Trade Show & College Fair

DATES: April 16–17, 2026
LOCATION: Minneapolis Convention Center | Exhibit Hall B

The spring convention of Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association will have something for everyone — in one of our most popular convention sites.

It’s an exceptional opportunity for sponsors to reach decision-makers in scholastic media.

The convention is a go-to resource for high school journalism programs across the country. It offers hundreds of instructional sessions led by professional journalists and experienced advisers. It also includes media critiques and JEA’s popular on-site contests, as well as an awards ceremony that announces the JEA Journalist of the Year and the NSPA Pacemaker awards in Innovation, Literary Magazine, Online and Yearbook.

Tradeshow Exhibit Booth

Exhibit Booth | $1,200
10’×10’ booth space, including 8’ draped back wall, 3’ draped side wall, one table and two chairs. Option to increase booth size in 10’×10’ increments at $600 each, no limit. 

Nonprofit Exhibit Booth | $750
Available exclusively to registered 501(c)(3) organizations. 10’×10’ booth space, 8’ draped back wall, 3’ draped side wall, one table and two chairs. Option to increase booth size in 10’×10’ increments at $600 each, no limit. 

Early Exhibit Booth Setup | $400
Standard exhibit booth setup begins on Thursday morning. Option to begin booth setup on Wednesday, April 15 is available to sponsors and exhibitors for $400. Viper Tradeshow Service will be on-site from 3–5 p.m., but setup may continue until 6 p.m. 

Advertising

NEW: Tabletop Banners | $500
Feature your organization and message on five, custom-designed, 11″ x 17″ tabletop tripod banners. Banners placed on the student and adviser meeting tables in the Exhibit Hall for the two days of the Trade Show & College Fair. All five banners can be the same design or up to five different designs. (Limit 2)

NEW: College Fair Swag Bag
Promote your college or university by donating a gift bag of swag from your school. Students completing the College Fair Card will be entered into a drawing to win a College Swag Bag. No charge. (Limit 12). Learn more about the College Fair. 

NEW: Opening Ceremony Video Ad | $1,500
Thirty-second video message or commercial to be shown in rotation (at least twice) prior to the start of Thursday evening’s Opening Ceremony & Awards. (Limit 2)

Convention Program
Check out the 2025 Fall Convention Program for ad examples.

Inside Front Cover Ad | $1,800
Two-page Spread Ad | $1,800
Full-page Ad | $1,500
Half-page Ad | $800

Convention App Banner Ad | $600
Mobile App Banner Ad (limit one)

Promotional Items

Attendee Tote Bag Insert | $800
One promotional item submitted for inclusion in the tote bag given to all advisers and speakers.

Preconvention Email Blasts | $600
One promotional email sent before the convention. Preconvention emails will be scheduled after the early-bird registration deadline and before the start of the convention (March 9–April 10, 2026). Check out examples.

Post-convention Email Blasts | $600
One promotional email sent after the convention. Post-convention emails will be scheduled up to two weeks after the conclusion of the convention (April 20–May 1, 2026). Check out examples.

Agreement Deadline | March 6, 2026

To become a sponsor or exhibitor, download the Sponsor & Exhibitor Agreement. The fillable PDF also allows you to designate your preferred booth space. Requested booth locations are not guaranteed and are prioritized based on sponsorship level, historic participatoin, date of agreement submission and requested booth configuration. For currently available booth locations, please see the Trade Show & College Fair Exhibit Hall Map.

Please download the complete list of all Important Dates for Sponsors & Exhibitors.

Logo Submission: With agreement

Submit your organization’s logo file for promotional use with your completed agreement. If your logo was submitted for the 2025 JEA/NSPA Fall Convention, you do not need to resubmit unless the logo has changed.

Logo Image File

• Format: AI (Adobe Illustrator) or original EPS
• Color Mode: RGB

Print & Digital Ads Deadline | March 6, 2026

Convention Program Ads
Ad Size:

• Two-page Spread Ad: 11″ (h) x 17″ (w) | 66 picas (h) x 102 picas (w)
• Full-page Ad: 11″ (h) x 8.5″ (w) | 66 picas (h) x 51 picas (w)
• Half-page Ad: 5.5″ (h) x 8.5″ (w) | 33 picas (h) x 51 picas (w)

Color Mode: CMYK
Format: Adobe Press-Quality PDF
Output: 300 dpi, include crop and bleed marks
Bleeds: For ads with bleed elements, an additional ½” (3 picas) is required on each side. If not provided, the ad will be fit to the page’s internal margins. 

Sponsor-specific Email eBlast
Submit eBlast materials by downloading and completing the 2026 JEA/NSPA Spring eBlast Form. Alternatively, content created as a complete graphic may be submitted.

Mobile App Banner Ad
When creating the banner ad, follow these specifications:
Color Mode: RGB
Format: JPG
Size: 5120 px (width)  x 2160 px (height) at 144ppi (resolution)

Opening Ceremony Video Ad
Length: 30 seconds + optional 10-second QR code
Format: MP4
Resolution: 1920 x 1080

All File Submission
For all file names, please begin with your organization’s name/abbreviation, followed by the file’s content and the date in numerical format. For example — name.logo.091525.jpg. All files should be sent to jon@studentpress.org.

Adviser Tote Bag Insert Deadline | April 8, 2026

Due Date: All inserts must be received by 3 p.m. on April 8, 2026.
Shipping: You will be provided a special shipping label just for inserts. Inserts must not be shipped to the same address as booth materials.
Quantity: 550

College Fair Swag Bag Deadline | April 8, 2026

Due Date: All College Swag Bags (colleges and universities) must be received by 3 p.m. on April 8, 2026.
Shipping: You will be provided a special shipping label just for the College Swag Bag. Learn more about the College Fair. 

Minneapolis Convention Center | Exhibit Hall B

1301 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Exhibit Hall Map

View the Exhibit Hall Map to select from currently available booth spaces. 

Schedule

Early Exhibit Booth Setup (additional fee applies)
Wednesday, April 15 | 3–6 p.m. 

Regular Exhibit Booth Setup
Thursday, April 16 | 8 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. 

Exhibit Hall Hours
Thursday, April 16 | 1–7 p.m.
Friday, April 17 | 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Exhibit Dismantle
Friday, April 17 | 4–6 p.m.

1. To register for the convention, complete the contract. Send it to NSPA along with your payment. Prepayment is required to hold your sponsorship. Unless otherwise arranged, fees for all sponsorships should be paid to NSPA.

2. Exhibit space is assigned according to sponsorship level and the date a contract is received by NSPA. Exhibitors at equal sponsorship levels will alternate exhibit space preference with other equal level sponsors. Sponsors can have the same sponsorship as the previous convention, but if another company is interested in that sponsorship, it cannot be held for more than two consecutive conventions. JEA/NSPA reserve the right to make and/or change booth locations at any time as they deem necessary.

3. Location of exhibit space is determined at the discretion of JEA/NSPA, the decorating company and the hotel. Exhibits must be available for viewing by convention delegates at the official start time of the exhibit hall.

4. Booths must comply with the JEA/NSPA booth display guidelines and the exhibit hall rules and regulations as outlined in the exhibitor information kit. JEA/NSPA shall have the full discretion and authority in the placing, arrangement and appearance of all items to be displayed within the exhibit hall by exhibitors, and reserves the right to make allowances to booth construction guidelines.

5. NSPA has contracted with a tradeshow service to provide material handling and drayage services to exhibitors. Exhibitor information kits with more information will be sent after contracts have been received in the NSPA office. Additional costs to exhibit may be incurred.

6. Exhibit booth fees cover minimal pipe and drape, one skirted table with two chairs, two copies of the convention program, name badges and convention registration fees for up to four exhibitors from your company (per 10’ x 10’ space). Name badges are contingent upon NSPA receiving a list of names of attending exhibitors. Only official name badges from JEA/NSPA are allowed to be used. Additional delegates from your organization should register for the convention.

7. All arrangements for internet and electrical power must be made directly with third party providers, whose contact information will be provided to you. Materials to order these services will be included in the exhibitor information packet.

8. JEA/NSPA assume no responsibility for expenses incurred for exhibitor material shipping or handling, electrical, telephone, equipment or other utility hookups and usage.

9. If there will be any third-party deliveries outside the designated tradeshow service, you must notify NSPA and the tradeshow service 60 days prior to the convention start date.

10. Due to limited storage, the hotel cannot accept any drayage, packages or exhibits for an exhibit/production company. Should an exhibitor send packages, the shipment will be refused. Please make arrangements for drayage through Viper Tradeshow Services. Additional charges may apply.

11. Each exhibit space should be used to display materials for only the organization who signed the contract; it is not acceptable to let other groups “show from” or “share” your booth space. If you would like to be located near a partner supplier, please let us know before we assign the booth numbers, and we will do our best to accommodate all such requests.

12. JEA/NSPA will take reasonable precautions, including the hiring of security guards, to ensure the area provided for exhibits is secured during non-exhibiting hours. However, JEA/NSPA assume no liability for damage, loss or theft of any property owned by the exhibitor or its agents. By authorizing this contract with a signature, the exhibitor hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless JEA/NSPA, its officers, directors, employees and agents for any and all claims arising out of such damage.

13. Exhibitors and giveaways must be distributed from, and confined to, the exhibit booth space. Exhibitors cannot occupy the aisles or, block adjacent booths or distribute materials outside of their booth. Each exhibitor has the right to conduct business at their booth without interference from others. Noise and odors must be kept to a minimum. No exhibitor may sell anything at their booth nor distribute materials which are potentially harmful to the delegates or the facility (i.e., flying disks, stickers, gum). Please contact NSPA if you plan on sampling any food products. Because of restrictions from BMI and ASCAP, the playing of music as part of your exhibit is prohibited.

14.  To receive sponsorship benefits, exhibitors must meet the submission deadlines for advertising and exhibiting. To be included in the convention registration booklet or the convention program, advertising art must be received at NSPA by the deadline listed on the contract.

15. All convention program center spreads and the back cover are benefits of sponsoring the printing of the convention program. Late submissions cannot be accepted and sponsorship commitments cannot be altered or refunded once the contract is signed and submitted to NSPA.

16. No exhibitor shall sponsor an educational program during the convention without 30 days advance notification to JEA/NSPA officials. No exhibitor shall be host for a reception, hospitality suite or social function during the hours of an official JEA/NSPA function at which advisers are present. Exhibitors must notify JEA/NSPA officials no later than 21 days before the convention if a reception or program is to be held when there is no official JEA/NSPA convention program. JEA/NSPA support the right of exhibitors to sponsor private, invitation-only events.

2021
Spring | Virtual (March-May) | 5,855
Fall | Virtual (Nov. 1 to Jan. 15) | 4,514

2020
Spring | Nashville (April 16-19) | canceled
Fall | Virtual (Nov. 19-21) | 4,108

2019
Spring | Anaheim (April 25-27) | 3,542
Fall | Washington, D.C. (Nov. 21-24) | 6,161

2018
Spring | San Francisco (April 12-14) | 4,523
Fall | Chicago (Nov. 1-4) | 6,397