Columbia Scholastic Press Association

CSPA is an international student press association, founded in 1925, whose goal is to unite student journalists and faculty advisers at schools and colleges through educational conferences, idea exchanges, textbooks, critiques and award programs.

Who We Are

Founded in 1925, the Association unites student editors and faculty advisers working with them who produce student newspapers, magazines, yearbooks and online media. Students come from public, private and faith-based schools and colleges throughout the United States and from overseas schools following an American plan of education. The Association is owned and operated by Columbia University.

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association serves student journalists as follows:

  1. to make clear expression the standard for success;
  2. to maintain the student media for students, by students and containing news of students;
  3. to conduct contests and offer awards to make student media better than they were; and
  4. to recognize that journalism can be a means towards broader understanding of society and people.


The Association is a voluntary membership-based organization. Although it publishes standards and presents awards in recognition of superior performance by its members, it is neither a testing nor an accreditation agency.

Read a brief summary of the history of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
Learn about the history of the seal and download a copy of the seal to use in your publication.
Jennifer Bensko Ha is the director of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. She is the fourth person to hold this position since the association's founding in 1925.

Meet the members of the CSPA staff.

Founded in 1927, the CSPAA is a professional organization of teachers/advisers devoted to the development of the student press in accordance with educational practices.