U of A Student Heads to Los Angeles as Presenter for National Journalism Convention

Photo Submitted

Riley Atkinson

U of A's Riley Atkinson will be a presenter at the 2022 Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association's National High School Journalism Convention in Los Angeles, the largest gathering of high school journalists in the country, according to its website.

Atkinson was named JEA Journalist of the Year after being awarded the 2021 Kansas Student Journalist of the Year for her work at Shawnee Mission East High School's media program.

"The JEA Journalist of the Year is chosen from among the state winners, and Riley won Kansas," Joe Humphrey, Journalist of the Year coordinator, said. Student journalists are recognized for exceptional journalism and produce portfolios to showcase work from writing to multimedia to leadership qualities. "Riley's portfolio stood out amid a crop of impressive ones," Humphrey said.

Atkinson is writing her speech that will be given before a crowd of about 3,000 people. The audience will be mainly high school journalists and advisers.

In high school, Atkinson attended the convention, but now it's viewed as an "amazing opportunity," and she looks forward to returning to what she called "a great opportunity."

The U of A freshman is a full-time student and an advertising and public relations major. She has expanded her journalism skills by writing her first story for the Razorback yearbook.

Atkinson is from Prairie Village, Kansas, which has a population of a bit more than 23,000. 

When the Kansas native began her journalism journey, she was painfully shy. Atkinson is now comfortable speaking before large crowds, but that wasn't always the case.

"I came to high school and was sitting on my shaking hands. By the end of my senior year, I won a national journalism award," Atkinson said.

Her parents always encouraged her to read and write from a young age. "I learned early. My dad is a writer, and my mom is a teacher. Mom helped get me out of my comfort zone, and dad helped with writing skills," she said.

In addition to parental support, she credits Dow Tate, Shawnee Mission East Hight School journalism teacher, for her growth in journalism. "His critiques were tough, but that helped."

After graduating high school, U of A was her first choice to begin her life's second chapter.

"As cheesy as it sounds, it [U of A] was most comfortable for me," she said. "The journalism program seemed great, and the campus was close enough for me to go home [when needed], and that was important." 

U of A was a big step for her, considering the school's enrollment is bigger than her hometown. 

"Now going to Los Angeles and coming from a small town in Kansas. It's an honor. I didn't think it would happen to me," she said.

"Passion" is a word of encouragement she offers others who want to be in advertising, marketing or journalism. "If you're passionate enough, nothing will be hard to accomplish," she said. "Nothing like a freshman shaking in class and gaining confidence over time." 

Last year, Atkinson was a virtual guest, due to the pandemic, on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

"With Clarkson, I wasn't even nervous, and that's because my personality has morphed due to journalism."