
A poster design from Maryann Bautista, junior at Omaha (Nebraska) Bryan High School, was selected to represent Scholastic Journalism Week 2025 happening Feb. 24-28, 2025. This year’s theme is “Power of the Press.”
“By establishing the First Amendment, Congress found it important for the press to share information, ideas and opinions without interference, constraint or prosecution by the government,” Scholastic Journalism Week Coordinator PJ Cabrera, CJE, said. “As journalism continues to evolve, celebrating the Power of the Press — the open and unfettered flow of information that keeps a country’s people informed is why journalists are essential — is more important now than ever.”
The student poster design contest began in 2022 after the Scholastic Journalism Week committee was inspired to find a new way for students to have their work published and distributed nationally.
“When we first thought about the poster contest, I was influenced by the contest for Fiesta, a two-week festival in San Antonio every year,” Cabrera said. “Those posters become a commemorative item. That is what we wanted these posters to do — people can collect them and look back at previous Scholastic Journalism Weeks. We continue to spotlight the week and student work through these fantastic student posters.”
20 students submitted poster designs this spring. The Scholastic Journalism Week committee completed several rounds of voting to present three options to the scholastic journalism community for public voting.
The other two finalist poster designs were submitted by Alyssa Wu, grade 12, of Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California; and Newyu Hurst, grade 10, of Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington.
“I entered the contest because it mixes two of my favorite things: journalism and graphic design,” Bautista said.
Community voting took place this fall with 650 responses. Bautista’s design received 44% of the votes. Along with a $500 grand prize, her design will be featured on the 2025 Scholastic Journalism Week poster and JEA website, as well as in other online branding for the event.
“My poster illustrates the theme ‘Power of the Press’ by highlighting the ways journalists can spotlight stories,” she said. “Sectioned off in an almost comic book-like style, each panel has a different ‘superpower’ in journalism — the camera, the interview and the writing.”
“[Bautista] gives her all in everything she does, and I’m glad to see her recognized for it at a national level — especially for promoting something as important as scholastic journalism,” adviser Kirsten Gilliland, CJE, said.
Scholastic Journalism Week posters will be mailed to JEA members in early November — packaged with the winter issue of Communication: Journalism Education Today magazine. Additional copies may be purchased from the JEA Store.
“I’m excited to receive a full-size version of her poster to have laminated and hung up in my classroom for students to see and ask about for years to come,” Gilliland said.
“It feels a little unreal, but I’m proud,” Bautista said. “It’s crazy to think something I designed can be seen nationally by so many people.”
About Maryann Bautista
Bautista said she joined her school’s yearbook staff during her sophomore year without any prior research or experience.
“I jumped into yearbook blind last year, and I fell in love with designing and storytelling,” she said. “As an editor this year, I hope to top last year’s book.”
“In her first year on the Crusader staff, Maryann quickly became a leader looked to for her design skill and eye for detail,” Gilliland said. “Although she couldn’t fit the class into her schedule this year, Maryann is still highly involved in the yearbook — giving up her free time to take photos, run our social media, mentor younger students in design and proof spreads.”
As a junior, Bautista’s college plans are still undecided, with a current goal of attending school on the West Coast to study film with a minor or double major in journalism or graphic design.
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.
Amber James, JEA events and programs manager