Open for Nominations: Student Press Freedom Awards (United States)

Deadline: 30-Jun-2026

The Student Press Law Center (SPLC) invites nominations for its Student Press Freedom Awards 2025–2026 to celebrate student journalists, advisers, and student media programs that strengthen press freedom in schools and colleges across the United States. The awards highlight journalism that promotes transparency, accountability, civic engagement, and the rights of student journalists.

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Key facts at a glance

• Organizer: Student Press Law Center.

• Geography: United States.

• Audience: Student journalists, student media organizations, and advisers.

• Purpose: Recognize excellence in student journalism, press freedom advocacy, and transparency reporting.

• Presentation: Annual awards ceremony during the National High School Journalism Convention and the National College Media Convention.

• Prize structure: Cash awards vary by category and division; prizes may be shared between winners and their student news organizations.

• Nominations: Accepted for the 2025–2026 awards cycle.

Award categories

Courage in Student Journalism Award

This award recognizes student journalists who show resilience, determination, and courage in defending press freedom, especially in the face of censorship, retaliation, or institutional pressure.

Prize amounts:

• High School: $1,000.

• College: $2,000, sponsored by the Louisiana State University Manship School of Mass Communication in memory of “The Reveille Seven.”

Student Freedom of Information Award

This award honors reporting that uses public records, open records requests, and transparency tools to serve the public interest and hold institutions accountable.

Prize amounts:

• High School: $1,000, sponsored by the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida.

• College: $2,000, sponsored by the same organization.

What the awards celebrate

The awards are designed to support and spotlight:

• Student press freedom.

• Investigative journalism.

• Freedom of information reporting.

• Journalism advocacy.

• Student media leadership.

• Civic engagement.

• Ethical reporting.

• Accountability journalism.

They also recognize the wider role of student media in protecting free expression and informing campus and school communities.

Who is eligible?

Eligible nominees generally include:

• Student journalists in high school or college.

• Student news organizations and reporting teams.

• Student advisers or mentors, depending on the nomination category and program rules.

• Students and teams whose work demonstrates meaningful commitment to press freedom, transparency, or courageous reporting.

Because the award includes multiple categories and divisions, nomination criteria may differ by category. Applicants or nominators should match the nomination to the correct division and category.

Why it matters

These awards recognize more than good writing. They honor the role of student media in defending democratic values such as access to information, institutional accountability, and freedom of expression.

They also help student journalists by:

• Raising visibility for impactful reporting.

• Encouraging ethical and investigative journalism.

• Reinforcing the value of student-led accountability work.

• Supporting newsrooms and educational programs financially through shared prize structures.

How the awards work

1. Identify the appropriate category.

   • Choose Courage in Student Journalism or Student Freedom of Information, and then select the correct high school or college division.

2. Prepare a nomination.

   • Include the student’s or team’s reporting work, a summary of impact, and evidence of why the work deserves recognition.

3. Submit before the deadline.

   • Follow the SPLC’s nomination instructions for the 2025–2026 cycle.

4. Review and selection.

   • Entries are evaluated for courage, impact, use of public records, or contribution to press freedom, depending on the category.

5. Awards presentation.

   • Winners are honored at the National High School Journalism Convention or the National College Media Convention.

Prize structure

• Prizes are cash awards.

• Prize money may be shared between the student winners and their student news organization or reporting program.

• In some cases, prizes may be divided among multiple winners.

This structure helps support both the individual student journalists and the broader newsroom that enabled the work.

Common mistakes and tips

• Mistake: Submitting work to the wrong category.

• Tip: Match the nomination to the central strength of the project: courage under pressure or freedom-of-information reporting.

• Mistake: Failing to explain impact.

• Tip: Show how the reporting changed awareness, policy, school practices, or public understanding.

• Mistake: Ignoring division requirements.

• Tip: Separate high school and college entries carefully.

• Mistake: Under-describing collaboration.

• Tip: If the prize should be shared with the newsroom or team, explain contributions clearly.

• Mistake: Treating the award as only about writing quality.

• Tip: Emphasize journalism values such as transparency, persistence, ethics, and public accountability.

FAQ

1. Who can be nominated?

   • Student journalists, student journalism teams, and in some cases advisers, depending on the specific award category and division.

2. What are the main award categories mentioned?

   • Courage in Student Journalism Award and Student Freedom of Information Award.

3. Are there separate divisions?

   • Yes. Each of the featured awards includes separate high school and college divisions.

4. How much are the prizes?

   • High School awards are $1,000 in both featured categories. College awards are $2,000 in both featured categories.

5. Who sponsors the college prizes?

   • The Courage in Student Journalism college prize is sponsored by the Louisiana State University Manship School of Mass Communication. The Student Freedom of Information college prize is sponsored by the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida.

6. Where are the awards presented?

   • During the National High School Journalism Convention and the National College Media Convention.

7. Can the prize be shared?

   • Yes. The cash prize may be shared between the student winner and the student news organization or reporting program, and may also be divided among multiple winners where appropriate.

Conclusion

The Student Press Freedom Awards 2025–2026 celebrate the essential role student journalists play in defending free expression, uncovering information, and strengthening accountability. The strongest nominations will show courage, transparency, measurable impact, and a clear contribution to student press freedom.

For more information, visit Student Press Law Center.