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Thank you for your interest in speaking at the Spring 2026 JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention. NHSJC is the largest gathering of high school journalists in the country.

Members and other individuals interested in supporting the goals and programs of JEA, NSPA and scholastic journalism are invited to submit session proposals. This invitation is extended to teachers/advisers, professional journalists and students in editorial leadership positions. Each standard breakout session is 45 minutes long and will take place on the Friday or Saturday of convention week between 8 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.

The submission deadline for Spring 2026 is Jan. 30, 2026.

Initial session approval notices will be sent out by late February. Time and room assignments will then follow in March.

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Please note that presenting an NHSJC breakout session is an unpaid volunteer opportunity to benefit the education and professional development of student journalists and their advisers.

NOTE: ALL SPEAKERS are required to register for the convention and pay registration fees, unless you are an invited local media professional or special permission has been obtained. JEA and NSPA member advisers may be eligible for discounted or complimentary registration, please verify the requirements (and note the deadline) here. Please email amber@jea.org with questions.

View more speaker FAQ here.

IMPORTANT: This is the email all your speaker/convention communication will go to, so please make note of which one you use.

Please add springnhsjc@dryfta.net to your email contacts and/or ask your school's IT department to whitelist this domain. If this is not possible, we recommend using a non-school email to avoid firewall issues.

Speakers, please provide your phone number while onsite at the convention.

FRIDAY

8 a.m. JEA membership meeting

8 a.m. NSPA/Quill & Scroll Advisory Board meeting

8 a.m. Quiz Bowl qualifiers

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. NSMC on-site broadcast contests (exact times vary, if you might participate or judge but aren't sure for which contest yet, we recommend selecting Saturday availability only)

9 a.m. JEA state directors meeting

9-10:45 a.m. Break with a Pro

10 a.m. JEA CTE Committee meeting

Noon to 3:30 p.m. On-site media critiques (you will select a 25-min session during registration)

2 p.m. JEA mentors meeting

SATURDAY

8 a.m. JEA Digital Media Committee meeting

8 a.m. JEA SPRC meeting

8-10 a.m. Quiz Bowl finals

8 a.m. to noon Best of Show judging

9 a.m. JEA Certification Committee meeting

9 a.m. JEA DEI Committee meeting

9-11 a.m. On-site media critiques (you will select a 25-min session during registration)

11 a.m. JEA Awards Committee meeting

12-2 p.m. Adviser recognition luncheon

Taking into account your scheduling conflicts, please select all times you ARE available to speak.

PLEASE DON'T FORGET to take into account the convention events you want to attend. Do NOT select time slots that conflict.

We will use the availability you provide here to schedule your session, so please fill this section out carefully. We appreciate your flexibility in providing us with as much availability as possible.

Please spell out fully in AP style.

If you live outside the United States, please list your country.

If you work for multiple organizations: Please select ONE primary one to list here. You can list any others in your bio.

Students and advisers: Please list your school's FULL name with no abbreviations. If you want to list your publication's name, please include the school name as well (i.e. Westside News, Westside High School).

PLEASE list in AP downstyle (don't capitalize every word). 

Students: You may simply put "Student" or if you have a specific title with your publication, you can list that instead.

If you hold multiple positions: Please select ONE that is associated with the primary organization you listed above. You can list any others in your bio.

This field is for those with current CJE or MJE certification, others can skip.

Please verify that your certification is valid through April 18, 2026.

Please submit a bio of 100 words or fewer in AP style. Start with your name (i.e. "Jane Smith advises...")

Bios are only required for Featured Speakers, they optional for all other speakers.

Not sure? Featured Speakers are local/regional journalism professionals who were specifically invited to participate as a "featured speaker" by a member of the Minneapolis local committee.