JEA National Student Media Contests
JEA’s National Student Media Contests (NSMC) offer high school students a platform to showcase journalism excellence, earn recognition and receive feedback on their work.
From among 50 competition categories, including writing, design, photo and broadcast, high school advisers may enter their students to compete in either an online or on-site contest category at the convention.
Cost is $20/entry, one entry per student.
Contest ratings are Superior, Excellent and Honorable Mention. All winners will receive a certificate. Superior ratings will also receive a medal.
PLEASE NOTE: NSMC registration takes place OUTSIDE the convention registration system, through its own platform. More information, complete contest rules and online contest submission guidelines are available at JEA.org/contests.
> To volunteer to help with contests, please fill out the NSMC volunteer form.
Contest categories
NSMC offers 50 different contest categories. Some are online contests and some are on-site contests, but ALL contests involve a required in-person component to maintain award eligibility.
Online contest categories involve creating and submitting an entry BEFORE the convention – by 1 p.m. CDT March 24. Students are then required to attend an on-site critique session at the convention (4-6 p.m. Friday) in order to maintain award eligibility. For each online contest, students must adhere to the provided prompt to create their entry. No late entries will be accepted under any circumstances, so please plan ahead and submit early.
On-site contest categories take place entirely at the convention, although pre-registration is still required. Students will participate in an on-site competition on that Friday. Most will take place from 4-6 p.m., although some broadcast categories compete earlier in the day. Please verify check-in and start times, as well as room assignments, in the convention program. Late entry to your contest room is not allowed, so please arrive early.
Spring 2026 dates
Feb. 16 – Registration opens for all NSMC categories & online contest prompts are made available
March 24 – Registration closes and online submissions are due by 1 p.m. CDT
(NOTE: All categories, both on-site and online, require advance registration by the listed deadline.)
Contest eligibility
NSMC is open to all high school students of JEA member advisers who are registered for the convention. Cost is $20/entry, one entry per student.
Middle school and junior high students, check out JEA’s Junior High/Middle School National Media Contest.
It is IMPERATIVE that advisers and contestants carefully read all contest rules and information to make sure all deadlines and requirements are met, to avoid disqualification. What is being judged is not just the entry itself, but the contestant’s ability to read and follow directions, meet deadlines, and develop the necessary skills to produce a winning entry.
When in doubt, feel free to email nysmithjea@gmail.com or staff@jea.org with questions.