KEMPA’s goal is to support advisers and student journalists. By offering programs like our summer journalism camp, winter adviser’s retreat and fall student conference during the year, we can help build your program.
At our Fall Scholastic Journalism Conference on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at UW-Whitewater, we connect you and your students to professionals, advisers and other student journalists in our KEMPA community. We are looking forward to helping your staff build their skills, be inspired by winning contest entries and celebrate last year’s accomplishments.
Our theme, Power of the Press, emphasizes the need for media to protect the institution of journalism, continuing our mission to defend the public’s right to inquiry and free speech.
The opening session will begin at 9:30 a.m. with awards and announcements, followed by the keynote speaker, reporter Andie Bernhardt, from 10:00-10:30 a.m. Each of the two sessions will last 45 minutes, starting at 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Advisers and presenters will then take part in the annual KEMPA meeting, including awards presentations, elections, and announcements, during lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.
This event is available to 9-12 grade students interested in media and their advisers/teachers.
Online registration for the event is open and attendees must register by Friday, Oct. 10: KEMPA FALL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION. Walk up registrations will not be accepted at check-in.
$20 per student and adviser for KEMPA-member publications.
If you wish to become a regular member, use this KEMPA membership form 2025-2026 (membership: $60) and send it to Bob Kay at the address on the form.
$25 per student and adviser for non-KEMPA members.
Advisers, please consider presenting at the conference. Your experience as an adviser is invaluable, so feel free to share a favorite lesson or activity with other students or advisers. We’d like sessions both for students and advisers. We welcome proposals that would focus on any aspect of journalism, including advising, photography, writing, newspaper, magazine, yearbook, online publishing, advertising, broadcast and more. Please use the following link to submit a proposal by Sept. 3, 2025. You can choose to receive a modest presenter’s stipend or donate the stipend to KEMPA.
