PSPA CONTESTS & AWARDS
Fall Regional Student Journalism Contest (SJC) Results
Last week, Paul Fantaski (PSPA SJC Chair), emailed results to advisers from schools who competed in our Fall Regional SJCs and will be following up with judges’ feedback. Regional site coordinators are currently in the process of compiling students' actual entries from the contests to return to advisers, so students will be able to reference their work when reviewing their feedback. Keep an eye out for those emails in the coming days.
SJC State Finals: Monday, March 16, 2026
We're currently working with Penn State to develop an itinerary for the day and will be sharing all of those details with you as soon as they are finalized and available. There will also be a registration link to confirm each participant's attendance. In the meantime, please refer to our most frequently asked questions, and feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions. In the event that any of your students who qualified for State Finals are unable to attend, we ask that you let us know by February 16. This will allow us to invite the next eligible student in that contest category with enough time to make arrangements to attend the event.
Want to see what Finals is all about but didn’t have students compete or qualify this year? Please join us! Our Regional and State Finals events are open to competitors and non-competitors alike, include programming you and/or your students may find valuable, and are great opportunities to network and interact with the PSPA Board of Directors and fellow students and advisers. Just let us know you’d like to attend, and we’ll be sure to include you on all State Finals correspondence moving forward.
Pennsylvania Student Journalist of the Year (PJOY)
The Pennsylvania Student Journalist of the Year contest is officially open. Please encourage any outstanding senior you have to apply. The PA winner wins a scholarship and advances to the national competition. If you have any questions, you can contact Cyndi Hyatt, PJOY Chair at [email protected].
DEADLINE: February 10 by 11:59 p.m.
Journalism Teacher of the Year (JTOY)
Does your journalism teacher/adviser go above and beyond the call of duty for journalism at your school? Nominate a journalism teacher/adviser for Journalism Teacher of the Year by the deadline posted below, and we’ll contact nominees to submit additional materials before the material submission deadline. The winner, winner’s school administration, and winner’s local media outlet will be notified via email, and the winner will be publicly recognized at State Finals on March 16.
NOMINATION DEADLINE: February 10 by 11:59 p.m.
MATERIAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 23 by 11:59 p.m.
Administrator of the Year (AOY)
Is your administrator an advocate for student press freedom and your student publications? Consider nominating them for Administrator of the Year. Winners are invited to be recognized at State Finals on March 16.
NOMINATION DEADLINE: February 10 by 11:59 p.m.
MATERIAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 23 by 11:59 p.m.
Friend of Student Journalism (FSJ)
Do you know someone who has, in some special way, contributed to the success of scholastic journalism or to the success of a particular school’s journalism program in Pennsylvania? Consider nominating them for the Friend of Journalism Award. Winners are invited to be recognized at State Finals on March 16.
NOMINATION DEADLINE: February 10 by 11:59 p.m.
MATERIAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 23 by 11:59 p.m.
PROGRAMMING
In the coming months, we’ll be hosting a couple of free virtual presentations that you and your students can use in your own newsrooms to take your journalism production to the next level! While sessions will be presented live, we’ll also record and share them, so you can utilize them at your convenience. Keep an eye out for information on our first session, which will be available in the coming months.
SUMMER ADVISER WORKSHOP
We’re excited to announce the date for our second annual Summer Adviser Workshop, hosted in partnership with the Penn State Bellisario College of Communications!
DATE: Tuesday, June 30, 2026
TIME: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
LOCATION: Penn State University Park campus
COST: Completely FREE!
Join us for a full day of hands-on professional development led by Bellisario faculty and PSPA Board members. From fresh strategies to support your student journalists to practical tools to strengthen your program, this day is built to inspire — whether you’re just starting out or looking to re-energize your advising game.
You asked, and we heard you! Among this year’s offerings will be free on-site publication critiques. Join us Monday, June 30 for a welcome reception, and let us help you level up your publication! So, save the date, and we’ll be in touch with more details as they are finalized!
PSPA ONLINE STORE
Show your PSPA colors with new merch from our online store! Enjoy 20% off all orders until Jan. 18 at 11:59 p.m.
PSPA Merch Store
AFFILIATES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR PA STUDENT JOURNALISTS
Myron Cope Awards Deadline Extended to Feb. 2
Point Park University's School of Communication is partnering with the family of Myron Cope, the PIAA and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors' Association to recognize high school athletic communication excellence in Western Pennsylvania. Any student who wins a Myron Cope High School Athletic Communication Award is eligible for a $1,000 scholarship if the student attends Point Park University.
High schools can enter the competition online. All submissions must be received by February 2. Students are eligible to receive awards only if they attend the ceremony.
Scholastic Journalism Week
The Journalism Education Association will celebrate Scholastic Journalism Week February 23-27. This year’s theme is “Press Under Pressure”. How do you and your students plan to celebrate? Tag us in your posts on social media @paschoolpress so we can share the great things you’re doing!
Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference
Now in its 25th year, the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is an engaging, in-depth, five-day summer program for 51 high school juniors (one from each state and the District of Columbia) who “Dream. Dare. Do.”
This is an opportunity for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., a $1,000 scholarship to the college of the student's choice, and the chance to meet with leading journalists. Juniors can learn more and apply at this link by March 15
Fall Regional Student Journalism Contest (SJC) Results
Last week, Paul Fantaski (PSPA SJC Chair), emailed results to advisers from schools who competed in our Fall Regional SJCs and will be following up with judges’ feedback. Regional site coordinators are currently in the process of compiling students' actual entries from the contests to return to advisers, so students will be able to reference their work when reviewing their feedback. Keep an eye out for those emails in the coming days.
SJC State Finals: Monday, March 16, 2026
We're currently working with Penn State to develop an itinerary for the day and will be sharing all of those details with you as soon as they are finalized and available. There will also be a registration link to confirm each participant's attendance. In the meantime, please refer to our most frequently asked questions, and feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions. In the event that any of your students who qualified for State Finals are unable to attend, we ask that you let us know by February 16. This will allow us to invite the next eligible student in that contest category with enough time to make arrangements to attend the event.
Want to see what Finals is all about but didn’t have students compete or qualify this year? Please join us! Our Regional and State Finals events are open to competitors and non-competitors alike, include programming you and/or your students may find valuable, and are great opportunities to network and interact with the PSPA Board of Directors and fellow students and advisers. Just let us know you’d like to attend, and we’ll be sure to include you on all State Finals correspondence moving forward.
Pennsylvania Student Journalist of the Year (PJOY)
The Pennsylvania Student Journalist of the Year contest is officially open. Please encourage any outstanding senior you have to apply. The PA winner wins a scholarship and advances to the national competition. If you have any questions, you can contact Cyndi Hyatt, PJOY Chair at [email protected].
DEADLINE: February 10 by 11:59 p.m.
Journalism Teacher of the Year (JTOY)
Does your journalism teacher/adviser go above and beyond the call of duty for journalism at your school? Nominate a journalism teacher/adviser for Journalism Teacher of the Year by the deadline posted below, and we’ll contact nominees to submit additional materials before the material submission deadline. The winner, winner’s school administration, and winner’s local media outlet will be notified via email, and the winner will be publicly recognized at State Finals on March 16.
NOMINATION DEADLINE: February 10 by 11:59 p.m.
MATERIAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 23 by 11:59 p.m.
Administrator of the Year (AOY)
Is your administrator an advocate for student press freedom and your student publications? Consider nominating them for Administrator of the Year. Winners are invited to be recognized at State Finals on March 16.
NOMINATION DEADLINE: February 10 by 11:59 p.m.
MATERIAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 23 by 11:59 p.m.
Friend of Student Journalism (FSJ)
Do you know someone who has, in some special way, contributed to the success of scholastic journalism or to the success of a particular school’s journalism program in Pennsylvania? Consider nominating them for the Friend of Journalism Award. Winners are invited to be recognized at State Finals on March 16.
NOMINATION DEADLINE: February 10 by 11:59 p.m.
MATERIAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 23 by 11:59 p.m.
PROGRAMMING
In the coming months, we’ll be hosting a couple of free virtual presentations that you and your students can use in your own newsrooms to take your journalism production to the next level! While sessions will be presented live, we’ll also record and share them, so you can utilize them at your convenience. Keep an eye out for information on our first session, which will be available in the coming months.
SUMMER ADVISER WORKSHOP
We’re excited to announce the date for our second annual Summer Adviser Workshop, hosted in partnership with the Penn State Bellisario College of Communications!
DATE: Tuesday, June 30, 2026
TIME: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
LOCATION: Penn State University Park campus
COST: Completely FREE!
Join us for a full day of hands-on professional development led by Bellisario faculty and PSPA Board members. From fresh strategies to support your student journalists to practical tools to strengthen your program, this day is built to inspire — whether you’re just starting out or looking to re-energize your advising game.
You asked, and we heard you! Among this year’s offerings will be free on-site publication critiques. Join us Monday, June 30 for a welcome reception, and let us help you level up your publication! So, save the date, and we’ll be in touch with more details as they are finalized!
PSPA ONLINE STORE
Show your PSPA colors with new merch from our online store! Enjoy 20% off all orders until Jan. 18 at 11:59 p.m.
PSPA Merch Store
AFFILIATES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR PA STUDENT JOURNALISTS
Myron Cope Awards Deadline Extended to Feb. 2
Point Park University's School of Communication is partnering with the family of Myron Cope, the PIAA and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors' Association to recognize high school athletic communication excellence in Western Pennsylvania. Any student who wins a Myron Cope High School Athletic Communication Award is eligible for a $1,000 scholarship if the student attends Point Park University.
High schools can enter the competition online. All submissions must be received by February 2. Students are eligible to receive awards only if they attend the ceremony.
Scholastic Journalism Week
The Journalism Education Association will celebrate Scholastic Journalism Week February 23-27. This year’s theme is “Press Under Pressure”. How do you and your students plan to celebrate? Tag us in your posts on social media @paschoolpress so we can share the great things you’re doing!
Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference
Now in its 25th year, the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is an engaging, in-depth, five-day summer program for 51 high school juniors (one from each state and the District of Columbia) who “Dream. Dare. Do.”
This is an opportunity for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., a $1,000 scholarship to the college of the student's choice, and the chance to meet with leading journalists. Juniors can learn more and apply at this link by March 15
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