JEA Journalist of the Year Scholarship
ListedCompetition
- Award
- $4,000 for the national winner; $1,200 each for up to five finalists
- Deadline
- State entry deadlines vary and must precede the national round. JEA's 2026-27 calendar confirms national submissions March 15, 2027. The separate award page still shows March 15, 2026 and a general 11:59 p.m. CDT cutoff; 2027 state dates and cutoff details should be confirmed.
- How to apply
- Enter the state Journalist of the Year contest first; state winners then submit a public online portfolio, transcript or counselor statement, resume, personal narrative, action and portrait photos, requested contacts and recommendation letters through JEA’s national application. The guideline says three letters, while the same-page FAQ says up to three; prepare three unless your state or current portal directs otherwise. Follow your state director’s rules.
- What you'll need
- Recommendations
- A portfolio
- A finalist round or selection weekend
- Who can apply
- High school seniors or international equivalent, with a current JEA-member adviser. U.S. entrants must win the state contest. International entrants submit to JEA's global engagement director; judges may advance up to three portfolios, at most one per country. No journalism-major requirement or two-year journalism-experience minimum.
- Good to know
- Cash is paid to the winner's college/university account. Current national prizes are $4,000 and up to five $1,200 finalist awards. The national 2027 date is confirmed in JEA's annual calendar, but the award page and state deadline table have not been fully updated for that cycle. Confirm the recommendation count because the guidelines and FAQ differ.
- Details
- WritingInternational students eligible