A CENTURY OF SERVICE

National Scholastic Press Association and Associated Collegiate Press celebrate 100 years of service to student journalism.

ITMIGHT HAVE BEEN when your yearbook or newspaper got an All-American rating.

It might have been that first convention trip, by carriage, train, bus, car or airplane.

It might have been that convention keynote speech by Jimmy Carter or Walter Cronkite or Bob Woodward or Abby Phillip or Nina Totenberg.

It might have been that first visit to the U.S. Capitol, to Chicago museums or to the Big Easy.

It might have been when your story, your image, your broadcast or your podcast was posted as an Individual Award finalist.

It might have been that convention awards ceremony, and the anticipation before the Pacemaker awards were announced.

Arriving In Style

“It’s Thursday morning and Chicago’s railroad stations are jammed with NSPA delegates including this Michigan group,” says the caption in Scholastic Editor magazine. “In 1939, 2,720 delegates representing, 330 institutions in 27 states jammed the Stevens Hotel, the world’s largest hostelry, for the largest roll call in NSPA’s history.”

It might have been that convention session or workshop critique or personal connection that gave you the confidence to succeed. Or meeting someone who understands what you do and the challenges you share.

For a century, thousands of student journalists and advisers have been united — through the National Scholastic Press Association in high school and middle school journalism, and the Associated Collegiate Press in collegiate journalism.

NSPA AND ACP SHARE a mission. Through education, training and recognition programs for student journalism, the associations promote the standards and ethics of good journalism as accepted and practiced by print, broadcast and digital media in the United States.

NSPA was founded in 1921 as the Central Interscholastic Press Association, in Madison, Wisconsin. In 1928, CIPA became NSPA and moved to the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. NSPA is now an independent association, with headquarters near the university.

NSPA has three divisions — National Scholastic Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press and Minnesota High School Press Association. Each association provides journalism education services and support to students, media advisers, teachers and others, including national conventions, student competitions and critique services.

The NSPA division has student-media members in secondary, junior high and middle schools.

The ACP division, since 1933, has student-media members in colleges, universities and professional and technical schools.

The MHSPA division, since 1921, has student-media members in Minnesota’s secondary schools.

All three are organizations for student journalists, with journalism advisers and teachers supporting, advancing and enhancing the organizations’ efforts. For all divisions, memberships are open to student media at public and private schools, with an annual membership fee.

NSPA and ACP conventions, at various sites across the nation, are the nation’s largest gatherings of student journalists. Thousands of student journalists and advisers participate in the conventions, with keynote speeches, learning sessions, awards programs and vendor exhibits.

NSPA’s first convention was in 1921. ACP’s first convention was in 1935, with collegiate journalists meeting at NSPA conventions from 1921.

Two national adviser associations, started at NSPA and ACP conventions, have been long-time convention partners — NSPA fall and spring conventions with Journalism Education Association, and ACP fall conventions with College Media Association. ACP’s midwinter conventions, on the West Coast, began in 1985.

Like the conventions, the national awards programs for both NSPA and ACP provide crucial recognition and support for student journalists and their advisers.

The Pacemaker has long been considered the top prize in student journalism, and honors exceptional work by an organization in print, broadcast and digital media, as well as business management and innovation.

The organizations’ Individual Awards recognize student achievement in a broad range of categories, and, at the conventions, the Best of Show competitions celebrate current achievement in student media.

Dozens of volunteers offer vital support for student media through NSPA and ACP. They speak at conventions. They critique other student media. They judge competitions. They share insight on what student journalists and advisers need. They set the standards of excellence for which NSPA/ACP are known.

A volunteer board of directors governs the associations. For many years, the board president was the top journalism administrator at the University of Minnesota. In 2020, bylaws revisions established the president and president-elect as representatives of scholastic and collegiate journalism.

NSPA/ACP also support and assist state, regional and national student-media associations and other non-student groups and businesses that share the mission.

The goal — for more than a century — has been to educate, support and celebrate student journalism.

The Top Prize

First awarded in 1927, the Pacemaker has long been considered the top prize in student journalism. Angel Vogel, editor of the Tulane Hullaballoo, receives the Pacemaker from William Dickenson, editor of the Philadelphia Bulletin at the 1966 ACP convention in Philadelphia.

A Time For Fun

In 1925, the convention ball was held after the banquet. Approximately 885 attended the sixth national convention in Madison, Wisconsin. Decades later, Claire Meyers, Convent of the Sacred Heart High School, San Francisco, enjoys 2003 convention dance in Washington, D.C.

LAURA WIDMER, executive director since 2015, is one of us who found a community within student journalism.

Widmer grew up in central Missouri, attended Northwest Missouri State University, in Maryville, and joined the Tower yearbook staff.

“When I attended Northwest, I initially never imagined a career as a student media adviser. I wanted to be a feature writer,” Widmer said. “But then, I attended my first ACP convention in New Orleans in 1977. I saw the Pacemaker award ceremony and knew I wanted to be a part of it.

“I loved everything about student media, and my career path changed.”

Her adviser? Linda Puntney.

Her fellow staff member? Ann Visser. One of her alumni? Lisa Renze Rhodes.

Laura went on to teach and advise student media at Northwest and become CMA president.

Linda taught, advised and became the long-time director of JEA.

Ann taught journalism and advised student publications in Iowa, led JEA as president and served on the NSPA board.

Lisa worked as a reporter and now advises student media at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana.

“We have seen much change in student journalism over the years,” Widmer said. “However, the bottom line is NSPA and ACP support good journalism and good storytelling.”

LAURA, LINDA, ANN AND LISA are just four among dozens, even hundreds of us.

We are storytellers — through text, through images, through audio and video.

We are inspired by the teachers and advisers who preceded us. They taught us how student journalism serves and engages audience.

We become journalists and work in media around the world.

We become advisers and teachers who build the future of journalism within our democracy. We find our community. n