(785) 864-0605
staff@kspaonline.org

News

KSDE funding decision under media spotlight

KSPA’s ad hoc CTE committee has made an impact on the public’s awareness of the Kansas State Department of Education’s decision to cut journalism funding effective 2012. Led by Karen Ford of Holton HS, committee members have lobbied state media to write about the decision, and they’ve lobbied KSDE decision-makers…...

Read more

Kansas boasts five NSPA newspaper Pacemaker finalists

Kansas again has reaped more than its share of national awards, garnering five newspaper and one broadcast Pacemaker finalist awards from the National Scholastic Press Association. The Pacemaker is often considered the “Pulitzer Prize of scholastic journalism,” and every year Kansas outpaces other states of similar size or larger with…...

Read more

Kansas students win in NSPA contests

Nine Kansas student entries have been named finalists in national contests sponsored by the National Scholastic Press Association. Awards will be presented Nov. 13 at the NSPA/JEA national convention in Kansas City, Mo. The winners are: Courtney Seddon, Panther’s Tale, Derby HS (Newspaper Page One Design) Michael Stolle, The Harbinger,…...

Read more

‘First Amendment Tour’ debuts in Pittsburg

KSPA’s first stop in the 2010 “First Amendment Tour” set a high standard both in terms of audience participation and host-school hospitality. University of Kansas journalism professors Malcolm Gibson, Pam Fine and I greeted more than 100 students, three administrators, one school board member and several community members for our…...

Read more

Journalism should satisfy KSDE pathway requirements

Lawrence Free State adviser Laurie Folsom, also a member of the KSPA’s ad hoc Career and Technical Education action committee, wrote a blog post for the Lawrence Journal-World that brilliantly articulates KSPA’s position on journalism’s place in the CTE curriculum. In a message she sent to the JEA listserv, Laurie…...

Read more

High school students gain exposure through 810 WHB’s ‘Scholastic Sportswriters’ program

August 23, 2010 (Overland Park) – Sports Radio 810 WHB announced the launch of the “810 WHB Scholastic Sportswriters” program for the 2010-11 year. The program will begin with the 2010 football season, as selected students can write stories and take photos of their high school football team. The content…...

Read more

Nevada judge rules in favor of student newspaper’s investigation

Student-journalists at Churchill County High School in Nevada successfully fought off a libel suit this week using any journalist’s best defense: the truth. A CCHS music teacher had sought $10,000 from the school district, the principal and the newspaper adviser because of a story in the student newspaper that reported…...

Read more

Obituary: Michael Dunlap, BV West adviser

Michael A. Dunlap, 44, the newspaper and yearbook adviser at Blue Valley West High School, died unexpectedly of an aneurysm at his home on Monday, Aug. 2. Dunlap taught journalism at Blue Valley West, served as Mass Communication Department chairman, and was program facilitator for journalism for the Blue Valley Unified…...

Read more

KSPA plans busy 2010-2011 calendar, so join now

The 2010-2011 schedule of activities and contests for the Kansas Scholastic Press Association could very well be the busiest ever, and it will culminate, as always, with regional and state competitions next spring. Fall Conferences are already being planned for Lawrence, Manhattan and Hays, the second Statehouse Reporter Day in…...

Read more

Eight Kansas students win awards in national NFPW contest

Kansas entries placed in eight categories in the National Federation of Press Women high school journalism contest. Winners were announced this week by the NFPW. Kansas winners included: Rachel Ferencz, Rachel Avery and Lauren Komer, Shawnee Mission Northwest, First Place, News Story; Ian Wiseman, Shawnee Mission East, Second Place, Sports…...

Read more