As we ring in a new year, the Journalism Education Association is thrilled to kick off its centennial celebration. For the past 100 years JEA has been supporting free and responsible scholastic journalism.
And as we welcome 2024, we know our work in scholastic media education matters more than ever. Faced with ongoing media scrutiny, the ethical considerations of artificial intelligence and increased potential for misinformation, threats to student press freedom and a variety of other challenges facing classrooms everywhere, we remain focused as an association on helping educators teach accurate, responsible journalism and empower student voice through diverse, student-led scholastic media programs.
Please join us — starting today. We are proud to release a special site honoring the JEA Centennial, which celebrates our community, our legacy and our future. This is just the beginning of our year-long plan to commemorate the association. Each week, we’ll feature new centennial content, such as installments to our 100 lists of 100 series, which we also will highlight on JEA’s social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
Mark your calendar for an extra-special Scholastic Journalism Week, Feb. 19-23, as we proudly affirm JEA’s role in education and the future of journalism with the theme “Here to Stay.”
All year, this celebration offers ways for our members, students and partners to engage:
Ways to say thank you — Share a public note of appreciation for someone in the JEA community through a special “thank-a-member” feature. Check out the first batch of messages here.
Ways to earn recognition — Students have an opportunity to compete in special JEA Centennial contests in writing, photography and broadcasting categories by Jan. 31, 2024.
Ways to participate — Student media staffs can plan and execute a project big or small to use their skills toward a collective impact of 100 hours of service journalism through March 15.
Ways to give — Donate to JEA’s programs, and/or use the JEA Centennial as an opportunity to contribute to its new endowment to support the association’s long-term sustainability goals in the interests of journalism teachers and their students.
Today we begin to honor 100 years of JEA as we look to a strong future together centered around our core values of pedagogy, advocacy, innovation, community and excellence.
Founded in 1924, JEA supports free and responsible scholastic journalism by providing resources and educational opportunities, promoting professionalism, encouraging and rewarding student excellence and teacher achievement, and an atmosphere which encompasses diversity yet builds unity. It is headquartered at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.
Sarah Nichols, MJE, JEA Centennial committee chair