WIN SCHOLARSHIPS! High School Students Journalism Competition

Reported by Paula Antolini

I came across this great journalism competition for high school students and I think it is a chance for Bethel students to show off their journalism skills to the rest of the country and at the same time have a chance to win scholarships. The competition is open to ALL students enrolled in grades 9-12 in U.S. public, private and home schools within the United States.   

The competition is held by The Society for Professional Journalists located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is a high school essay contest that offers national awards of scholarships in the amount of $1000 scholarship for first place, $500 scholarship for second place, and $300 scholarship for third place.

The topic of the high school contest this year is, “Why is it important that we have news media that are independent of the government?”  

The essay should be 300-500 words and must include an entry form. Essays may be typewritten or legibly handwritten but must be double-spaced. Essays must be written in English.

Contestants must enter through SPJ National Headquarters. Only one entry allowed.  No individual having previously won a national SPJ Essay Scholarship will be eligible to compete at any level of the competition again.

Judging will be completed by a panel of qualified judges. In an effort to conceal the identity of each contestant, each entry will be assigned a number by the Essay Contest Chair. The assigned number will be placed on the title page and first page of the essay. The title page will then be detached and retained by the Essay Contest Chair. The judges will be given the essay bearing only the assigned number.

Scoring procedures at all levels of the contest will be identical.
1. Material Organization (Logical interpretation of the subject, adherence to topic): 40 points
2. Vocabulary and Style (Phrasing and continuity): 30 points
3. Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling: 20 points
4. Neatness: 5 points
5. Adherence to contest rules (prepared in the proper format): 5 points

The postmark deadline for entry is March 7, 2014. The entry fee is only $5.00. Check or credit card accepted for payment. Checks should be made out to the Society of Professional Journalists.

Send all entries to:
High School Essay Contest
Society of Professional Journalists
3909 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46208

IMPORTANT: PLEASE read complete official rules here.

Good luck to all Bethel students who enter!