PSPA membership free for 2023-2024; however, all members must renew membership
Since the onset of the pandemic, PSPA has waived membership fees in an effort to help our member schools weather the storm until we were able to return to pre-pandemic norms. While we take time to re-evaluate our fees and offerings moving forward, your 2023-2024 PSPA membership will again be completely free!
PSPA membership has always enabled your students to compete in our regional and state-level Student Journalism Competitions, enter your publication(s) for critiques, and connect with advisers and experts from across the state, and your 2023-2024 membership will still include all of the above. As we consider reinstating a membership fee for the 2024-2025 school year, we would like to provide you with more resources to help you, your students, and your programs. To help us determine which resources you would like to see included with your PSPA membership in the future, please take a moment to complete the following two-question survey:
PSPA Membership Needs Survey
Help us improve, so we can help your program grow and thrive!
Membership Application: As we work towards updating our membership roster, we’re asking that ALL current and prospective PSPA members click the button below to complete the membership application.
Over the past several years, membership rolled over automatically; meanwhile, many of your programs have gone through some changes in the time since you last completed a membership form. Completing the membership form annually will help us ensure that we have the most accurate information about your program. Our apologies if you've already submitted an application on our old form, but we appreciate your understanding as we work to update our records.
Please contact PSPA Membership Chair Lisa Sands at lsands@cysd.k12.pa.us if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I become a member of PSPA?
PSPA's mission is to promote excellence and responsibility in scholastic journalism by developing students who possess sound journalism skills, demonstrate ethical decision making and recognize, uphold, and advocate First Amendment rights through responsible citizenship and informed media consumption. Joining PSPA helps promote these principles throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
How does becoming a member benefit your students?
Membership provides access to a network of teachers and students, all who work or have worked to create high quality student publications. PSPA also helps your students learn from professional journalists. The regionals also provide the opportunity for students to compete in journalism events with peers in their region and across the state.
Do I/we have to be a member to compete in the SJCs or to get a critique?
Yes. Only students/advisers with school memberships may compete or receive critiques.
What are the SJCs?
PSPA hosts the SJCs or Student Journalism Competitions at the regional and state levels annually. Regional winners move on to the state competition in the spring.
How do my student publications apply for PSPA membership?
All publications can apply for PSPA using the form below.
Does PSPA membership include critiques?
For summer 2022, each publication critique is $60.
What is a critique and how do I request to have my publication critiqued?
A publication critique is an evaluation of a publication's quality based upon the PSPA Board-approved rubric. Experts from across the country adjudicate the publications. Those interested in receiving a critique must complete and submit a form along with the publication.
Does PSPA provide mentoring or resources for teachers?
PSPA participates in the national Journalism Education Mentoring Program. Teachers new to the profession or new to publications advising can apply for a mentor through PSPA, JEA, the JEA Pennsylvania State Director, or the two nationally trained Pennsylvania mentor Jane Blystone.
The purpose of the program is to retain quality teachers, improve the teaching practice of new teachers and build stronger scholastic journalism programs. This program was developed via the model designed by the New Teacher Center using evidence-based pedagogy. It provides an ongoing support system for new journalism teachers/advisers both professionally and personally, especially through resources of continued training at workshops, conferences, conventions and classes.
The JEA cadre of nationally trained mentors provides curriculum development and staff management assistance and materials, connection to a wide network of other trained mentors in all areas of student media, and supports quality teaching in the classroom.
A number of mentees have earned national Rising Star designation and serve on boards of their state’s scholastic media association. Several PSPA mentees have served or are serving on the PSPA state board.
This program is free to the mentee or the school. Mentees also get free JEA membership while they are in the mentoring program.
The mentee could also be an experienced teacher who is switching to a new medium.
Contact PSPA for more information.
More questions? Use our Contact Form to send them to us.
Why should I become a member of PSPA?
PSPA's mission is to promote excellence and responsibility in scholastic journalism by developing students who possess sound journalism skills, demonstrate ethical decision making and recognize, uphold, and advocate First Amendment rights through responsible citizenship and informed media consumption. Joining PSPA helps promote these principles throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
How does becoming a member benefit your students?
Membership provides access to a network of teachers and students, all who work or have worked to create high quality student publications. PSPA also helps your students learn from professional journalists. The regionals also provide the opportunity for students to compete in journalism events with peers in their region and across the state.
Do I/we have to be a member to compete in the SJCs or to get a critique?
Yes. Only students/advisers with school memberships may compete or receive critiques.
What are the SJCs?
PSPA hosts the SJCs or Student Journalism Competitions at the regional and state levels annually. Regional winners move on to the state competition in the spring.
How do my student publications apply for PSPA membership?
All publications can apply for PSPA using the form below.
Does PSPA membership include critiques?
For summer 2022, each publication critique is $60.
What is a critique and how do I request to have my publication critiqued?
A publication critique is an evaluation of a publication's quality based upon the PSPA Board-approved rubric. Experts from across the country adjudicate the publications. Those interested in receiving a critique must complete and submit a form along with the publication.
Does PSPA provide mentoring or resources for teachers?
PSPA participates in the national Journalism Education Mentoring Program. Teachers new to the profession or new to publications advising can apply for a mentor through PSPA, JEA, the JEA Pennsylvania State Director, or the two nationally trained Pennsylvania mentor Jane Blystone.
The purpose of the program is to retain quality teachers, improve the teaching practice of new teachers and build stronger scholastic journalism programs. This program was developed via the model designed by the New Teacher Center using evidence-based pedagogy. It provides an ongoing support system for new journalism teachers/advisers both professionally and personally, especially through resources of continued training at workshops, conferences, conventions and classes.
The JEA cadre of nationally trained mentors provides curriculum development and staff management assistance and materials, connection to a wide network of other trained mentors in all areas of student media, and supports quality teaching in the classroom.
A number of mentees have earned national Rising Star designation and serve on boards of their state’s scholastic media association. Several PSPA mentees have served or are serving on the PSPA state board.
This program is free to the mentee or the school. Mentees also get free JEA membership while they are in the mentoring program.
The mentee could also be an experienced teacher who is switching to a new medium.
Contact PSPA for more information.
More questions? Use our Contact Form to send them to us.
