Listopad, Snyder named Friends of Scholastic Journalism by JEA

Two long-time advocates of student journalism and student press freedom will be honored with the Friend of Scholastic Journalism award, the Journalism Education Association (JEA) announced on Tuesday.

Steve Listopad, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication and student media director at Valley City State University in Valley City, North Dakota, and Rebecca Snyder, executive director of the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, were named as this year’s winners.

Each year, JEA gives the Friend of Scholastic Journalism honor to a professional journalist, media outlet, or other individual or group who has made a significant contribution to scholastic journalism.

Listopad was one of the originators of the John Wall New Voices Act, North Dakota legislation that was signed into law in 2015, which provided wider free speech protection for North Dakota high school and college journalists.

Snyder has also worked extensively on student press rights, lobbying legislators and encouraging news media leaders over the past year to support the New Voices Maryland Act, which was signed into law in April.

The Friend of Scholastic Journalism winners will be honored at the awards ceremony on Nov. 12 at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Indianapolis.