Yearbook Chat with Jim: Live from Chicago!

Thousands of scholastic journalism students are attending the JEA/NSPA Scholastic Journalism Convention in Chicago, and Yearbook Chat with Jim is bringing you a taste of the activity!

Recorded live at host Jim Jordan’s session on Friday, Nov. 2, Jordan brings his characteristic friendly style, poignant questions and enthusiasm for all things yearbook to a live format.

Christy Porcelli

Jordan and his three guests share the excitement of the convention with listeners and their audience. Starting with Christy Porcelli, the adviser at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida, Jordan shared fun facts about his guests with the audience.

You’ll never guess where Porcelli grew up. Was it:

1. A hog farm?
2. A parrot farm?
3. A safari park?

Listen to find out, then stick around to hear about her 2018 book. The theme, “Just Maybe,” embraced all the possibilities that high school offers, and was recently nominated for a Crown award. As an adviser who has experienced great success, Porcelli shared her keys to success and the secret behind her excellent staff organization.

Brenda Field

Brenda Field, from Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois, took time away from her busy schedule as chair of the convention to chat with Jordan. She has 25 years of advising experience and explained why her 2018 book was one of the best yet. She also discussed how she became chair of the Chicago convention, which at the time of recording was officially the second largest JEA/NSPA had ever hosted.

Dr. Bradley Wilson

Dr. Bradley Wilson, also known as “Mr. Photography,” joined Jordan on stage to discuss judging photo contests for JEA and some of the mistakes photographers continually make. Wilson also explains what makes an award-winning photo and lays out the three basic keys to improving photography. He serves as editor of the JEA magazine and runs the JEA photo contest, which had almost 900 entries this year.  Winners will be announced on the final day of the convention.

Wilson also announced plans for improving the photo contest next year.

When he’s not busy with JEA duties, Wilson works as an associate professor of mass communication at MSU-Texas in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Listen to more

If you’d like to listen to more Yearbook Chat with Jim episodes, find them at walsworthyearbooks.com/podcasts. Be sure to check out the two other podcasts from the Walsworth Yearbooks Podcast Network while you’re there.

Follow Jordon on Twitter and Instagram at @yrbkjimjordan. Send questions and comments to podcasts@walsworth.com.