Philadelphia Student Press Association

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For a few nights in September, the Philadelphia Student Press Association (PSPA) was featured on the PECO sign in center city Philadelphia.

The PSPA is a new collaborative organization to help strengthen the voices of Philadelphia’s young, student journalists. The organization includes student-run newspapers from nine colleges and universities in Philadelphia, and the surrounding areas, including: Rutgers Camden, Haverford, Drexel, LeSalle, Villanova, Saint Joseph’s, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and Rowan. The non-profit organization has grown significantly since its inception, and across the colleges and universities it includes, there are 100+ student journalists in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area.

Jackson Juzang, a senior at Haverford College majoring in English, is the founder of this non-profit organization. When asked about the inspiration for creating the PSPA, Jackson remarked, “I took on the challenge of creating an umbrella organization to be able to connect with other student-run newspapers in the city, and it also stemmed from Haverford’s lack of resources for student journalists.”

According to the PSPA website, it highlights why young voices, and resources for them are so important, “By uniting student publications, we are not only amplifying student voices but also strengthening Philadelphia’s press as a whole. Together, student journalists can tell bigger stories, reach wider audiences, and carry forward the city’s tradition of bold, independent reporting.” The PSPA is dedicated to finding the best resources for young, student journalists and providing the greater Philadelphia area with good reporting.

When asked about what type of reporting she would like to see from The Gleaner and the other student newspapers in the PSPA, Melina Zevallos, a senior at Rutgers Camden, remarked, “The most relevant topics would be opportunities, or events, happening in the Philadelphia area that students may be interested in.” This coincides with college students’ increasing need for internship opportunities, and the interest in pop culture or community events happening in the area.

The PSPA has already gotten involved in some events in the Philadelphia area, specifically pertaining to college students. During mid September, the PSPA had a table at this year’s college fest, which is a welcome weekend for students who are attending college in the Philadelphia area.

On a final note, when asked about the long term goals of the PSPA, Jackson Juzang said, “I’m focused on sustainability. If there’s any student newspapers that need to be revitalized, my goal is to bring them back. Widener and Lincoln University are a few that come to mind. I also want to create a pipeline with as many professionals as possible to create internship opportunities for student journalists in a constraining job market for Gen Z, and build individual and collective relationships with student newsrooms all over the greater Philly region. Then reallocate funding to Philly newsrooms so they don’t have to worry about administrative or alumni support.”

Resourceshttps://www.phillystudentpress.org/post/_test