NATIONAL STUDENT ESSAY COMPETITION: “WHY A FREE PRESS MATTERS IN A DEMOCRACY”

Guidelines & Timeline

THREE CATEGORIES

Grades 6-8
Grades 9-12
University/College

CALL-FOR-ENTRIES

Beginning Monday March 2, 2020

Deadline for submissions: Friday, April 24, 2020

National winners announced mid-July 2020

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Topic: “Why a free press matters in a democracy”

Deadline: Friday, April 24, 2020.

Email a Word document of 500 words maximum typed and double-spaced, to studentessays@mklpr.com. All entries must be original and must include student’s name, phone number, email address, mailing address, name and department of the school and grade or university/college in which the student is currently enrolled, and the name of your local news outlet(s). Essays may be submitted by midnight on Friday, April 24, 2020.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Originality and thoughtfulness in addressing the topic of “Why a free press matters in a democracy.”

NATIONAL PRIZES

The winner in each category (grades six-eight; grades nine-twelve; and grades university/college) will each receive a $5,000 check from the Boston Globe Foundation.

The winning essayist with the highest ranking among the three categories will also receive a full four-year scholarship, current total value of $152,000, to Westminster College in Salt Lake City.

The winner of the popular vote will receive a check for $1,000 from MKL Public Relations.

Prizes will be awarded November 7, 2020 at the McCarthey Family Foundation Lecture Series: In Praise of Independent Journalism.