San Francisco is hosting the annual National High School Journalism Convention (NHSJC) this year where journalism students across America can learn new techniques on how to be a better writer and leader.

NHSJC is sponsored by National Scholastic Press and the Journalism Education Association. Every year nearly 4000 representatives attend. The convention educates students more about the media, newspaper, yearbook, online, etc.

“Last year there were yearbook conferences and newspaper conferences,” junior Isabelle Braun said. “There were seminars about how to be a better leader and editor. Then there was stuff about how to structure your stories. It’s probably going to be the same thing, but maybe with different people speaking.”

From April 12 – 15 eight journalism students will be flying out of the Denver airport to San Francisco to attend NHSJC to better themselves in all aspects of journalism. They will also do some exploring of the city.

“On Thursday we’re going to go traveling,” Braun said. “Then on Friday we’re going to have conferences in the morning and then I think Friday we have an Alcatraz tour. Then Saturday we have conferences in the morning and Gasper has threatened to leave me there all day but that’s fine with me. But otherwise we’re going sightseeing on the afternoon of Saturday and then we are coming home Sunday.”

The proposed trip has students attending not only the conference, but also seeing San Francisco hallmarks like Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Haight-Ashbury, and possibly Chinatown.

“I’m hoping to have a lot of fun and bond with my journalism friends,” senior Lacey Gregory said.

Last year’s NHSJC was held in Seattle. The convention had a variety of speakers, news writing workshops and journalism competitions. This year’s convention will be similar.

“I’m going because last year was a lot of fun and I really like spending time with our newspaper staff,” Braun said. “I also really hope to improve myself, so I can be better for next year’s newspaper staff.”

19sperryman@usd489.com