PSPA will extend the 2021-2022 membership to June 30, 2023 for all of our current member schools.
There is no need to renew your PSPA membership, and no fee for 2022-2023 membership. We’re simply extending your membership through next year.
Our board reached this unanimous decision with sensitivity to schools’ financial challenges, questions about whether advisers would have access to funds, and our own uncertainty about the programming we’ll be able to offer in the 2022-2023 school year.
We want to continue to support student journalism in Pennsylvania for the next school year, and through the challenges of COVID-19, regardless of our schools’ ability to pay a membership fee.
If you have any questions about this decision, please contact us. New schools can apply for membership using the form below.
REMINDER: This membership form is for new members for the 2022-2023 school year only.
For all schools that were members in 2021-2022, membership will carry over to the 2022-2023 school year. Please contact PSPA Membership Chair Lisa Sands at lsands@cysd.k12.pa.us if you need to make any contact updates (i.e. new adviser, new publication, etc.)
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 mentors Kathleen Zwiebel and 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 mentors Kathleen Zwiebel and 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.
