MN CONTEST DEADLINES
DUE DATE – June 11 JEM All State
This is a publication-wide contest for news (print, online), yearbook, magazine, and broadcast. The registration contest fee of $30 per publication gives you a multi-category critique and a ranking of Bronze, Silver, or Gold. The entry fee covers a small stipend for judges, and funds our Minnesota Journalist of the Year scholarships in the spring.
DUE DATE – June 19 – enter individual student work for the MHSPA Gold Medallions.
These individual awards celebrate student work in seven categories — broadcast, literary magazine, newspaper/newsmagazine, online, photojournalism, social media and yearbook. Two entries per category are allowed per student media outlet.
START YOUR YEAR RIGHT – SAVE THESE DATES
National Workshop at home – Sept. 11-13 – join NSPA for Rethink & Reimagine a working weekend to set your publication up right at the start of the year. Bring your leadership team for hands-on time in the Innovation Lab with Think Tank breakout sessions to inspire and energize.
MN High School Journalism Convention – Oct. 8 – University of Minnesota – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Keynote. Breakout sessions. Adviser roundtables. Awards. Don’t miss it!
National workshop in the sun – JEA/NSPA “Where sunshine meets story” in Orlando, Florida Nov. 19-22.
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
OPEN NOW – MN Journalism Educator of the Year. We were honored to welcome Daniel Amborn (Edina HS) to the ranks of MN Journalism Educator of the Year last fall. Let’s keep celebrating each other and add another name to our honoree list for 2025. You may nominate an adviser you admire or self-nominate. Nominations should highlight the candidate’s success in these areas:
- Teaching/advising experience and ability
- Background and training as a journalism educator; personal development
- Promoting a student-centered classroom
- Relationships with students, parents, administrators and community stakeholders
- Contributions to the profession
- Commitment to fostering an appreciation for journalism in society and careers in media
- Support of the First Amendment
The nomination packet should include a résumé/vita and one to five letters of support from the nominators. The nominator should email the complete packet to Gary Lundgren, gary@studentpress.org
OPEN NOW – ADMIN OF THE YEAR. Nominate our first Administrator of the Year. A panel of journalists and educators will select the recipient. In addition to a plaque proclaiming the administrator’s role in supporting outstanding journalism education, the winner will be recognized at the 2026 Minnesota High School Journalism Convention. Nominations should highlight the candidate’s success in: Nominations should highlight the candidate’s success in:
- Publishing a strong student media freedom of expression policy that aligns with the 2024 law
- Demonstrating administrations’ commitment to partnering with student media, while shielding them from prior review and censorship, and protecting advisers from professional consequences for doing the same.
- Facilitating an environment of respect between student media and school faculty and staff by imparting trust in publications decisions and adviser credibility.
- Providing access for student journalists so they can successfully report on school issues with as much information as possible (i.e. press areas at school events, governing board meetings, athletics passes, etc.)
- Advocating for program growth when there is student interest and / or curricular need
- Fostering media literacy and current events discussions at school, as well as an appreciation for professional journalism and careers in media
- Supporting the First Amendment
The primary nominator should email 1-5 letters of support to Gary Lundgren, gary@studentpress.org
Finally, help another adviser get in the know about our contests, critiques, and opportunities in Minnesota by encouraging them to JOIN OUR MAILING LIST. Please feel free to forward this message and encourage advisers you know to join our MNPRESS community!