Enter the GA Journalist of the Year contests

Each year, GSPA recognizes the top student journalist in the state with the Georgia Champion Journalist Award. The winner receives a cash prize and represents the state in the Journalism Education Association's National Journalist of the Year competition.

Entrants must be seniors, maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have at least two years of journalism experience, and plan to major in journalism in college. They must submit an official transcript and three letters of recommendation, among other requirements.

The 2024 Georgia Champion Journalist and Junior Champion Journalist competitions require entrants to complete an online portfolio of their work following specific guidelines. It is important for entrants to thoroughly review the JEA guidelines for portfolios. (Do NOT submit an entry to the JEA contest, as only the state winner is allowed to be entered). It is also helpful to review the judging rubric. NOTE: The JEA JOY rubric has been updated this year to include a diversity element and other changes. It is highly recommended that entrants view this JEA JOY Guidelines video.

The deadline for both the Champion Journalist and Junior Champion Journalist Awards is 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2024.