JEA Awards 2023 Aspiring Young Journalist Mia Lin, Clague Middle School, Ann Arbor Michigan, Photo of Mia with others students at school

By Joe Humphrey, MJE, Journalist of the Year coordinator

SAN FRANCISCO – When school was still on Zoom, journalism class started at 7 a.m. at Clague Middle School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. And when adviser Sara-Beth Badalamente, CJE, would log in at 6:55, she’d always find one sixth grader ready and waiting.

That eager student, Mia Lin, was honored today as the Journalism Education Association’s Aspiring Young Journalist.

JEA also recognized three runners-up: Kaylee Anderson of Bryant (Arkansas) Junior High School; Kylee Carter of Richland R-1 School in Essex, Missouri; and Brooklynn Deckman of Rowlett Middle Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

The award honors outstanding middle school/junior high journalists for:

  • Skilled and creative use of media
  • Inquiring mind and investigative persistence
  • Courageous and responsible handling of issues
  • Variety of journalistic experiences
  • Sustained and commendable work with school media

Mia Lin

Lin is editor of thecougarstar.com website, an NSPA Best of the Best winner. 

She manages the back end of the website — “the design, posts, everything,” Badalamente said.

Lin also contributes to other student media at Clague including the yearbook, for which Badalamente says “her spreads are slaying.”

“Her ability to see the full picture of reporting and dedication to scholastic journalism really shows through,” Badalamente said. “She even writes breaking news. She is always ready to report or support her staff members to get the news out to the community.”

As a student in a journalistic storytelling summer class at Michigan State University, Lin rubbed shoulders with students significantly older than her.

“Many of those high school students had some previous experience with journalistic techniques while others even served as editors on their respective publications,” wrote workshop instructor Jim Streisel, MJE, of Indiana. “With that in mind, the fact that Mia was a leader in that class is a testament to her talent and hard work.”

Contest juror Melissa Falkowski, CJE, of Florida, said Lin’s design work stood out and called her a “strong and persistent student journalist and a leader at her school.”

Juror Brian Higgins of Texas praised Lin’s diverse portfolio.

“This aspiring journalist is well on the path to what all young reporters should strive for: the ability to tell a story in a variety of formats,” he said.

Lin, like the finalists, plans to continue studying journalism in high school. 

“Being able to express myself creatively is incredibly important to me,” she wrote in her application. “Writing is both a constant and unending process of discovery, something that has power over people’s opinions and outlook on life.”

Aspiring Young Journalist finalists

Kaylee Anderson

Anderson’s versatility at Bryant Junior High School is what sets her apart. She has worked on newspaper, yearbook and broadcast journalism. She has excelled in photography, where she is not afraid to experiment with new techniques, according to adviser Meag Abo, CJE. Anderson led a website overhaul, taking workshops on her own and then coming back to teach her colleagues — and her teacher.

“I have learned much from Kaylee, and she has established a legacy for our staff,” Abo wrote. “She is the example of work ethic and journalistic integrity to which I hope all of my students aspire.”

Anderson said journalism is the place where she best fits.

“Yearbook was a place where I could talk and laugh without any worry of someone disliking me,” she said. “Interviewing students, some I didn’t know, challenged me and helped me improve at talking to people.”

“Getting out and interviewing important people, writing journalistic stories and advancing at photography all had their hurdles,” she added, “but I jumped over them with excitement. I gained so much knowledge, from how to best crop a photo to subjective cases with who and whom.”

Kylee Carter

Carter has been waiting to apply for this award since second grade, when the yearbook staff her father advised was being honored at a local art gallery and he handed her a camera to cover the event. By third grade, Carter had her first picture published in the Richland R-1 School’s yearbook.

“It was lead art for the prom page,” Carter wrote in her application. “I took it with a remote camera from  the ceiling as they walked through the promenade.” 

Since then, Carter has covered rodeo, concerts, proms, weddings, the NBA and even professional wrestling. 

“Her willingness to learn and teach her fellow journalists as well as her inquisitive personality have made her twice the journalist I was when I began,” said her father-adviser Kyle Carter, CJE. “It may have been my contacts that got her the initial start, but it’s been Kylee that has worked to keep herself as a member of the media. She’s not received any free ride or special endorsement due to who she is.”

Both contest evaluators were wowed by Kylee’s work behind the lens.

“The quality of these images is above and beyond that of most high school students and this candidate has a bright future in photojournalism,” Higgins said.

Brooklynn Deckman

While most classmates migrated to P.E. or dance at K-8 Rowlett Middle Academy, journalism caught the eye of Deckman. That was in fourth grade.

“I quickly noticed her maturity and aptitude for writing … even as a fourth grader, her submissions required few edits and those who she interviewed remarked on her poise and maturity. In fifth grade, she stepped behind the elementary school news anchor desk in addition to her on-air duties, she happily directed our morning broadcasts from time to time,” said Erica Levey, marketing and communications director at Rowlett.

Throughout middle school, she continued that broadcast work under the leadership of adviser Amy Imerman.

“I have been most impressed by Brooklynn’s natural ability to interview others and make them feel at ease when they are on the live news,” Imerman said.

“Brooklynn truly listens to show guests and interviewees and easily comes up with follow-up questions that the rest of the audience also wants to know. At this age, many students freeze up on camera (especially without a script), but Brooklynn is at-ease when she is live on camera.”

Deckman helped create and hosts a recurring segment on the show called Leadership Loft.

“Each time this segment is aired, we spotlight student leaders and talk about different subjects related to school or the community,” Deckman said. “Throughout this segment, I have found my voice and had the opportunity to empower viewers with positivity and a mission to serve. I strive to build on these skills each time I host the segment.”

The Aspiring Young Journalist and finalists were announced April 22 at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in San Francisco. 

Lindsay Porter

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