The Kansas Collegiate Journalist of the Year Awards honor student journalists who have made exceptional contributions to their student media staffs and collegiate journalism in Kansas during the academic year. Students must have worked for a student newspaper, online news organization, yearbook, magazine or broadcast media outlet. Students may submit a variety or work, including: written stories, video/broadcast stories, infographics, photojournalism, audio stories, illustrations/cartoons and page designs. The work must have been published in a student media outlet.
The winner in each category will receive a $250 cash prize and a plaque. First runner-up winners each receive $100 and a certificate, and second runner-up winners each receive $50 and a certificate.
Journalist of the Year winners will be announced at the Kansas Collegiate Media Spring Conference.
Students can compete in one of two divisions. When applying, the candidate must specify which category he or she is entering.
- (1) Four-year college journalist
- (2) Two-year college journalist
Who Can Enter?
The competition is open to student journalists at any KCM member school. The school must participate in the KCM Individual Contest with a minimum of six entries.
Member schools may enter as many students in the Collegiate Journalist of the Year competition as desired. There is no fee to enter the contest.
Deadline
Entry packet must be submitted on or before March 1.
How to Enter
Application materials must include the following (omission may lead to disqualification):
- Entry form
- Cover letter in which the applicant introduces himself/herself to the judges
- Resume focusing on his/her journalism experience
- Three to five clips of the student’s work published in student media (writing, photography, ad or graphic design, page design, etc.)
- Letter of recommendation from the publication adviser *
- Two additional letters of recommendation from sources within the journalistic or academic community *
- * Letters of recommendation can be submitted with the candidate’s packet or sent directly to the contest coordinator. If mailed separately: (1) ask the writer of letter to include the name of the candidate in the letter, and (2) remind letter writers of the importance of the submission deadline.
All application materials should be emailed together to the KCM Journalist of the Year coordinator:
Brad Hallier, Hutchinson Community College
hallierb@hutchcc.edu.
Please put “KCM Journalist of the Year” in the subject line.