Student journalists, reporting and editing their high school newspapers, literary and political magazines, and yearbooks, are held to the same ethical and journalistic standards as professionals. A three-day conference hosted by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) will provide students from more than 500 schools in 30 states with workshops offering practical support, as well as the opportunity to meet industry professionals from such national publications as The New York Times and Time Magazine. The 76th Annual Convention takes place this week at Columbia.

More than 275 sessions over the three days will address virtually every issue facing the editors and staff of high school publications. Industry professionals, teachers and advisers from high schools across the country, and faculty from Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism will lead workshops that focus on editorial coverage - - i.e. feature writing; reporting bias crimes; common problems in the sports section; design - i.e. typography, advertising, photography and captions; and broader challenges, such as ethics, fundraising, and news censorship.

Many of the sessions will be conducted by experienced professionals, including New York Times metro staff reporter Ed Wong; Associated Press reporter Arlene Levinson, who will discuss covering violence and school shootings; Philip Elmer-DeWitt, who covers the Internet for Time Magazine; Michael Okwu from CNN's Showbiz Today; and Philip O'Brien, managing editor of WNBC TV news. Participating faculty from Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism, include Sree Sreenivasan, associate professor of professional practice, who will show students how to more effectively search the Web.

Daily "onsite critiques" will allow students to ask specific questions about their publications and receive specific answers, learn new terms and techniques, and consider innovations. During "swap shops," students may informally discuss and/or exchange copies of their magazine, newspaper or yearbook with colleagues from across the country.

Special events at this year's convention include a screening of an episode of NBC's "The West Wing" and a press conference with cast members and a producer of the critically-acclaimed drama, and a session co-hosted by the Fred Friendly Seminars, in which students will struggle with the economic pressures, technological trends and evolving standards that drive campaign coverage. To celebrate its 75 years of service to student journalism, CSPA will present 75 awards, including the Gold Key Awards, the James F. Paschal Award, the Joseph M. Murphy Award, and the Charles O'Malley Award, to those who have contributed to the Association.

Sponsors of this year's Convention are Herff Jones, Taylor Publishing and Highwired.com.

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association serves student journalists by making clear expression the standard for success; maintaining the student media for students, by students, and containing news of students; conducting contests and offering awards to make student media better; recognizing that journalism can be a means toward broader understanding of society and people without leading to a specific career choice. It is based at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.

Convention headquarters during the event will be at the new Roone Arledge Auditorium and Cinema in Columbia's new student center, Alfred Lerner Hall, located at 115th Street and Broadway.