High school journalists and teachers from around the state learned how "journalism is the best way to experience the world” during the GSPA Spring Awards ceremony on March 25, 2024, at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

Andrea Lyons, adviser for The Pitchfork and Persephone in Marietta, Georgia, has been selected as GSPA’s 2024 Adviser of the Year. The award recognizes a journalism teacher who goes beyond the “call of duty” in supporting his or her staff.

Recipients of awards administered throughout the year were recognized, and the Spring General Excellence and Individual Awards results in Broadcasts, Newspapers, Newsmagazines and News Websites were announced.

Molly Harwell, editor-in-chief for ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, has been named the 2024 Georgia Champion Journalist of the Year. The award recognizes the top high school senior journalist in the state. Wesley Harrison, digital editor-in-chief for The Pitchfork and an executive producer for the Blue Devil News at Marietta High School, is the runner-up in the competition.

Spend a week at the University of Georgia immersed in one of the following subject areas: Advertising and Public Relations, June 10-14; Broadcast Journalism, June 10-14; Multimedia Journalism, June 17-21; and Entertainment and Media Studies, June 17-21.  Registration is now available on the UGA Summer Academy’s website. Participants are accepted on a rolling basis. There is a max of 20 participants for each camp week.

Gary Green, Student Press Law Center executive director, will deliver the keynote address to high school journalists and teachers at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association’s Spring Workshop and Awards Monday, March 25, 2024, at the University of Georgia’s Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

The 2023-24 Spring General Excellence Competition and Individual Awards contest are now open! Submit your best work from broadcasts, newsmagazines, newspapers and news websites. For details and entry forms, go to www.ugagspa.org/spring-competitions. The deadline for all entries is Feb. 15. Please note this is a firm deadline because the Spring Workshop and Awards is Monday, March 25.

GSPA is now accepting entries for the 2024 First Amendment Essay Competition. As an essential part of our democracy, the press, and education, the First Amendment remains a crucial area of study and review. The contest is free to enter, and it could be a great end-of-the-semester class activity! Deadline: Jan. 31, 2024.

Each year, GSPA recognizes the top senior and junior student journalists in the state with the Georgia Champion and Junior Journalist of the Year Awards. The winners and runners-up receive cash prizes, and the overall senior winner represents the state in the Journalism Education Association's National Journalist of the Year competition. Deadline: Jan. 21, 2024.

The Georgia Scholastic Press Association is delighted to present the winners of the literary magazine and yearbook contests for 2022–23.

GSPA Ambassador Alex Taylor of Union Grove High School gives a recap of the Fall Conference, including interviews with attendees.

More than 800 students and teachers from more than 40 schools across the state attended GSPA’s Fall Conference on Oct. 24, 2023, at the University of Georgia.

GSPA will recognize the hard work of yearbook and literary magazine staffs during an awards program Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. The celebration will feature General Excellence competition rankings and Individual Award winners from the summer 2023 contests.

Students showcased their experiences at the Fall Conference on Oct. 24, 2023, through the On-the-Spot Social Media Contest.

Congratulations to the winners of the First Edition Competition. In a couple of instances, a runner-up was also identified. Certificates will be mailed to advisers.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Fall Conference On-site Photography Contest.

We are excited to welcome nine members to the 2023-24 class of GSPA Student Ambassadors!

GSPA will offer two on-the-spot contests during the Fall Conference on Oct. 24 at the UGA Tate Student Center. Both will be open to student attendees of any publication type. There are no entry fees for either of these contests.

Reserve your spot at the Fall Conference Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the University of Georgia’s Tate Student Center. The cost to attend is $15 per student. Admission is free for advisers with paid memberships and chaperones. Please fill out this registration form. 

Welcome Anna Parel to the GSPA staff! Anna is a first-year graduate student at the University of Georgia, obtaining a master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications with an emphasis in Advertising. She recently achieved her bachelor’s degree from The University of Mississippi in Integrated Marketing Communications.