FAPFA

Download Round 1 application here

History of free expression in high schools, and of the award

In the twelfth year of a competition designed to identify and recognize high schools that actively support and protect First Amendment rights of their students and teachers, the honor focuses on press freedoms.

Schools recognized at the 2012 Spring National JEA/NSPA High School Journalism Convention in Seattle will be cited as First Amendment Press Freedom Schools with an award co-sponsored by Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association and the Quill and Scroll Society.

The award, which began with its emphasis on student publications and titled Let Freedom Ring, was later expanded to include the other freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. While we continue to honor and recognize those who support and practice all 45 words of the First Amendment, we also return to our roots and our strengths.

As in previous years, high schools will compete for the title by first answering questionnaires directed to an adviser and at least one editor; those who advance to the next level will be asked to provide responses from the principal and all publications advisers and student editors.

For the first time the application can be completed and returned to JEA headquarters online by using a writable PDF.

In addition, semifinalists will submit samples of the publications and their printed policies.

As last year, the application deadlines have been shifted to avoid issues involving spring and summer school schedules, and to allow for recognition of the schools at the spring convention each year.

We welcome you to the revised First Amendment Press Freedom Award and hope you will download the first round of questions available from this site and return them to us by Dec. 1, 2011. Waiting to submit your Round 1 responses until that time enables you to have a full year of activities on which to base your answers.