KHSJA: Become a Member

kentucky high school
journalism association

A new school year is here and the Kentucky High School Journalism Association has opened its annual membership drive. Join KHSJA today or renew your membership and give your newspaper, yearbook and broadcast students the very best journalism experience they can have. Last year, more than 100 Kentucky schools joined KHSJA.

KHSJA offers teachers/advisers and their students support, encouragement, training and motivation through workshops, conventions and contests where students can showcase their talents and work. Many teachers tell us how eagerly their students anticipate competing in our annual contest for high school newspapers, yearbooks and broadcasting programs. Your school must be a KHSJA member to participate in our contest.

KHSJA membership is just $50 per school for a school year. Complete the enclosed membership form and mail by October 30 with a $50 check to KHSJA, 101 Consumer Lane, Frankfort KY 40601. If you want to pay by credit card, e-mail me at dgreer@kypress.com or call me at (502) 223-8821. Our fax number is (502) 226-3867.

About 70 percent of last year’s KHSJA member schools had their membership fee paid by a local newspaper. Kentucky’s newspapers and several KPA associate members have stepped up and shown tremendous financial support for high school journalism by sponsoring scores of local schools. If your school is sponsored, you will be notified. If getting your school to pay the $50 membership fee is difficult, consider calling your local newspaper publisher and ask they consider sponsoring your school in KHSJA.

The Kentucky Press Association established KHSJA 13 years ago to be an advocate and resource for scholastic journalism in the state. Newspaper Association of America Foundation research shows that high school students who participate in journalism programs do better on college entrance exams, have higher GPAs and become adults who are engaged in the civic process. All are great reasons to join KHSJA.

KHSJA will offer students and teachers a journalism workshop on January 21, 2010, at the Embassy Suites in Lexington. The topic will be announced later. And the annual KHSJA convention will be held at a new – and bigger -- location in Louisville on May 5, 2010. Mark your calendar now for both events! More details to follow later.

If you can have questions about KHSJA, you can reach me at the Kentucky Press Association, where I am member services director, by calling (502) 223-8821 or via e-mail at dgreer@kypress.com.

Benefits of joining KHSJA

• Attend the annual KHSJA convention held in Louisville. Nearly 900 Kentucky high school journalism students and teachers attended our 2009 state convention -- one of our biggest conventions ever. KHSJA was established 13 years ago by the Kentucky Press Association.

• Those attending heard well-known journalist Terry Anderson, the former AP correspondent held hostage in the Middle East for six years in the 1980s, speak on the importance of journalism. Attendees also heard a long list of other topnotch presenters in workshops involving newspapers, yearbooks, broadcasting and online.

• Enter the annual KHSJA statewide student contest with categories for newspapers, yearbooks and broadcast. Highlight your students’ work, skills and accomplishments. Students winning first place awards in our contest receive a handsome plaque for hanging on the wall. Those winning second or third place receive an attractive certificate. The school scoring the highest number of overall points in the contest is declared Grand Champion -- a highly coveted honor!

• In 2008-09, more than 2,600 contest entries were received from schools across the state. Year after year, teachers have told us how much their students look forward to competing against one another and different schools. We’ve been told over and over by teachers, “Your contest is such a great motivational tool for my students.”

• Teachers can network with their counterparts from the more than 100 Kentucky schools belonging to KHSJA.

• Attend workshops in January in Lexington. Topnotch speakers give great tips and advice for students and teachers.

• If your school is just beginning or perhaps reviving a student newspaper, KHSJA can send you information that will help you get started.

• KHSJA membership is just $50 per school per school year. That covers all aspects of print, broadcast and online journalism programs at your school. If getting your school administration to pay the membership fee is difficult, many local newspapers sponsor local schools in KHSJA by paying their membership fees for them. Call KHSJA administrator David Greer for details.

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