Colorado Student Media Association

CSMA
Colorado Student Media Association

CSMA
Colorado Student Media Association

CSMA

Convention Scholarship for Advisers

State and National convention participation by advisers and student journalists is a critical tool in building and maintaining a high quality student journalism program. The CSMA Board has created a scholarship opportunity for member advisers to attend a spring or fall JEA/NSPA National Journalism Convention in order to grow and sustain the journalism program at their school and to improve their own practice in advising.

Advisers who choose to apply for the scholarship should meet the following criteria:

  • Advise a publication that is a current CSMA member
  • Be a current JEA member, or advise an NSPA member program
  • Be in their first five years of advising
  • Have not previously attended a JEA/NSPA Convention
  • Agree to co-present a session at the convention with a CSMA Board member or with another CSMA member adviser
  • Agree to volunteer as a judge for the NSMC onsite judging (generally takes place on Friday evening)
  • Write a reflection to be published in the CSMA member newsletter and on the CSMA website

CSMA will provide the following support for the scholarship recipient

  • Airfare to the convention host city (up to $400)
  • 3 nights lodging at the convention hotel (or approved overflow hotel) (~$800)
  • Convention registration fee ($75 based on JEA/NSPA membership and volunteer requirements)
  • Coordination to travel with an experienced CSMA adviser (and possibly their students)

Scholarship recipient (or their school) will be responsible for

  • Meal expenses
  • Travel expenses within the host city (airport/hotel transportation, in town transportation)
  • Airline baggage fees
  • Airfare in excess of $400
  • Hotel costs beyond 3 nights

The scholarship application form will include the following questions

  • Basic information: Name, School, Journalism Program(s), # of Years Advising
  • Tell us about your journalism program (number of students involved, number of publications, current production schedule)
  • Tell us about your student population in your school and on your publication staff (socioeconomics, minority populations, students with diverse learning needs, etc)
  • Tell us about your goals for your program and how convention attendance may help you achieve those goals

Application deadline for Spring 2025 Convention is January 10, 2025. Application form can be found here.