Ball State’s 2024 journalism, media and communications conference for middle and high school students and teachers was a huge success. Mark your calendars for next year’s conference: Friday, April 25, 2025!

JDay+/CCIM+

2024 Conference Recap

2024 JDay+/CCIM+

Conference

Keynotes

  • Hemlock Films — Cinematographer/Producer/Director

    Adam White is a graduate of the Film program from Wright State University and accomplished Cinematographer and Director that has won multiple Emmy Awards for his documentary films Space Chase USA, The Restorers (film and TV series), and Red Tail Reborn (all broadcast nationally on PBS). Adam received an Emmy Award for Cinematography on the PBS film Generations: Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Adam excels at bringing beautiful imagery and heart to the stories he tells in his films.

    With over 30 years of experience, Adam has worked on projects of all kinds. He focuses his time as a Cinematographer with a specialty in SteadiCam working on award winning documentaries, big budget Hollywood films, TV shows, and commercials.

  • Hemlock Films — Director/Producer

    Kara White is an award-winning Director and Producer of multiple documentaries, web videos, and commercials. With a love for storytelling and passion for tales of strong women in history, she has Directed the documentary films Rise Above: WASP about the Women Airforce Service Pilots from WWII, and PBS' Beyond the Powder, telling the story of the first women's cross-country air race and the women who still race today. She excels at highlighting the beauty of people's passions and getting the audience to feel that emotion and making them care about the subjects.

    She has received Emmy nominations for Director, Writing, and Research and has won Emmy awards for Writing, Best Documentary, and Technical Achievement, along with multiple film festival awards. She produced the Emmy Award winning documentaries The Restorers (TV series) and Space Chase USA for PBS, and Rise Above: Tuskegee Airmen. Her feature length script, The Aviatrix, was selected as a finalist in the Hollywood International Diversity Film Festival.

Learn from leading industry and media professionals.

Students attended Dr. Martin Smith-Rodden’s session on photojournalism at JDay+/CCIM+ 2022. Dr. Smith-Rodden was a professional visual journalist for more than 25 years before joining Ball State’s faculty.

2024 FEATURED SPEAKERS

Invest in your team.

Students from Logansport High School’s yearbook team collaborate during a session on “Sensational Yearbook Sections” taught by seasoned yearbook advisor Tim Cleland.

JDay+/CCIM+ sessions are designed to encourage teams to collaborate and grow together while improving their publication.

Experience Ball State’s campus.

Explore Ball State’s beautiful campus, attend sessions in real classrooms, and learn about programs, companies and organizations at our EXPANDED exhibition fair.

Event FAQ’s

Friday, April 26, 2024

  • On Friday, April 26, 2024, CCIM Outreach will host our 69th annual JDay+ / CCIM+ Conference for middle and high school students and Teachers. This historic conference provides learning and professional development opportunities across all media-communications areas.

  • If you’re a middle or high school student or teacher with an interest in digital media technology, communication, speech and debate, video/audio production, journalistic writing/reporting, media design, yearbook journalism, social media engagement, and other emerging communication fields, this event is for you!

  • Students and teachers will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts, college professors, and award-winning secondary media teachers in real-time with our in-person and interactive workshop sessions. If you’re looking to improve your school’s student media and speech/debate programs, learn about communication careers, team-build, or just get a better handle on your personal communication and technology skills, you have a lot to gain from attending this annual one-day conference

  • REGISTRATION for this one-day conference is $20 per student. Teachers attend free with paid student attendees. Teachers are encouraged to register for this conference as a school field trip and pay by school credit card or P.O. However, parents/guardians may register and bring their student if their school is not attending or if they do not participate in a school program or class that is attending.

  • We have a limited number of scholarships available for schools in need. This will be reviewed and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The awarded amount will be credited toward the total school registration. To apply, please write a 1-2 page narrative explaining the financial challenges your school or students face and how a scholarship to attend this event would benefit your students. Email your narrative to ccimoutreach@bsu.edu and use “JDay+/CCIM+ Scholarship” in the subject line.

2024 JDay+/CCIM+ Program

View the 2024 event program to learn about session topics and how the day was organized!

Whether you’re skilled in writing, photography, design, video editing, broadcast news, or anything in between, we have a category for it! Click below to learn more about our annual student competition. 2024 Contests are closed.

Student Contests

JDay+/CCIM+ on Friday, April 26, 2024, offers a variety of advertising, sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities for external companies to get involved. Click on the link below to learn more and apply!

Sponsorships, Advertising and Exhibiting