Deadline

December 15, 2024

Contact

If your school won the First Amendment Press Freedom Award in 2023, you could qualify for a condensed application for the 2024 award. Contact sprc@jea.org to learn more.

FAPFA Logo which read First Amendment Press Freedom Award 2024

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If you feel your school actively supports and honors the First Amendment through its student media, consider submitting an entry for this year’s First Amendment Press Freedom Award. The award looks at the entire student media program at the school: digital and print newspaper, yearbook and student broadcast.

Information and Round One submission forms for the First Amendment Press Freedom Award (formerly the Let Freedom Ring Award) in the how to apply section.

The award focuses on press freedom. Round One questions must be completed by a student editor and an adviser or administrator filling out separate forms. Please read and respond carefully to Round One questions. Even if your school has received FAPFA recognition before, you must reapply each year.

The award is juried by Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Quill and Scroll Society.

About the logo 

The logo was designed by Gloria Guo in 2019. Guo was a four-year member of the journalism program and editor-in-chief of the 2018 Talon yearbook at The Harker School in San Jose, California.

APPLY HERE BY DEC. 15, 2024.

How to Apply

DEADLINE: Round One applications must be received by Dec. 15.

Those whose responses qualify them to go further in the competition will receive information about Round Two questionnaires early the following year.

Application Process

Regular Applicant Explainer Video

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This video explains the application process for the First Amendment Press Freedom Award. The FAPFA is an award that celebrates schools who support press freedom throughout their entire student media program. This screencast discusses the criteria for winning the award and the two-round application process.

2023 Winner Explainer Video

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We are trying out a new FAPFA application process for schools who won in 2023. The change aims to streamline the application process for last year’s winners if their student media advisers and supervising administrator haven’t changed. Watch this video to learn more about the new process and the rationale behind it.

25 years, 61 schools

graphic that is labeled Number of years as a FAPFA school. Brighton HS- 4, Chantilly HS- 10, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School- 4, Convent of the Sacred Heart HS- 8, Davenport HS- 5, DSST: Montview HS, Francis Howell North HS- 9, Harrisonburg HS-4, Johnsburg HS- 4, Kirkwood HS- 23, Lakewood HS-3, Loudon Valley HS-3, Mclean HS-8, Monta Vista-4, Mountlake HS-14, North Central HS-4, Park HS-5, Reno HS-3, Smoky Hill HS-3, South Salem HS-5, St. Louis Park HS- 7, The Archer School for Girls-9, The HArker School-3, Townsend Harris HS-6, Whitney HS-9.

Award Recognition

Those schools receiving the award will be honored at the opening ceremony of the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.

More Awards

Candace and John Bowen Adviser First Amendment Leadership Award

Deadline: July 15, 2025
This annual award will go to a JEA member whose work has actively supported, defended and fought for student journalists and their advisers on the local, state or national level.
Learn More

Journalist of the Year Scholarships

Deadline:
Sister Rita Jeanne Abicht Scholarships, named for JEA’s longtime treasurer, recognize the top high school journalists in the country.
Learn More

Rising Star Award

Deadline: July 15, 2025
Rising Star trophies are given to advisers who are in their first five years of advising a media program and have shown great dedication to scholastic journalism and have had success advising at least one media program.
Learn More