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PSPA congratulates Rick Brooks, 2018 NSPA Pioneer Award Recipient

9/19/2018

Congratulations to PSPA Board Member and Jostens rockstar Rick Brooks who was announced as one of the five 2018 National Scholastic Press Association Pioneer Award Winners!

Rick was nominated by longtime Pennsylvania adviser Kathleen Zwiebel, who noted that Brooks mentors because he enjoys helping students succeed.

“On our state level, Rick has spoken at conventions, served as a judge and helped to develop the Pennsylvania School Press Association yearbook contest guidelines," Zwiebel wrote. "He has been an active participant that PSPA elected him as a member of the executive board. This is a tribute to his talent and to the fact that Rick is interested in helping all scholastic journalists, not just those at schools affiliated with his company.”

Rick will be recognized at the Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association Advisers Awards Luncheon at the fall convention in Chicago.

Read more and meet the other recipients in the NSPA Press Release.

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PSPA announces summer critique rankings for websites

9/13/2018

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For the first time, PSPA offered summer critiques to online news publications in 2018. Participants were scored on content/coverage, breaking news, writing, design/navigation, interactivity, and rich media. All participating publications received a detailed critique from judges with commendations and suggested areas for improvement.

Congratulations to the following publications for their 2018 rankings:

GOLD
The Friar's Lantern, Malvern Preparatory School

SILVER
Tidelines, Pottsville Area High School
The Panther Press, Saegertown Junior-Senior High School
The Lions DIgest, State College Area High School

PSPA critiques are completed by experts from across the country. Member publications interested in receiving a critique must submit a completed form along with the publication submission.

In addition to receiving feedback from experts, submitted publications automatically become part of a statewide contest. In the first level of scoring, publications receive a scorebook with a bronze mark, silver mark, or gold mark. All publications earning an overall gold will be sent on to a new judge where publications compete against other gold award publications to determine which publications will receive the coveted annual Clyde F. Lytle All-State Keystone Award.

Learn more about how to submit your publication for a critique here.

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Registration open for Fall 2018 SJCs

9/12/2018

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Registration is open for the fall 2018 Student Journalism Competitions (SJCs).

The PSPA SJCs are a morning of education and competitions for every student journalist in Pennsylvania. Featuring writing, design, and artistic opportunities similar to those offered at the Journalism Education Association’s semi-annual conventions – but near you, and at affordable prices. SJCs have categories in yearbook, newspaper, photography, literary magazines, and broadcast— take a look.

Remember, only member schools can send students, so make sure you have paid your 2018-19 membership fee. Level One Membership ($100) comes with three complimentary SJC entrance fees paid. Level Two (Full School) Membership ($150) comes with six.

NEW THIS YEAR:

Want to take a test-run of the competition categories with your students? Sample prompts for each category are posted for you to download and try with your staff. We hope these samples will provide students with an idea of what to expect. As always, you can also download the rubrics our judges will use for scoring.

We have two new SJC sites— St. Francis University and Indiana University of Pennsyvania.

In the carry-in news categories (15A + 15B), up to three students are welcome to team up on an entry.

Finally, do you know another publication or adviser whose students would enjoy the SJCs? If so, please forward this email on and encourage them to become PSPA members and attend the upcoming SJCs.

Each of the sites listed below links to the registration page. We look forward to seeing you at our fall events..

Indiana University of PA (Oct. 19 - Registration due in by Oct. 12 at 1 p.m.)
PSU Behrend (Oct. 19 - Registration due in by Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.)
St. Francis (Oct. 26 - Registration due in by Oct. 19 at 1 p.m.)
PSU Berks (Nov. 2 - Registration due in by Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.)
Point Park (Nov. 2 - Registration due in by Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.)
Temple (Nov. 5 - Registration due in by Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.)
Harrisburg Area Community College (Nov. 13 - Registration due in by Nov. 6 at 1 p.m.)

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Freedom Area High School Teacher Aaron Fitzpatrick recognized as Pennsylvania Journalism Teacher of the Year

9/4/2018

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Aaron Fitzpatrick

Pennsylvania School Press Association has chosen Aaron Fitzpatrick of Freedom Area Senior High School as the 2018-2019 state Journalism Teacher of the Year.

Fitzpatrick advises the FHS Press student newspaper, the Shawnee yearbook, and the Bulldog Beat broadcast program. Both the FHS Press and Shawnee have earned numerous regional, state and national awards. He is a nationally Certified Journalism Educator through the Journalism Education Association. He is also certified as a Google Certified Educator.

Fitzpatrick was chosen as a fellow, through a rigorous selection process, to attend the ASNE Reynolds High School Journalism Institute at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Az, in June 2013.

Kayla Eaton, FAHS '18, who served as Editor-in-Chief of the Shawnee Yearbook and FHS Press, said, "I can attest to the incalculable value of what he has taught each of his students. These valuable lessons have caused not only our publications to thrive, but also each of us in our everyday lives. Mr. Fitzpatrick’s level of understanding, engagement, knowledge, and passion is what makes him not only one of the best teachers I have ever had, but is what contributes to the overall quality of our publications.”

“Students in his class are always at major school functions reporting on the events of the district,” Freedom Area High School social studies teacher Nathaniel Langelli stated in his recommendation. “At school board meetings, members of the staff cover the meeting to ensure transparency. Not only do they report on these various activities, but they do so without complaints. They take journalism seriously.”

“Mr. Fitzpatrick instills a passion and a desire for quality and constant improvement in each of the student journalists he advises. They share a collective desire to never rest until their absolute best has been achieved,” principal William Deal stated. “His commitment to the highest standards inspires students to reach beyond their self-imposed limits to achieve at levels they could not imagine were possible on their own. He has taught them the value of teamwork, collaboration and perseverance.”

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Fitzpatrick also serves his school district as their public relations director, senior class sponsor, and as a building representative for the Freedom Area Education Association. His expertise as an educator has also earned him The Golden Apple Award through the Prevention Network & Class Academy, in Baden, Pa.

In January 2018, Fitzpatrick was invited to serve on the Board of Directors of Pennsylvania School Press Association. Pennsylvania School Press Association originated in 1925 and stands as one of the oldest scholastic journalistic organizations in the country. The organization supports K-12 student journalism statewide through journalism competitions, summer critiques, awards and recognition, mentorship for advisers, and other resources.

To nominate advisers for the 2019 PSPA Journalism Teacher of the Year, visit the PSPA website to submit applications for any active member of the organization by June 15, 2019. Nominations can be submitted by any teacher, administrator, student, or media professional.

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For more information about Pennsylvania School Press Association, visit www.paschoolpress.org or contact Paul Fantaski at pfantaski@gmail.com.

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NEWS

PSPA congratulates Rick Brooks, 2018 NSPA Pioneer Award Recipient

PSPA announces summer critique rankings for websites

Registration open for Fall 2018 SJCs

Freedom Area High School Teacher Aaron Fitzpatrick recognized as Pennsylvania Journalism Teacher of the Year

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