Slade’s poster design to represent Scholastic Journalism Week 2026

A poster design from Theo Slade, senior at North Springs High School, Atlanta, was voted by the JEA community to represent Scholastic Journalism Week 2026, which will take place Feb. 23 – 27.

“It was my yearbook adviser [Nicole Motahari] who actually broke the news to me,” Slade said. “I was on my way to third period when I heard her call my name, and turned to see her speed-walking in my direction, yelling that I won. I was honestly more than a little shocked and elated when I finally processed what she meant by that — that I won a national competition. It’s a strange — but good — feeling.”

The student poster contest began in 2022, following the Scholastic Journalism Week committee’s inspiration to find a new way for students to have their artistic work published and distributed nationally.

“Art has always been an outlet for me, a hobby that I’d say I’m pretty passionate about. I discovered my love of graphic design in high school and want to pursue it as a career,” Slade said. “Art is a way to relax, be creative and connect with other people; it is essential to who I am as a person.”

Part of the committee’s discussion was to pick a theme that was also visually appealing. They decided to move this year’s contest dates toward the beginning of the school year to capture students and advisers when excitement is high. And it worked — 50 students submitted entries, a sharp increase from previous years. The committee selected its top five, and the top three were presented to the community for voting.

“In an era where truth is often contested and misinformation spreads rapidly, ‘Press Under Pressure’ resonates powerfully — especially within the realm of scholastic journalism,” said PJ Cabrera, MJE, Scholastic Journalism Week coordinator. “Student journalists, usually underestimated, are at the forefront of navigating the complex intersection of free expression, institutional oversight and social responsibility.”

Slade’s strong visual of a hand gripping a camera immediately put him among the finalists, which also included Mico Melgar of Oxford Academy in Cypress, California, and Erica Li of Manhattan (Kansas) High School.

“My visual inspiration was how people don’t want certain events to be covered, will block a camera’s view in some way,” Slade said. “A lot of that is happening right now. Certain people don’t want things that are presently happening to be widely covered or easily accessible. We are facing a lot of censorship, and with that, journalists are pushing back harder to get information to the masses.”

Slade’s poster received 61% of the final vote. Along with a $500 grand prize, his design will be displayed at the Fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention, printed and distributed with this winter’s edition of Communication: Journalism Education Today magazine, and used throughout the coming year’s Scholastic Journalism Week.

“‘Press Under Pressure’ is not just a theme — it is a call to recognize and support the courage, resilience and integrity of student journalists who, despite limited resources and some institutional constraints, continue to pursue the truth with passion and purpose,” Cabrera said. “Their work matters, and their freedom to report must be protected.”

Scholastic Journalism Week posters will be mailed to JEA members in early November — packaged with the winter issue of C:JET magazine. Additional copies will soon be available for purchase from the JEA Store.

About Theo Slade

Slade is a senior at North Springs High School in Atlanta. He has a deep passion for spending time in quiet places with reptiles and other creatures — many of which he keeps as pets. Slade spends much of his time gaming, reading and creating posters for personal projects through drawing and design.

This is his first time participating in a formal contest due to anxiety, but he is already preparing to enter another. Slade credits his adviser, Nicole Motahari, for encouraging his participation, and is very grateful for the push.

“I’ve known Theo since his freshman year, and it has been such a joy to watch his art flourish as he’s grown into himself, found amazing friends and developed his talents,” said Motahari. “His journey eventually brought him to yearbook, where he now serves as my design editor. When I saw this contest, I knew he would create something powerful, and his winning design exceeded every expectation.”

Looking ahead, Theo hopes to find a way to combine his two major interests through a dual major in graphic design and psychology.

“Theo’s success is not only a personal triumph but also a beacon of hope for the next generation of student journalists, showing that their voices and creativity matter even under pressure!” said Motahari.