Peter Atchley, managing editor for ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, is the 2026 Georgia Champion Journalist of the Year. The award, administered by the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, recognizes the top high school senior journalist in the state.

Brennan Fritts, editor-in-chief at Midtown High School’s The Southerner is the runner-up in the competition.

Lauren (Morgan) Patrick, head of marketing at Infinite Giving, will give the keynote address at the GSPA Spring Awards on March 18, 2026, at the UGA Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

In partnership with the University of Georgia Summer Academy program, Grady College will offer weeklong, in-person camps in the following subject areas: Advertising and Public Relations, June 15-19; Broadcast Journalism, June 15-19; Multimedia Journalism, June 8-12; and Entertainment and Media Studies, June 8-12. Registration is now open and limited need-based scholarships are available.

Recipients of awards administered throughout the year will be recognized, including the Summer Yearbook and Literary Magazine contest winners, Georgia Champion and Junior Champion Journalists, Behavioral Health Journalism Excellence, Achievement Award winners and Spring Broadcast, Newspaper, Newsmagazine and News Website contest winners.

The 2025-26 Spring General Excellence Competition and Individual Awards contest are now open! Submit your best work from broadcasts, newsmagazines, newspapers and news websites. Deadline: Feb. 1, 2026. Achievement Award nominations are also open to all publication types.

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. Deadline: Jan. 25, 2026.

The awards presentation recognizes General Excellence publication rankings and Individual Awards.

Congratulations to the winners of the First Edition Competition from the 2025 Fall Conference.

From Reels to photos and trends, staffs attending the 2025 Fall Conference were creative with capturing the events of the day on their social media accounts.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Fall Conference On-site Photography Contest.

Student Ambassadors promote GSPA in their schools and communities, serve as liaisons who strengthen communication between their high school media programs and GSPA, and act as leaders who bring ideas to GSPA and scholastic media. Learn more about each member on GSPA’s social media in the coming weeks.

Reserve your spot at the 2025 GSPA Fall Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at the University of Georgia’s Tate Student Center. The event will feature several rounds of concurrent sessions covering a variety of topics of importance to scholastic journalists and advisers.

Morgan Hardy, first-year graduate student at the University of Georgia, is serving as a graduate assistant.

Teachers and student staff members from all publication and production types who are interested in presenting at the 2025 Fall Conference are invited to submit their ideas for consideration by Sept. 7, 2025. Please submit a separate form for each pitch.

Four programs were hosted at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication focusing on entertainment and media studies, advertising and public relations, multimedia journalism and broadcast news.

Energetic and engaged students interested in expanding their leadership skills, bringing their vision and shaping GSPA are invited to apply to be part of the GSPA Student Ambassadors program. Applications are due Aug. 31, 2025.

Ciara Whimbush from The Chant at North Cobb High School was recognized as the first place winner in the Behavioral Health Journalism Excellence Competition during GSPA’s Spring Awards March 24.

Adviser of the Year recognizes a journalism adviser who goes beyond the “call of duty” in supporting their staff.

GSPA honored outstanding individuals and student publications during the Spring Awards ceremony on March 24, 2025.