judging Aspiring Young Journalist portfolios

Thank you so much for helping select this year's Aspiring Young Journalist. This is a fairly new contest for MIPA to recognize an outstanding student in their final year of middle school. (That's typically an eighth grader.) It's similar to the Student Journalist Staff for graduating seniors - with some key differences, such as not having to make a portfolio website and not having specialized tracks for different media interests.

This page (hopefully) contains everything you need to judge Aspiring Young Journalist applications. Judging panels must have their assigned portfolios reviewed and scored no later than the end of the day Thursday, Feb. 28, 2025. 

PLEASE REVIEW THIS WEBSITE AND ALL MATERIALS BEFORE STARTING.

Your picks will be presented to MIPA’s board, which will review your decision (minus any members who have a conflict because of a student competing in this contest). The top student's work will be submitted to the national JEA Aspiring Young Journalist contest. The MIPA office will notify all candidates. This is a tight window of time in which to complete your work. Please let Jeremy know if you run into any issues or need anything.

ASPIRING Young Journalist judging panel

• Darcy Hassing, Lakeview HS (Battle Creek)

• Jason Westra Hall, Grand Ledge HS

ASPIRING Young JOURNALIST Candidates

• Eychaner, Matthew  - Traverse City East Middle School

• Mi, Annabella - Clague Middle School

• Rattray, Isabella - Manchester Junior and Senior High

• Whittaker, Emerson - Cranbrook Middle School for Boys

Judging Procedures

4 ENTRIES, please choose up to 1 winner and up to 3 for special recognition

You may elect fewer than the number of allotted special recognition awards based on the quality of the portfolios.

To Get Started

• Please, no ties.

• Each portfolio should be evaluated by at least TWO judges and scored using the MIPA rubric.  Each judge will award points in each of the five rubric categories. A portfolio’s total score is determined by the total of the two judge’s scores.

• Directions for what students should include in their entry can be found here.

JUDGING/SCORING FORMS

Work with your judging panel colleagues to divide up the portfolios so that each is viewed by at least two judges. Each judge will record their own scores in the judging form, which includes the rubric. Please coordinate to compile these scores.

Since this is a brand-new contest, we would love as much feedback as you are willing to provide - both about the contest and about student work.

Please do not share your feedback or information from other judges on your panel with students or other advisers.

The MIPA office will use a summary of your scores and comments to give feedback to those applicants who request it. We do not share raw judges’ comments with anyone outside the selection process.

Access the rubric

Rubric is available as a fillable form PDF. Fill out your own and pass it on to the head judge, or collaborate with the judging panel.