Board Meeting | Confabs | Member Training | Adviser Awards | Pinnacle Awards
CMA will hold its monthly board meeting at 12:30 p.m. ET Thursday, May 14. To view the agenda for the board meeting, click here.
Click Here to Register to Attend
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| Crystal Howard | Billy Ferris |
"Building a Successful Student-Led TV Station"
5 p.m. ET Wednesday, May 20
Cost: FREE
The conversation will focus on TV newsroom structure, defining roles, and creating sustainable and resourceful workflows for producing consistent student-led content. We will discuss staff structure, best practices for meetings and content creation, equipment and software options, payroll structures, collaboration opportunities, and more.
Presented by Crystal Howard, University of Texas at El Paso, and Billy Ferris, Auburn University
BILLY FERRIS is the assistant director of Student Media at Auburn University. The student-run media outlets he oversees are The Auburn Plainsman (Newspaper), The Auburn Circle (Literary & Arts Magazine), Eagle Eye TV (TV Station), The Glomerata (Yearbook) and WEGL 91.1FM (Radio Station). Billy oversees the strategic direction of Student Media at Auburn while supervising a staff of three full-time professionals. He also serves as the primary advisor to The Auburn Plainsman and Eagle Eye TV. Billy has been a part of Auburn Student Media since 2015. Before that, Billy has been an instructor in the School of Communication and Journalism at Auburn University.
CRYSTAL HOWARD is the assistant director of Student Media & Publications at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she oversees The Prospector and Minero Magazine. She brings over a decade of experience in media and communications. A former TV reporter and assistant director of student media at Georgia Southern University, she now brings her industry experience into student affairs, mentoring the next generation of journalists through hands-on storytelling and multimedia production. Her work centers on leadership development, ethical journalism, and helping students find their voice and see themselves as professionals in the media industry. Outside of work, she’s a runner, proud mom, and firm believer that storytelling isn’t just a skill, it’s a tool for confidence, voice, and impact.
Register for the May Confab
Did you know CMA members can access Confab recordings online for a limited time following each event? Recent Confab recordings are available in the members-only section of the CMA website, along with the Adviser Handbook and other helpful resources.
CMA will host New Adviser Training from 1 to 5 p.m. ET July 13-14 online. Cost is $250 for members and $500 for non-members. Conceived with the needs of new advisers in mind, this training includes expert-led sessions on critical topics such as media law, business development, policy and student training, as well as unparalleled networking opportunities. The track also offers veteran advisers opportunities to refresh their skills and share their expertise with new advisers.
New Adviser Training is presented four times a year: in person at the fall and spring national conventions and live online in January and July. Click here for a detailed list of New Adviser Training courses included.
Register for the Member Training
Nominations are now being accepted for CMA’s annual Adviser Awards. Distinguished Adviser awards honor accomplished CMA members with five or more years of experience in college media advising. Emerging Adviser awards recognize the outstanding work of CMA members with fewer than five years of advising experience.
CMA members may also submit nominations for various special honors for service and outstanding achievements.
The adviser award nominations deadline is Friday, May 29. Nominate yourself or another member adviser here.
The 2026 Pinnacle Awards are now open, and entries will be accepted via BetterBNC until midnight ET Wednesday, June 17. Finalists will be announced in August, and winners will be announced at the CMA/ACP joint Fall National Convention Nov. 4-7 at the Westin Kansas City Crown Center.
The Pinnacle College Media Awards are a national contest, recognizing excellence in student-produced college media. The contest honors overall excellence in student work on college newspapers, websites, magazines, yearbooks, radio and television stations, produced during an academic year.
Complete information regarding categories, rules and instructions, and entry guidelines can be found here.
