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, social media posts, etc. The work must have been published in a student media outlet.
The winner in each category will receive a $500 cash prize. First runner-up winners each receive $250 , and second runner-up winners each receive $100.
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.
- Two-year college journalist
- Four-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 this contest.
Deadline
Entries must be submitted on or before March 2, 2026.
How to Enter
Application materials must include the following:
- Entry form
- Cover letter in which the applicant introduces himself/herself to the judges
- Resume focusing on his/her journalism experience
- Five to seven work examples 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 *
- One additional letter 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. (Contact information below.) If mailed separately: (1) ask the writer of the letter to include the name of the candidate in the letter, and (2) remind letter writers of the importance of the submission deadline.
- NOTE: Please make sure you use the correct form — one for 2-year schools and one for 4-year schools. They are linked below.
KCM Journalist of the Year coordinators:
Two-year Schools
Spencer O’Daniel, Kansas State University
sodaniel@collegianmedia.com
>> 2-Year JOY: Entry Form
Four-year Schools
Meg Smith, Cowley College
meg.smith@cowley.edu
>> 4-Year JOY: Entry Form