Enter the 2025 Georgia Journalist of the Year contests
/Each year, GSPA recognizes the top senior student journalist in the state with the Georgia Champion Journalist Award. The winner receives a monetary prize and represents the state in the Journalism Education Association's National Journalist of the Year competition. GSPA also honors the top junior in the state with the Junior Journalist of the Year Award.
JOY ENTRY FORM
Entrants must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants are no longer required to have two years of scholastic journalism experience, though most will. They must submit three letters of recommendation, among other requirements detailed in the entry form. NOTE: Prepare, but do not send a transcript. We will reach out to you after you submit your application with instructions on how to provide us with your transcript.
The Champion Journalist and Junior Champion Journalist competitions require entrants to complete an online portfolio of their work. According to the JEA website, which GSPA follows for this contest, candidates should create an online portfolio for examples of their work, and organize it based on the categories outlined on the judging rubric.
Supported by the Carolyn McKenzie and Don E. Carter Chair for Excellence in Journalism at the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, winners will receive the following monetary prizes:
Senior Champion Journalist of the Year - $1,000
Senior runner-up - $750
Junior Journalist of the Year - $750
Junior runner-up - $500
Winners will be recognized at the GSPA Spring Workshop and Awards on March 18, 2026.
Check out state winners from 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 for some inspiration.
See more at https://www.ugagspa.org/ga-joy.