Opportunities for NH High School Journalists
Student Press Freedom Day is February 27. This eight annual celebration is hosted by the Student Press Law Center. Student journalists and their supporters across the United States will spend the day raising awareness of the challenges they face, celebrating their contributions to their schools and communities, and taking actions to protect and restore their First Amendment freedoms. For more information on Student Press Freedom Day, visit studentpressfreedom.org.
Here are a few more student journalism opportunities available now for NH High School students:
Applications open for New Hampshire’s Largest Student Journalism Award
The Brodsky Prize was established seven years ago by the late Jeffrey Brodsky and his father, Howard, to encourage innovation by student journalists. The $5000 Prize is open to all high school students attending public, charter, or parochial schools in New Hampshire.
Judging criteria include a student's journalistic initiative and enterprise, as well as what the late Jeffrey Brodsky called "a contrarian nature and out-of-the-box thinking." The deadline for applications is April 28, 2025.
Jeffrey Brodsky said of student journalism, “Working on the school newspaper was the most formative and meaningful high school experience for me — more than any classroom. It's more important than ever for young journalists to push boundaries and to challenge authority, and they can start by using the power of their school paper just like the press in the professional world."
The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications, helps oversee the award program. Longtime judges are Howard Brodsky, Jeffrey's father, and Co-founder & Chairman of CCA Global Partners; Misbah Tahir, former Little Green co-editor, now a biotechnology finance executive; former NH Union Leader and Sunday News president and publisher Joseph McQuaid, and Leah Todd Lin, VP of Audience Strategy for NH Public Radio.
More information on The Brodsky Prize, including past winners and application, is available at thebrodskyprize.org.
Annual Student Journalism Conference – April 11 at Keene State College
The NH Press Association is hosting an annual student journalism event at Keene State College on Friday, April 11. The event will bring together high school and college journalists for a day of professional development, networking, and awards recognition.
Tentative Schedule of Events:
9:00 a.m. – Registration and coffee
9:30 a.m. – First workshop session
11:00 a.m. – Second workshop session
12:30 p.m. – Lunch and awards program
Afternoon – Open networking and a guided tour of Keene State’s student multimedia facilities
Workshop sessions will feature a panel discussion and Q&A on ethics, policies, and the impact of AI in journalism. Additionally, a hands-on session will challenge student teams to complete a short news-writing assignment. In an innovative twist, an AI platform will also generate its own version of the assignment, allowing participants to compare and analyze the results.
NHPA looks forward to celebrating student journalism excellence and fostering discussions on the evolving media landscape. For more information, please contact NHPA at pressnh.org
Free Five-Day Summer Journalism Program for One High School Junior From Each State
The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is an opportunity for high school juniors passionate about journalism and the First Amendment to attend a free five-day conference. This skill-building, all-expenses-paid, five-day program, hosted in Washington, D.C., is designed to inspire and support the next generation of media professionals.
Each year, 51 students—one from each state and the District of Columbia—are selected for this prestigious experience, where they engage in hands-on learning, hear from top journalists, and gain a deeper understanding of the role of a free press in a democracy.
Alumni of the program have gone on to become influential journalists including Chuck Todd, Megan Twohey, and David Fahrenthold.
Taking place June 22-27, 2025, the conference includes visits to major newsrooms, discussions with influential journalists, and interactive sessions covering the challenges and responsibilities of modern media. Students have the chance to explore journalism’s impact on society, develop their storytelling skills, and build connections with peers who share their passion for truth and free expression. The program honors the legacy of Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today.
Beyond the conference itself, each participant receives a $1,000 college scholarship and becomes part of an extensive alumni network of over 1,500 individuals who have gone on to careers in journalism, media, and beyond.
Applications for the 2025 program are open until March 23, 2025, with selections announced in mid-May. Learn more:freedomforum.org/al-neuharth-free-spirit-and-journalism-conference/
If you are interested in learning more about the Nackey S. Loeb School’s free and low-cost educational programs, open to students of all ages, visit loebschool.org.