What Does PNA Offer for Students and Teachers Interested in Journalism?

Updated

The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association (PNA) offers student- and teacher-focused resources through the PNA Foundation, which the association describes as providing "a variety of resources for high school and college students, teachers and adv[ocates]." These resources sit alongside PNA's contests and awards programs, which recognize student journalists as well as working news media personnel and company leaders. The main entry point on the PNA website is the "For Students" section.

Who these resources are for

Based on the PNA website, the Foundation's student-facing offerings are aimed at:

  • High school students interested in journalism or student media
  • College students, including those considering news media careers
  • Teachers who advise or instruct student journalists
  • Advocates supporting student journalism (the site's description is cut off at "adv," but the context is student and teacher support)

What PNA provides in this area

Foundation resources for students and teachers

The PNA Foundation is the charitable and educational arm referenced on the site as the source of student and teacher resources. The homepage lists "For Students" as a distinct section, which is where the specific programs, guides, and opportunities are detailed.

Contests and awards for student journalists

PNA's contests and awards programs explicitly include student journalists. According to the site, these programs "recognize the outstanding achievements of news media personnel, student journalists and company leaders." This means students can enter or be recognized through PNA's awards structure, separate from professional categories.

Editorial and newsroom resources

PNA also offers editorial resources "targeted to newsroom staff," including press passes/hang tags, complimentary articles, and a subscription-based editorial cartoon service. While these are framed for working newsrooms, they indicate the type of practical tools the association provides—useful context for teachers building curriculum around real newsroom practices.

How to access the student and teacher resources

  1. Go to the PNA website (panewsmedia.org).
  2. Locate the "For Students" section, listed among the site's main resource categories.
  3. Review the specific programs and materials described there, since the homepage only summarizes the Foundation's offerings.
  4. For contests and awards, check the Contests & Awards section to see student categories and entry details.

What to keep in mind

  • The homepage confirms the existence and general scope of student and teacher resources but does not list individual programs, eligibility rules, deadlines, or costs. Those details require visiting the dedicated pages.
  • PNA membership benefits (such as the free Legal Hotline) are described for PNA members, not students generally. Do not assume student access to member-only services without checking the specific program page.
  • The site does not state pricing for student resources on the homepage, so no conclusion about cost should be drawn from this summary alone.

For the most current and specific information—such as application windows, contest deadlines, or workshop schedules—go directly to the "For Students" and "Contests & Awards" sections of panewsmedia.org.