellations, but you may substitute for students who can’t attend. Schools will be billed for the number of students and teachers/advisers/adults registered for the event. NOTE: If a bus driver wishes to join a group for lunch, the driver will need to be registered for the event.

Number of Students + Teachers/Advisers x $20 = Total Payment (bus driver lunch to be added to this total, if applicable)

Registration fee: Each school will receive an invoice within two business days. Mail a check payable to Elon University School of Communications to Colin Donohue, 2855 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244. Please include your invoice number with your check. Payment can also be made via credit card online, and a link for payment will be generated and emailed to you with two business days following your registration.

Download Elon’s W-9 (PDF).

How to Register: Teachers/advisers should complete the online registration process and either mail payment to be received by Oct. 8 or pay via credit card. Indicate session choices for each participant. Students will be registered in the order in which registration materials are received. We will make every effort to accommodate preferences, but workshop sessions will fill up. We reserve the right to assign students to other workshop sessions if their requested ones are full. Registration is not confirmed until payment is received. Registration limit is 200 participants. Registrations received on or near the deadline date may not be accepted if workshop capacity has been reached.

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

Parking: Parking passes are not required. Details and parking instructions will be emailed to you as part of your registration confirmation.

Questions: Email Colin Donohue at cdonohue@elon.edu.

Program

Registration, 8:30 to 9 a.m.

Opening Keynote, 9 to 9:45 a.m.

Session 1 options, 9:50 to 10:30 a.m.

  • Yearbook: Write Like You Want to be Read
  • Photojournalism: How to Take Better Storytelling Photos
  • Editing/SEO/Headline Writing
  • Sports Writing
  • Broadcast: Getting Your First Job in Sports
  • Media Law Update
  • Adviser Coffee and Roundtable
  • Elon Student Media Tour

Session 2 options, 10:40 to 11:20 a.m.

  • Yearbook: Control Freak’s Guide to Design
  • Covering Sensitive Topics
  • Feature Writing
  • Photojournalism: How to Take Better Storytelling Photos
  • Broadcast: Sound in Motion: Enhancing Sound for Video
  • Editors’ Roundtable
  • Elon Student Media Tour

Session 3 options, 11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.

  • Yearbook: Trends in Graphic Design
  • Column Writing
  • Feature Writing
  • Photojournalism: Videography
  • Where to Find Story Ideas and Turn Them Into Good Journalism
  • Broadcast: How to Talk to Strangers: Ethical and Effective Interview Techniques
  • Elon Student Media Tour

Closing Session and Lunch, 12:20 to 1:30 p.m.