New to the National Seminar? A Guide for Attendees

As part of this year’s theme, “Looking Back, Moving Forward,” EWA will examine the history of civil rights in education, and we will look ahead to where our country is going. The event will also examine the continued aftermath of the pandemic on learning at all levels as well as other education issues making news.

LOCATION:
Hilton Atlanta
255 Courtland St, NE
Atlanta, GA 30303

All of our panels and programming are clearly labeled, and you are welcome to ask EWA staff. We are also clearly labeled. We do have a mobile app, which you can download from a QR code in our program, physically or online, with Guidebook.

We have coffee and pastries in the mornings, various coffee breaks, lunches and dinners.

For any lactating parents, there will be a secure lactation room behind the registration desk, in the hub of offices there. Please come to the registration desk to request access, and someone will guide you to the room

Day 1 – Thursday, June 1

Join us for the first day of the conference to get situated and settled in at the Hilton. We will have a welcome reception from 6-9 p.m. You may pick up your registration packets and start making the rounds. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate same-day registration.

Day 2 – Friday, June 2

On the second day of National Seminar, check out some of our site visits (field trips!), deep dives (three-hour intensives into specific topics), and our reporter caucuses (off the record conversations between affinity groups).

Site Visits

• Register here.
• Ron Clark Academy. Reporters tour the private nonprofit middle school of 150 students that specializes in innovative teaching practices. They meet with students, leaders and educators.  Two public school teachers who were previously recognized  as Teachers of the Year set up the academy. Since it opened in 2007, the academy has attracted 115,000 educators from around the country who come to observe its learning environment. Deadline to register is 5 p.m., Eastern on Wednesday, May 31.
• Spelman College. Atlanta is home to several Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During the National Seminar, reporters are invited to visit Spelman, the women’s college founded in 1881. It’s among the top- ranked HBCUs. You’ll get a tour of the campus and hear from college officials. Learn why more students are choosing HBCUs and about the Spelman experience. Registration closed. 

For lunch and our opening plenary, hear from Leroy Chapman Jr., who was named the first Black editor-in-chief in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 155 years of history. He takes over during a time when the public is losing trust in traditional journalism, and news outlets are rapidly disappearing. Chapman will share his thoughts also on the future of journalism.

Catch some of the concurrents – sessions geared to K-12 reporters, early education, P-16 – meaning all levels of education, higher education, or journalism training. Pick the topic you’re most interested in. If you’re a higher ed reporter, our P-16 and journalism training includes higher ed angles so you don’t necessarily have to stick to a higher ed track. Check our agenda or mobile app to read panel descriptions and see who is moderatorating which speakers.

Our awards reception will be in the evening, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. where you can learn who won from the finalists for our various awards categories.

Awards will be followed by a reception until 9 p.m.

Day 3 – Saturday, June 3

Our third day opens with a plenary on “Civil Rights in Education: Then and Now.” Landmark rulings in the 1950s and ‘60s shaped education for decades. But how much has education improved for students of color? Segregation is almost as bad as it was in the 1950s. Property taxes keep equity at bay at a local level. The education workforce at the K-12 and higher education levels are mostly white. College admissions remain problematic. What does that mean for the future of achieving equity in education?

Catch up on more concurrent sessions (schedule in our agenda), network, take a break and be back for a lunch where we announce the top three awards winners.

This is when the winners of the Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting, the Ronald Moskowitz Prize for Best Beat Reporting, and EGF Accelerator’s Eddie Prize are announced. The grand prize winner is selected from among 14 category winners and the Moskowitz winner from the three beat category winners. The Eddie Prize is awarded to the best entry on covering low-income students who successfully enter and/or complete college.

You may see some sessions clearly labeled as “Sponsor Sessions.” These are limited sessions sponsored by outside organizations that have had minimal input from EWA. Our Sponsor Sessions are clearly marked in our print programs, mobile app, and the agenda on our website. Thank you to all of the organizations that make our work possible.

Finish our third day with a reception from 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Day 4 – Sunday, June 4

Good morning! And welcome to our Membership Meeting breakfast from 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.

Every year at the National Seminar, the EWA Board and executive team hold a membership meeting. The program is usually a mix of EWA updates – what we’ve been up to for the past year, plans for the future – and opportunities for members to ask questions. All members of EWA, especially our newer members, are encouraged to attend.

Catch our final concurrent sessions and attend our reporter caucuses to say hello to new friends and old. Hang out with the EWA team and ask for any final help in networking, catching up on sessions, figuring out that one speaker’s name, and generally basking in the national education community. We’re thrilled to have had you with us.

Some notes: 

• Everything is on the record
• Some sessions may be written about by our bloggers, who will focus on the topic of the discussion, but may incorporate questions asked by attendees
• You are welcome to approach speakers and moderators after their sessions, but please be mindful of the next panel coming into the room.
• EWA Staff are happy to help! Find us with our name badges and ribbons.

FAQs

What should I bring?

• Items – personal
• NOTEBOOK!!!
• Your laptop. We’ll have charging stations in the rooms

What should I wear?

• Business casual – don’t forget comfortable shoes!

I don’t know anyone. If I’d like some help networking, who could I ask?

• EWA Staff
• Board, Advisory boards, staff, speakers, moderators, awards finalists, sponsors, funders, new to the beat, fellows, judges – will all be wearing ribbons with their name badges

I am a freelancer. Is this a good time to meet and pitch editors?

• Don’t pitch stories while folks are eating!
• Also can get with EWA Public Editor Kavitha Cardoza, Director of Content Lori Crouch to see what editor would be best to talk to about what sorts of stories.
• Attend the reporter caucuses!!
• Attend the social events – receptions

I’m having issues with … What should I do?

Common:

• Tech – we probably can help
• Hotel – Hotel, or get with us
• Travel – talk to Judy and Tracee
• Can’t resolve, contact your EWA panel lead if a speaker (NOT the moderator), then loop in Judy O’Babatunde (JObabatunde@ewa.org), Tracee Eason (TEason@ewa.org) 
• My own deadlines for stories back home – you’re welcome to work on them in your room! Good luck on deadline.
• there will be a secure lactation room behind the registration desk, in the hub of offices there. They should come to the registration desk to request access, and someone will guide them to the room.

What about reimbursement for my scholarship?

• Fill out the evaluation – will be sent ~June 4
• Then fill out the reimbursement form by June 30. Forms will go out by June 4. 

How many people typically attend?

• 300 – 400 people

Is there a good spot for briefings/meetings?

• EWA Staff can help find any quiet places you may need for calls or meetings. This will be in a hotel where you may have access to quieter spaces or cafes.

Are there any sessions off limits to Supporting Community Members?

• We ask that our SCM allow journalists the freedom to converse privately during our reporter caucuses; otherwise, all sessions are open to all attendance. Journalists, there are sessions clearly labeled that will be for Supporting Community Members in particular.

**COVID-19 and masking protocol**

EWA encourages attendees to get tested for COVID-19 before coming to the conference. Attendees should stay home if they have tested positive for COVID-19, have COVID-19 symptoms, or have had close contact with a person who has tested positive for or who has symptoms of COVID-19. EWA will encourage everyone to wear a mask while indoors and not eating.