Youth Journalism International in Auburn and the First Amendment Museum in Augusta are joining forces to create a First Amendment Award for teen journalists and their teachers.

The new First Amendment Award honors an individual student journalist, journalism educator, or group with a demonstrated commitment to using their First Amendment freedoms to affect positive change in their communities, according to a news release from Jackie Majerus, executive director, Youth Journalism International.

The First Amendment Award is the latest addition to Youth Journalism International’s annual Excellence in Journalism contest. Now in its 14th year, the competition recognizes stellar work by young writers, photographers, and artists worldwide in dozens of categories. It is open to any teen, anywhere, for work published or broadcast in English in the previous calendar year.

Entries in the First Amendment category can be a single article, broadcast, or a series published or released in the 2022 calendar year. It can also be an action taken to defend or exercise youth press freedom during that year, including a brief statement explaining the circumstances and/or context of the cited action.

“While the First Amendment is part of the Constitution of the United States, this is a global category that we hope will encourage those who push for freedom of speech and of the press throughout the world,” said  Majerus.

The winner of the new award will receive a crystal trophy. Finalists will receive custom award certificates.

The deadline to enter the contest is midnight, Friday, Feb. 17.

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