Photos by Dylan Murphy at top; Makayla Vacanti above Area schools from Brocton, Fredonia, Cassadaga Valley and others attended the Media Day event. Above is Damian Sebouhian of the OBSERVER teaching a class.

On April 11, students from eight schools participated in the Western New York School Press Association’s (WNYSPA) 37th annual Media Day hosted by the State University of New York at Fredonia. Schools entered articles into 19 categories such as best sports news, best feature and best prose as they hoped to snatch that elusive first place and reaping bragging rights. Students also attended three workshop sessions run by professionals in the field of communications.

“Media Day benefits all student writers, artists, photographers and poets,” WNYSPA Media Day director Catherine D’Agostino said. “In one afternoon, they learn the demands and benefits to pursuing a career in the ever-changing, fast-paced world of communications from professionals in the field. Seriously, what teenager would want to miss that?”

Dan Telvock, WIVB Investigative Producer, has written articles on environmental issues that have led to large-scale government action. His workshop entitled “Investigative Reporting: The Basics” covered the important elements of what makes an article impactful and the importance of never giving up. “Doors will be slammed in your face,” he said. “But if you don’t ask the tough questions, your article won’t be complete and might not be published.”

Media Day also featured State University of New York at Fredonia student Noah Maciejewski who stressed the importance of networking and how to go about doing it. “If everyone thought they didn’t have a chance, then nobody would be in the running,” he said. “Get out there, apply for scholarships, internships, anything to help you get acclimated in your field.”

In Gutterman’s keynote address entitled “Journalists’ Press Rights: Around the World And To Your School,” he discussed journalist protections and was also very encouraging of the young journalists who attended. “You are the most important journalists we have,” he said. “There is nobody closer to the readers and sources than you guys.”

Gutterman continually expressed how important the First Amendment is and how impactful anyone with a pen can be. Gutterman quoted Floyd Abrams during his address, saying, “One of the benefits of the First Amendment is that it generally leads to a better informed public and ultimately a more representative government.”

Following the keynote address, the Media Day competition commenced, and school newspapers, literary magazines, communications classes and even debate clubs duked it out for literary mastery. A comprehensive list of all first through third place winners can be found at the end of this article.

D’Agostino said that feedback from both advisors and students led her to add a third workshop to this year’s Media Day. “Each year, advisers and students give me feedback. Last year’s group said they wanted more — more workshops, more time with presenters,” she said.

Media Day 2019 is already being planned for April 10, 2019 with several new improvements. “My main hope for next year is to broaden our reach to attract more area schools,” D’Agostino said. “We’d like to see students from Chautauqua Lake, Maple Grove, Jamestown, Falconer, Silver Creek, Westfield and Southwestern in our workshops next year.”

Any teacher or administrator can send an email at mediadayfredonia@gmail.com to sign up for the November registration packet. “Next year, we expect over 200 students from at least 12 school districts,” D’Agostino said.

Media Day 2018 awards by category and place:

¯ Best Viewpoint: First place: Ashley Zambotti, Brocton Review (Brocton High School); Second place: Elise Miller, Brocton Review; Third place: Dylan Murphy, Brocton Review.

¯ Best Review: First place: Kevin Siracuse, The Spectator (Fredonia High School); Second place: James Przybycien, The Spectator; Third place tie: Alex Silfies, The Green and White (Lake Shore High School) and Adam Brzozowiec, The Green and White.

¯ Best Editorial: First place: Brocton Review; Second place: The Spectator; Third place: The Citizen (Dunkirk High School).

¯ Best Columnist: First place: Elise Miller, Brocton Review; Second place: Jason Caldwell, Brocton Review; Third place: Vincent Gullo, The Spectator.

¯ Best News Story: First place: Nick Dohre, Brocton Review; Second place: Samantha Kinnaird, The Phoenix (Gowanda High School); Third place: Corey Dawley, The Spectator.

¯ Best News Photo: Nick Dohre, Brocton Review; Second place: Michaela Manos, Brocton Review; Third place: Taylor Lemiszko, The Spectator.

¯ Best In-Depth Research: First place: Tess Thompson, The Spectator; Second place: Kaylee Hamm, Brocton Review; Third place: Hannah Suchanick, The Spectator.

¯ Best Feature Photo: First place: Amaya Casey, The Citizen; Second place: Heather Harrison, Brocton Review; Third place: Tim Odell, Brocton Review.

¯ Best Human Interest Story: First place: Logan Kelly, Brocton Review; Second place: Heather Harrison, Brocton Review; Third place: Anna Schroeder, The Spectator.

¯ Best Interview/Profile: First place: Kendi Matonic, Brocton Review; Second place: Anna Ippolito, The Green and White; Third place tie: Claudie Roney, The Spectator; Zoya Katta, The Spectator.

¯ Best Graphic Art: First place: Finn Frerichs, The Spectator; Second place: Anna Schroeder, The Spectator; Third place: Jonna Grigelevich, Brocton Review.

¯ Best Cartoon: First place: Anna Schroeder, The Spectator; Second place: Finn Frerichs, The Spectator; Third place: Andrew Montanez, The Spectator.

¯ Best Sports Feature: First place: Logan Kelly, Brocton Review; Second place: Sydney Swan, The Spectator; Third place: Elise Miller, Brocton Review.

¯ Best Sports News: First place: Katie Webster, The Spectator; Second place: Molly Kucharski, Brocton Review; Third place: Gabe Persch, The Spectator.

¯ Best Sports Photo: First place: Tim Odell, Brocton Review; Second place: Katie Webster, The Spectator; Third place: Molly Kucharski, Brocton Review.

¯ Best Poetry: Anna Wenger, Cassadaga Valley; Second place: Brisa Garcia, The Citizen; Third place: Angela Zheng, The Phoenix.

¯ Best Prose: First place: Jasmin Larkins, Cassadaga Valley; Second place: Brittney Kromphardt, The Phoenix; Third place: Scott Cooper, The Phoenix.

¯ Best Photographer: First place: Lindsey Stahlman, Brocton Review; Second place: Tim Odell, Brocton Review; Third place: Molly Kucharski, Brocton Review.

¯ Best Review: First place: Kevin Siracuse, The Spectator; Second place: James Przybycien, The Spectator; Third place tie: Alex Silfies, The Green and White; Adam Brzozowiec, The Green and White.

Students were able to experience the wisdom of Roy Gutterman who is an expert on communications law and the First Amendment and is also director of the Newhouse School’s Tully Center for Free Speech tully.syr.edu/>.

Photos by Dylan Murphy at top; Makayla Vacanti above
Area schools from Brocton, Fredonia, Cassadaga Valley and others attended the Media Day event. Above is Damian Sebouhian of the OBSERVER teaching a class.