About NSPA
Who are we?
National Scholastic Press Association, with more than 1,350 members, is a national community of student journalists and scholastic journalism advisers.
NSPA traces its roots to the Central Interscholastic Press Association, founded in 1921 at the University of Wisconsin. CIPA became NSPA in 1928, with a move to the University of Minnesota.
NSPA, Associated Collegiate Press and Quill and Scroll continue with headquarters in Minneapolis.
What does NSPA do?
NSPA advances journalism and media as a vital cultural force by connecting advisers, students and professionals through national events and competitions and by creating and curating content that
- enhances professional development.
- defines global standards and ethical practices.
- inspires journalism and media students and the public.
- establishes criteria for journalism education that meet the needs of the profession.
- makes powerful tools and resources available and accessible.
- celebrates and enhances the value of journalism.
Membership benefits
Join NSPA today to access exclusive membership benefits and show your support of student media.
NSPA’s mission
National Scholastic Press Association, based and incorporated in Minnesota as a non-profit educational association, provides journalism education services to students, teachers, media advisers and others throughout the United States and in other countries. It was founded in 1921.
NSPA has three divisions:
National Scholastic Press Association
Associated Collegiate Press
Quill and Scroll
Minnesota High School Press Association
The NSPA division offers memberships for high school, junior high and middle school student media.
The ACP division offers memberships for college, university and professional and technical school student media.
The Quill and Scroll division encourages, supports and recognizes individual student initiative and achievement in scholastic journalism through a variety of contests.
The MHSPA division offers memberships to Minnesota high school, junior high and middle school student media.
For all divisions, memberships are open to all student media at public and private schools at an annual membership fee.
Each division provides journalism education training programs, publishes journalism education materials, provides media critique and recognition programs for members, provides information on developments in journalism and student media and provides a forum for members to communicate with others and share their work. Through these activities, the associations promote the standards and ethics of good journalism as accepted and practiced by print, broadcast and electronic media in the United States. They also endorse and advocate free expression rights for student media.
All divisions cooperate with other student media associations and other non-student groups and businesses that share its mission to educate and recognize the work of student journalists, to improve the quality of student media and to foster careers in media.
Contact us
National Scholastic Press Association
2829 University Ave. SE, Suite 720
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-200-9254
Contact NSPA by email, or connect with NSPA on social media:
NSPA page on Facebook
@NSPA on X
@nationalstudentpress on Instagram
NSPA Staff
NSPA staff members are here to serve you.
Laura Widmer, director
Gary Lundgren, associate director
Lori Keekley, associate director for Quill and Scroll
Karli Keith, convention and membership manager
Breanna Kaitfors, office manager
> Staff contact information & biographies
NSPA Board of Directors
NSPA’s board of directors has 15 members, and its president and president-elect represent both collegiate and scholastic journalism.
The board, which also governs Associated Collegiate Press, Quill and Scroll and the Minnesota High School Press Association, includes representation from the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Sponsorship opportunities
NSPA provides exhibitors, sponsors and advertisers with opportunities to serve, support and communicate with its members through NSPA events, including conventions and workshops, and virtual outreach, including the Pacemaker Master Class series and Town Hall webinars.