Deadline for entries – July 1.

It’s time to reap rewards for this year’s hard work. Your staff members have written, designed and photographed some great content this year. The Summer Newspaper and Yearbook contests  allow them to compete for awards in many categories. Simply follow the directions on forms available under the Contests tab on the right. Preparing your entries is simple and quick. Out-of-state professionals are standing by to judge your work.

Newspaper members: you can enter up to 48 entries in 13 categories, or send just one entry in one category. It’s up to you. Categories include news, opinion, features and sports writing, photography, cartooning, review writing and more.

Yearbook members: An experienced judge from out of state will mark a thorough critique form and give you points in each category. Explanations and the critique will accompany each returned entry. Judges will be encouraged to write in your book, pointing out specific kudos and constructive criticisms.

Awards will be announced at Fall Press Day, which is Monday, Oct. 28, at Rutgers’ Busch Campus Center.

Questions? Contact Susan Everett at everetts@earthlink.net.

Three members of the GSSPA Board are now Columbia Gold Key recipients following Friday’s awards ceremony at Columbia University.

Andi Mulshine of Communications High School in central New Jersey received the Gold Key Friday and was joined by past recipients John Tagliareni and Bonnie Blackman.

Gold Key honorees each receive a gold key at Columbia University’s Lowe Library, where the ceremony is held each year; and a plaque describing the purpose of the award.

As written on the plaque, the Gold Key is awarded for “outstanding devotion to the cause of the school press, encouragement of the student editors in their several endeavors, service above and beyond the call of delegated duty, leadership in the field of education, and support of the high ideals from which this association has drawn its strength and inspiration.”

Attention high school journalists – the deadline for the Bernard Kilgore Memorial Scholarship and the Bob Stevens Memorial Scholarship is February 15.

This year’s scholarship forms are now posted on our Scholarships Page. Begin making plans and building your portfolio now. You can get all of the information you need to compete for these two awards – the Kilgore Scholarship, which is $5,000 and is for students who plan to study journalism in college; and the Stevens Scholarship, which is $1,500 and is designed for high school journalists who may major in other subjects.

Make plans to attend our spring conference for advisers at Rutgers University.

Don’t miss this chance to take workshops presenting information and best practices from student media advisers from around the state.

Click here for a registration form. Please fill it out and mail it in by April 25th.

First Prize in this year’s Fall Press Day Write-Off contest was awarded to Samantha Gilbert of West Essex High School in North Caldwell.
The Write-Off is the featured writing competition at Fall Press Day, which was held this year on Dec. 17 at Rutgers University’s Busch Campus Center. Participants were assigned to cover the newspaper keynote speech and immediately afterwards, write a story on the event. About 20 students competed in this year’s Write-Off.
The newspaper keynote was delivered by Martin Gottlieb, editor of The Bergen Record, who spoke about his experiences in newspapering and the current state of the profession.
Gilbert is a staff member of The Wessex Wire student newspaper, which is advised by Cassie Lo. Gilbert won a $100 prize, provided by The Record, which sponsors the Write-Off each year.
Also placing in the competition were Francesca Cocchi of Communications High School in Monmouth County, advised by Andi Mulshine. Her story received second prize, for a $75 award.
Winning third place was Ben Wagner of the Peddie School of Hightstown, who won a $50 award. His adviser is Alyssa Morreale.

Fall Press Day at Rutgers University was held on Dec. 17 and featured Martin Gottlieb, editor of The Record, who spoke to newspaper staff members, and Kathleen D. Zwiebel, a national teacher of the year who has advised three nationally award-winning publications, who delivered the yearbook keynote speech.

This video was written and narrated by Gina Talamo and photographed by Halie Aaron, both juniors at Communications High School in Monmouth County. They both serve as editors at their school paper, The Inkblot.

The GSSPA helps sponsor two scholarships — the Bernard Kilgore Memorial Scholarship and the Bob Stevens Memorial Scholarship. The deadline for both is February 15.

The $5,000 Bernard Kilgore Scholarship is for seniors who plan to major in journalism. The winner also becomes the New Jersey Student Journalist of the Year, and is entered into the JEA National Student Journalist of the Year competition.

The $1,500 Bob Stevens Memorial Scholarship is also for senior high school journalists, but the winner is not required to major in journalism in college.

For more information and scholarship forms click here.