IMPORTANT INFO for Current Members (2/17/21):
2020-2021 SJCs Update
Many, many thanks to our advisers for helping us make the Student Journalism Contests happen this year. We certainly could not have done it without you.
2021-2022 Membership Fee
The board will soon be discussing the possibility of waiving the membership fee for the 2021-2022 year. The board understands times are tough and want to be able to pass along some good news.
Photo Opportunity Through PNA, Penn State, and PSPA
We all know that the pandemic has made it difficult for student journalists to do their work, so wouldn’t it be nice to have a forum to give your students some recognition?
Advisers are being asked to submit photos of their staff at work, along with a few sentences of reflection about what it's been like to continue with their newspaper or yearbook during the pandemic. The photos may be taken by students or the adviser. The reflections should be by the students.
The PNA website is scheduled to launch on March 14. More information about how to upload your photos will be announced soon. Photos should be submitted by March 10.
2020-2021 SJCs Update
Many, many thanks to our advisers for helping us make the Student Journalism Contests happen this year. We certainly could not have done it without you.
- We have finally secured 16 judges, one for each category in the contests. Every judge holds adjudicating certification from JEA, so we’re excited to have so many brilliantly qualified experts on board.
- About 150 students from 25 schools across the state competed. As we had 27 schools with students slated to compete in last year’s Finals, I’m very happy with the numbers.
- Judges do not have to return the entries until April 1. We will tally everything up and release the results sometime in late April or early May.All purchase orders for the contest fees went out this morning. Check your email.
2021-2022 Membership Fee
The board will soon be discussing the possibility of waiving the membership fee for the 2021-2022 year. The board understands times are tough and want to be able to pass along some good news.
Photo Opportunity Through PNA, Penn State, and PSPA
We all know that the pandemic has made it difficult for student journalists to do their work, so wouldn’t it be nice to have a forum to give your students some recognition?
Advisers are being asked to submit photos of their staff at work, along with a few sentences of reflection about what it's been like to continue with their newspaper or yearbook during the pandemic. The photos may be taken by students or the adviser. The reflections should be by the students.
The PNA website is scheduled to launch on March 14. More information about how to upload your photos will be announced soon. Photos should be submitted by March 10.
PSPA will extend the 2019-2020 membership to June 30, 2021 for all of our current member schools.
There is no need to renew your PSPA membership, and no fee for the 2020-2021 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 2020-2021 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.
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 of have worked to create high quality student publications. PSPA also allows your students to learn from those professionals working in journalism. Additionally, the Regionals provide the opportunity to compete in journalism events among students 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 Competition levels annually. Regional winners move on to the State level of competition, hosted 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 2020, 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 fill out and submit a completed form along with the publication submission.
Does PSPA provide mentoring or resources for teachers?
Pennsylvania School Press Association 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 novice teachers and build stronger scholastic journalism programs. This program was developed using 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 of no cost to the mentee or the school. In fact, mentees receive free JEA membership during the time they are in the mentoring program.
The mentee could also be a veteran teacher who is switching to a new media to which he/she is being assigned.
Contact PSPA for more information.
Still have 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 of have worked to create high quality student publications. PSPA also allows your students to learn from those professionals working in journalism. Additionally, the Regionals provide the opportunity to compete in journalism events among students 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 Competition levels annually. Regional winners move on to the State level of competition, hosted 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 2020, 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 fill out and submit a completed form along with the publication submission.
Does PSPA provide mentoring or resources for teachers?
Pennsylvania School Press Association 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 novice teachers and build stronger scholastic journalism programs. This program was developed using 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 of no cost to the mentee or the school. In fact, mentees receive free JEA membership during the time they are in the mentoring program.
The mentee could also be a veteran teacher who is switching to a new media to which he/she is being assigned.
Contact PSPA for more information.
Still have questions? Use our Contact Form to send them to us.
