From November 12-16 students from the FHN publications staff traveled to Washington D.C. for the Fall National High School Journalism Convention. Students from around the country come to the conventions to learn more about journalism from professionals, see what other student publications around the nation have produced, and to share their work with them. This year’s convention was the largest gathering of high school journalism students to date, with over 6,300 attendees.

“Especially during the ceremonies it was cool to here everyone cheering, it was like surround sound,” junior Lydia Ness said, “there were so many people there not everyone could fit in one room. It was amazing to see how important journalism is to so many people around the country.”

For the first time during a convention, all four of FHN’s publication staffs placed in the Top 10 at the Best of Show competition. The Knightlife Podcast placed 10th Best of Show in the broadcast category. The North Star placed third Best of Show in the Newsmagazine category. Both the Exalibur Yearbook, and FHNtoday.com were awarded first place in their categories out of all of the schools participating in the Best of Show competition.

“It was pretty much the most amazing feeling in the world when we won those awards,” junior Lauren Smith said. “It is such a rush to here your school name get called.”