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CSMA Adviser Update

America needs journalists... and journalism teachers

CSMA AdviserUpdateAmerica needs journalists... and journalism teachers

Here for you, whenever you need us

You may be teaching remotely and you may not even be in contact with your students at all... and you may still be going to school each day waiting for the next closure announcement.


No one knows exactly how to work through the pandemic and the government has so many other immediate concerns right now that challenges like creating online learning systems on the fly may not be very high on the list.


Please take a few minutes to respond to this online form that asks for your opinions on how to best proceed with our popular Best of Colorado individual contests as well as other individual awards (Reporter of the Year, Photographer of the Year, etc.), and even All-Colorado summer critiques.


We have a lot of useful links on our site, and JEA members have access to a huge amount of lessons and units on the jea.org site. We will try to add more and keep communicating with you, at least weekly, until the new normal is achieved.


Best wishes to you and your family as we take on the most chaotic educational and societal situation of our lifetimes (and I am nearly 70). My money is on you, among the most talented teachers and thinkers I know, to find a way.

Friend of CSMA Larry Steward loses battle with ALS

It was Larry Steward who tossed a lifeline to Colorado High School Press Association nearly 20 years ago, and our organization became partners with CSU and with Rocky Mountain Student Media -- and we have never looked back.


Larry died on March 4, 2020.


Larry wrote his own obituary and it's worth taking a few minutes to review and enjoy his life story. He will be missed.

Podcast contest added to Best of Colorado awards

We know podcasts are popping up and we know those students producing them would love some recognition. Each school with at least ONE CSMA membership may enter ONE podcast (two episodes are required for this contest).


Here is the online entry form, which is NOT part of our BNC contest platform that is used for all other entries, from print and online news, to yearbook, to video broadcast.


Our plan is to award places in two enrollment classifications: 1500 students or more, and less than 1,500 students. Middle school entries will automatically be placed in the smaller enrollment category.


Entries can still include a maximum of ten student names, and please check those names for spelling, as this form is what we will use to generate award certificates.


Podcasts can be any length and can be on any topic.


For this first contest year, we simply ask that all entries include TWO episodes and that each school enter ONCE. This may mean that a school will need to conduct its own local contest to get to that one official entry.


As with all Best of Colorado entries, schools must have at least one CSMA member medium to participate. The deadline for all entries is April 7.

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Start planning for... gulp, NEXT school year

CSMA offers two early summer workshops for students and advisers. reTHINK and the Summer Adviser Workshop will run concurrently June 3-5, again at Rock Canyon HS in Highlands Ranch. You can find reTHINK details here, and SAW details here. All registration is online only.


SAW will once again be led by Adam Dawkins, who is also developing our updated Press Law & Ethics course as a free online class. SAW participants will get a sneak peak at this course before it goes live in August.


reTHINK will be led by Kristi Rathbun, Jessica Hunziker, and Jack Kennedy, and they will be joined by Jonathan Rogers, nationally recognized adviser from Iowa City, who brings expertise in online, video and print media.

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Best of Colorado and other individual contest site is open

But we recommend that advisers and students begin sorting and gathering potential entries now... and save some heartburn as the submission deadline nears.


Our Best of Colorado awards feature over 50 individual contests based on enrollment categories. Last spring we mailed nearly 1,600 award certificates to schools during the first week of May. Find all the details here.


Our BNC contest platform will be live through April 7.


Go to our site and click the Student Contests & Awards drop down to access instructions for our "Of the Year" contests, including Reporter of the Year, Designer of the Year, Broadcast Journalist of the Year, Middle School Journalist of the Year, and Photographer of the Year. All applications are due April 15.

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Dottie Roberts Scholarship applications due at end of month


The Dottie Roberts Foundation Scholarships are awarded each spring, and the application deadline for 2020 is March 30.


Dottie wanted her foundation to support young women who have an interest in publishing to go to college who otherwise might not be able to go. While they must be Colorado residents, they can apply to go to college anywhere.



You can find the 2020 application requirements here. Awards may range between $3,000 and $20,000 per year.


CSMA has become an informal partner with the foundation, and has helped publicize this great opportunity beginning with J-Day 2017.

Thanks for being an important part of our state association

Colorado Student Media Association memberships are by school medium, and we offer four options: print news, yearbook, online, and video media. A single membership is $65. We offer a convenient online membership form, and you can choose either to pay with a school credit card or ask to be invoiced.


Spring is busy for everyone, with lots of scholarship opportunities, individual contests, and much more. Watch for your weekly e-newsletter for details and be sure to check our website for the latest information.

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Connect with CSMA

Email: jpkjournalism@gmail.com
Website: colostudentmedia.com
Location: 9253 Sori Lane, Highlands Ranch CO
Phone: 303-550-4755
Facebook: facebook.com/coloradostudentmedia
Twitter: @ColoradoSMA