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Titled, “We the Journalists,” a play on “We the People,” the first three words to the preamble of the U.S. Constitution, the half-day conference has three primary objectives, said conference organizer Michael D. Kennedy, instructor of journalism and adviser of “The Eagle.” Nearly 60 students and eight advisers from seven schools have confirmed attendance.

“Our objectives are to celebrate Constitution Day and the First Amendment; to open the doors between our journalism program and the regional high school journalism and yearbook programs; and to help build bridges between high school media students and their community newspaper professionals,” Kennedy said.

He added that those objectives fall under a broader umbrella of educating young people about the Constitution, especially the First Amendment.

“The First Amendment, in fact our entire Constitution, belongs to everyone in the United States,” Kennedy said. “There’s no doubt our First Amendment is under attack today. Consequently, several media groups nationwide and statewide are defending against that assault on our First Amendment freedoms, using the tools we know best - education and knowledge.”

Kennedy said Media of Nebraska, a nonprofit organization composed of the “Omaha World-Herald,” the Lincoln Journal Star, the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, the Nebraska Press Association and the Nebraska Daily Publishers Association, launched its “THINK F1RST” educational campaign July 4 to raise awareness about the First Amendment’s five freedoms. As a member of the Nebraska Press Association, “The Eagle” is actively participating in the campaign with ads and by co-sponsoring Monday’s event.

“We the Journalists” features four sessions for guests by invitation only, Kennedy said. Three are practical sessions about topics high school students and their advisers can use almost immediately. The fourth is an open discussion on the broader topic of the Constitution and the First Amendment, according to Kennedy, who along with regional community newspaper professionals will be a presenter.

The morning sessions are Photojournalism: Tips for Instantly Improving Your Pictures, by Brad Staman, editor of the “Scottsbluff Star-Herald,”  Journalists and the Law, by Kennedy, What’s the Difference: How News, Sports, Feature and Editorial/Opinion Pieces Differ, by a panel of four including Kerri Rempp, editor of “The Chadron Record,” Spike Jordan, editor of  the “Hemingford Ledger,” Janelle Kesterson, editor of the “Bridgeport News-Blade,” and Preston Goehring, sportswriter with the “Star-Herald.”

In the afternoon, “Star-Herald” Publisher Greg Awtry will lead an interactive discussion about the First Amendment’s five freedoms, with focus on the free press guarantee. Awtry’s work has been recognized by the Nebraska Press Association, The Associated Press Great Plains Bureau and he received the “Omaha World Herald’s” Francis L. Partsch Award for Editorial Leadership.