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