No kidding:

Big crowd here. No pressure @kennysmith #apa2015 pic.twitter.com/BmbV8IffB9

— EditorBobDavis (@EditorBobDavis) February 13, 2015

After about three hours of sleep last night — working and reworking slides takes time — I made it over to the Alabama Press Association’s convention in plenty of time to get set up for my opening morning session. We got through the technical difficulties, the APA folks were great, and then a few people strolled in. I knew one or two. I met two or three others. I figured that it would be a light crowd. Early morning, a topic like “Vetting User Generated Content” and other options meant I might not be the biggest draw.

My friend Bob Davis, who is the editor of the Anniston Star, came up to talk for a few moments. When he sat down a nice APA member was ready to introduce me and the room was full. Just look at Bob’s photo above.

So I spoke and talked and then spoke and talked. I told a few jokes. I live-tweeted my own speech — actually I scheduled some topical tweets last night and guessed on the times and it all worked out to the amazement of a few people. I only made one Brian Williams joke (and one David Carr reference). It all seemed well-received. I got some nice questions. I was hoping for a bit more back-and-forth, I thought it might be nice to hear from others about what their outlets are doing with UGC, but that didn’t happen. But there were nods and compliments.

My slides:

I stayed after my session to hear some of our students who were leading a panel session on their journalism. Here’s managing editor Halley Smith, editor-in-chief Sydney Cromwell and news editor Emily Featherston (l-r):

I took notes:

.@feathers_878 talks about her intellectual property story, doing interviews between classes, battling legal talk. http://t.co/pJGVmy1san

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@halleyesmith "This story was a stepping stone for us," as @samfordcrimson shifted from events coverage to news.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Now @syd_cromwell shifts the conversation to their first fall story on sexual assault and Clery Act data. http://t.co/CwBtFX0D7L

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@syd_cromwell "It was a three week … slightly disheartening but important ordeal to get through," learning legalese and chasing details.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@feathers_878: "One of the main things in this is comparing language" ultimately getting at the terms and definitions of sexual assault.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

"Non-consensual sexual contact." There's a phrase the @SamfordCrimson staff wrestled with a lot in the fall.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@syd_cromwell "It boiled down to 'What's the difference?' It came down to is Samford right in not reporting this issue?"

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@syd_cromwell "It is a difficult role to play" to be hard hitting "in the office if someone that can suspend you or punish you."

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@syd_cromwell "I woke up the next morning," she laughs, "'All right. This is the morning I'm expelled. Let's do this!'" (She was not.)

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Now the second article, which reported Samford wasn't changing their Clery data: http://t.co/CwBtFX0D7L

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@halleyesmith "I think we were just mad … It became, in our opinion, very hard hitting. This is what happened."

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Comes down to a male was expelled for something which doesn't appear in the legal forms, and why not?

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@syd_cromwell "A challenge I didn't foresee was making students care." Did get a lot of positive response from faculty.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Photo editor @nelson_sam93 heard from a student recruiter, "Why are you making Samford look bad?"

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Think about that for a while. Just think about it.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@halleyesmith says it has been helpful because now more students are approaching the staff to look into real stories.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@halleyesmith "We are willing to challenge the status quo and to give a voice."

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Question on criminal charges. @syd_cromwell says they were never filed. The assault incident went through campus channels.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@syd_cromwell is up there talking about Clery like she crafted the legislature.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Question on @SamfordCrimson relationship with @SamfordU media relations. Some of them are in the room. "I want to hear your answer first!"

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@feathers_878 calls it a good relationship. @halleyesmith talks about @samfordjmc chair @BernieAnkney his great support of @SamfordCrimson

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@syd_cromwell: "I think administration likes us more than SGA, to be honest."

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@halleyesmith "I got my very first hate mail," from a student. "And I framed it."

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Great question from a @ASUHornetNation student- journalist about getting professors willing to do interviews.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@halleyesmith talks about fostering relationships among student and faculty, trying to combat student apathy.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Another student-journalist talks about keeping up morale in the face of student apathy.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

One of the duties @halleyesmith took on as managing editor is shoring up morale. (She's pretty fantastic at it.)

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Mr. Poole is the go to man at Samford for media relations. He's talking about the professional relationship we have. (He's a good egg.)

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Poole: "I have been so impressed with this staff. I'd say that if they weren't in the room. Do I like all of their stories? No."

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Poole talks about the relationship/understanding the university and administration has with @SamfordCrimson. We are very fortunate indeed.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

The university president is an old student-media veteran. He tells them he gets what they do.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@halleyesmith says they have been vociferously told over and over about how much trouble they are NOT going to get into.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@feathers_878 "We are making it known that we care. That the Crimson is something that should be taken seriously."

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

.@syd_cromwell "I've taken an unhealthy pride in making a list of people that are mad at me." Quality work, she says, is her mark to meet.

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

You should have seen his face the moment before, @halleyesmith gave him a "Hate to break this to ya" moment. pic.twitter.com/cKABCUAmbS

— kenny smith (@kennysmith) February 13, 2015

Then I hustled back to campus and grabbed a bit of lunch. I had some class prep. I had a class. After class I helped a student worked through some story ideas. And then I hoped in the car and put the sun behind me:

East it was, then, to Atlanta. Almost made it there before dark, but for the ubiquitous traffic and an unfortunate accident I passed along the way. Made it there in time, though. There was a concert. A terrific show.

And I’ll put stuff here about that tomorrow.