Thank you for your interest in applying or nominating for a JEA award. This homepage lists all award applications that are currently open. If you don't see the award you're looking for here, that means the application is not currently open. Please visit jea.org/awards to verify relevant dates for the specific award you are interested in.
To submit an award application, you must first create a Submittable account. This is not tied to your JEA member account, although we will verify current membership status for awards that require it. Through your Submittable account you will be able to complete the award submission form in stages and your progress is saved.
All parts of the award submission form must be completed by the award deadline to be eligible. Please visit jea.org/awards for more information. Questions can be directed to staff@jea.org.
2026 prompt: Why is misinformation or disinformation (fake news) so easily spread, and how can journalists aim to counter it?
ABOUT THE CONTEST:
Through this essay contest, the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation and the Journalism Education Association aim to increase high school students’ knowledge and understanding of the importance of media literacy and independent, ethical media. National winners of this contest receive scholarship awards provided by SPJ.
First Place: $1,000 scholarship
Second Place: $500 scholarship
Third Place: $300 scholarship
The contest submission deadline is Feb. 22 11:59 p.m. CST.
ELIGIBILITY AND OVERVIEW:
Students enrolled in grades 9-12 in U.S. public, private and home schools within the United States are eligible to enter this contest. We are not currently accepting submissions from international students.
Contestants must compose an original essay with minimal guidance from others, including any artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT. The essay should be 300-500 words. Entries should be typed and double-spaced. If you reference any external sources, directly or indirectly, a bibliography is required. Please submit as a Word (.docx) file.
Each submission to the essay contest must be accompanied by the $10 entry fee.
Please review full contest rules here before submitting.
SCORING RUBRIC:
Scoring procedures at all levels of the contest will follow this rubric:
- Topic Analysis (Logical, well-informed, evidence-based analysis of topic): 30 points
- Originality & Voice (Fresh insight, nuanced perspective, developed ideas): 25 points
- Use of Language (Strong vocabulary, style, phrasing, clarity, tone, word choice): 20 points
- Structure (Clear formatting, organization, flow, continuity): 15 points
- Mechanics (Excellent grammar, punctuation, spelling): 10 points