Student Journalism and America's 250th
Celebrating Today's Student Journalists, Reflecting on America's Past
The Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution, by John Adams, John Hancock, and 60 other scholar-patriots who understood that a new republic would require institutions able to gather knowledge and advance learning in service to the public good.
In honor of America's 250th anniversary, the Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ is launching a national showcase for student journalism. To support the important role that local journalism plays in a healthy constitutional democracy and to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ will recognize outstanding student journalism projects that engage local communities in discussing America’s story and its founding ideals.
Student journalists are invited to submit community or feature journalism projects in written, audio, and/or video format that:
a) report on local celebrations and explorations of the 250th
or
b) explore community members’ ideas about key Declaration of Independence topics like freedom, equality, liberty, democracy, pluralism, and community history.
A panel of outstanding, journalists, historians, and civic engagement practitioners will select student journalists who will be guests at a civic journalism convening in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the fall of 2026. The event will include panel discussions, seminars, and a dinner for the student journalist honorees.
This sample assignment module with a curriculum toolkit, sample projects, interview topics and sample questions is designed for journalism professors interested in encouraging 250th storytelling in their classes.
The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2026. Interested in learning more? Please contact us at ourcommonpurpose@amacad.org.
Learn more about the Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾.