It's Austin in 2009

Austin Longhorns & Live Music,

Barbecue & Bats (Yes, Bats!)

October 28 through November 1, 2009

★ As the seat of government for the Lone Star state, Austin is at the center of it all. Fueled by the youthful enthusiasm of the University of Texas Longhorns, the energy from some of the best barbecue and Tex-Mex restaurants around, and the electricity from nearly 200 venues for live music, Austin is a place not to be missed. Enthusiasm, energy and electricity will greet you when you come to town this October for the 88th Annual National College Media Convention — the largest gathering of student journalists and advisers in the world. And if you venture a few blocks from the convention to take a peek under the Congress Avenue Bridge, you'll see another large gathering: the world's largest population of urban bats — 1.5 million of ’em.

QUICK DIRECTORY FOR MORE INFORMATION

• WHAT"S UP FOR THE 2009 CONVENTION
• CONVENTION REGISTRATION FEES
• CONVENTION ORGANIZERS AND CONTACT INFORMATION
• CONVENTION HOTEL
• MAKING RESERVATIONS
• CONVENTION HOTEL CONTACTS
• MAKING TRAVEL PLANS

WHAT"S UP FOR THE 2009 CONVENTION

★ ACP, CMA and CBI have prepared nearly 400 practical and professional learning sessions, from high-profile keynotes to specific, problem-solving breakouts, hands-on workshops and discussion groups — all to fuel your energy, enthusiasm and electricity. Other convention activities include an exhibit hall with vendors who sell to student media, ACP's Best of Show contest, receptions, awards convocations, critiques and a newspaper job fair.

★ Breakout sessions for newspapers, online outlets, broadcast stations, yearbooks and magazines are planned to meet the publishing and broadcasting needs of all college and university student media. Some are specifically for college dailies, some for journalists at community colleges and private schools. Others are for those who are looking for the latest information from the FCC affecting their campus radio station. Whether it's ethics and law, technology and design, advertising and business operations, photography and art or just the basics of news writing and reporting, this convention covers all the bases.

★ With typical attendance of more than 2,300 delegates, the annual ACP, CMA and CBI fall gathering has become the place to seek solutions to the most challenging publishing and broadcasting problems, share success stories, see what's new in the media marketplace, discover trends and network with students and advisers from the United States, Canada and often other countries.

★ Keep the energy going outside the convention. We'll be meeting just a few blocks from the legendary Sixth Street entertainment district. And of special note for Saturday night of the convention: Austin knows how to throw a Halloween Party, so pack a costume and get decked out.

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CONVENTION REGISTRATION FEES

Earlybird rates, those registering by Oct. 12, 2009:

• $85 ACP or CBI or BCCA member students
• $105 Nonmember students
• $105 CMA or CBI or BCCA member advisers and non-students
• $150 Nonmember advisers/non-students or non-vendors
• $250 Vendors who are not exhibitors or advertisers in program
• $40 Spouse/partner/family member not in journalism

Regular rates, those registering Oct. 13, 2009, or later:

• $105 ACP or CBI or BCCA member students
• $135 Nonmember students
• $130 CMA or CBI or BCCA member advisers and non-students
• $180 Nonmember advisers/non-students, non-vendors
• $300 Vendors who are not exhibitors or advertisers in program
• $50 Spouse/partner/family member not in journalism

Optional fees (Inlcuding pre-convention workshops: planned, subject to change)

• $49 Newsroom Management for Editors
• $69 Digital Photography, Business & Advertising, Society for News Design, Coaching Writers and New Media Workshops
• $25 Digital CAMPUS Workshops
• Best of Show competition: Free to ACP members
• $25 per entry for non-ACP members
• On-site critiques: $10
• CMA annual membership (individual): $90
• ACP annual membership (entire staff): $109 (5,000 or less enrollment); $119 (5,001 to 10,000 enrollment); $129 (10,001 to 20,000 enrollment); $139 (20,001 and more enrollment); $69 Broadcast stations/Canadian schools
• Convention T-shirts: $12-15
• CMA awards breakfast: $20

All fees payable in U.S. dollars, with check, VISA/Mastercard/American Express or officialpurchase order. A complete convention registration booklet will be available beginning Aug. 15, 2009. It will be mailed to colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and will beavailable at http://studentpressblogs.org/austin2009.

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CONVENTION ORGANIZERS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

ACP, CMA and CBI offer a comprehensive convention program for college and university journalists—print, online and broadcast—and their advisers from public and private, four-year and two-year colleges and universities and professional, technical and graduate schools in the United States, Canada and other countries. It is the largest convention of its kind in the world. Both members and nonmembers of ACP, CMA, CBI and members of Community College Journalists Association, the Black College Communications Association and other student media groups are invited to attend.

★ ACP, CMA and CBI welcome Texas community college journalists to the National College Media Convention. Participants will be able to select two options for attendance: just TCCJA on Friday, Oct. 30, or the whole weekend's national convention. More details, including rates and registration procedures, will be published in the registration booklet in August.

• Associated Collegiate Press,2221 University Ave. SE; Suite 121,Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA. Tel: 612-625-8335, Fax: 612-626-0720, E-mail: info@studentpress.org, acp.studentpress.org
• College Media Advisers,Department of Journalism,University of Memphis,Memphis, TN 38152 USA. Tel: 901-678-2403, Fax: 901-678-4798, www.collegemedia.org

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CONVENTION HOTEL

The Hilton Austin hotel opened in 2004 and is the only Austin hotel located adjacent to the Austin Convention Center. The Hilton Austin is also one block from Austin’s famous Sixth Street nightlife and a short stroll to the entertainment, shopping and dining in the Warehouse Entertainment District and 2nd Street District. All rooms offer comfort and elegance, including the Hilton Suites Dream bed, flat-screen TV, and wireless Internet.

The Hilton is offering convention delegates reduced room rates: $169 for single or double occupancy and $20 for each additional guest. To these rates, add 15 percent per night for city and state taxes. On-site parking is available for $10 a day or $16 overnight.

ACP and CMA urge delegates to book their rooms at the Hilton early, well before the Sept. 28, 2009, deadline and can’t guarantee room type availability. There is a limited number of two-bedded rooms.

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MAKING RESERVATIONS

To reserve a room, mail or fax the hotel room reservation form printed in this brochure or phone Phone: 800-236-1592, group code "ACP". If you phone, always mention the convention name, group rate and dates of the meeting (see next paragraph). Phone reservations require use of a credit card.

A one-night deposit is needed to reserve a room. The deposit may be made with a credit card, check or purchase order. Purchase orders may be used for room payments if they are received by the hotel not later than Sept. 28, but they must be paid in full before arrival. When using a purchase order, it is advisable to phone the hotel’s accounting department to see whether there are limitations or guidelines for their use. You can request an advance bill for rooms from the hotel’s accounting department if one is needed to obtain a check from your college to bring to the convention. If paying by check, the Hilton prefers that you secure your reservation with a credit card, then send your check after Sept. 28 to the attention of "Hilton Austin Accounting Department," not to reservations.

When talking to the hotel, use the group code "ACP." Always mention the name of the convention, National College Media Convention, the two major sponsors, ACP and CMA, the group room rate and dates of the convention.
Reservations canceled after Sept. 28, 2009, forfeit the required one night’s deposit.

Rooms may still be available after the Sept. 28 deadline. Phone the hotel directly for availability or phone ACP for assistance. Once the rooms at the Hilton are all sold, unfilled reservations sent to the Hilton are transferred to the official overflow agent, selected by ACP and CMA, who places them, with the approval of the persons seeking the room, in a nearby hotel.

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CONVENTION HOTEL CONTACTS

Hilton Austin, Attn: Reservations Dept.
500 E. 4th St.
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 800-236-1592, group code "ACP"
Fax: 512-682-2769, Attn: Brigid Borcik

• Check-in time is 3 pm. Check-out time is noon.
• Reservation requests received after Sept. 28, 2009, will be confirmed on a space and rate available basis. Availability and rate cannot be guaranteed after this date.
• Purchase orders will be accepted for payment if received by Sept. 28, 2009, and must be paid in full before arrival.
  Reservations must be guaranteed by either credit card or first night’s deposit. canceled after Sept. 28, 2009, will be assessed one night’s room and tax as a cancellation penalty.
• Please advise our reservation staff should you be in need of assisted devices for the disabled or impaired. If so, please indicate your needs to us on a separate sheet.

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MAKING TRAVEL PLANS

★ Reserve your rooms early at the Hilton. Fly American Airlines and save money. American Airlines, the official airline for the convention, offers 5 percent off the lowest applicable published fare. Some restrictions apply. All taxes and fees apply.
To buy one of these discounted American Airlines tickets, you or your travel agent should call 1-800-433-1790 and reference the star file number: A1829SS.

Ask the agent for the lowest fare. Keep in mind that fares sometimes vary by departure time and day of the week. Book your flight early.