In a year when major print publications are collapsing and online media are thriving, Wayland Student Press of WSPN has become a finalist for a prestigious journalism award, the Online Crown Award, given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) from Columbia University.

On February 26th, Edmund J. Sullivan, executive director of the CSPA, released the names of the seven high school and six college finalists for online newspaper Crowns, citing that each of these publications will receive either a Gold or Silver Crown on March 20th. The awards convocation for Scholastic Crown recipients will take place during the CSPA’s 85th annual convention, held at Columbia University.

As stated on the CSPA’s website, Crown Awards are “the highest recognition given by the CSPA to a student print or online medium for overall excellence.” This year is the first time the CSPA has presented Crown Awards to online media. Since their inception in 1982, Crown Awards have been given only to student print publications.

WSPN was founded less than two years ago exclusively for online publishing, so receiving the Crown Award is a landmark achievement. Other recipients for the Online Crown Awards have been established for years, relying on their schools’ journalism courses and print publications from the start. WSPN’s success has brought a new journalism course to Wayland High School this school year.

Every other high school publication receiving an Online Crown Award puts articles on their websites that have been previously published in their print editions or other publications within their school community. Wayland Student Press is unique in that it does not have a print edition, publishing content first and only on the web.

Members of WSPN and journalism students are excited to receive this award. Since WSPN won the Pacemaker Award from the National Scholastic Press Association in its first year, many students have joined the network as club members and journalism students.

“A lot of students put a lot of time into WSPN, and I think for students to see their work recognized like this really encourages them to keep up the good work,” said David Ryan, WSPN Multimedia Editor and Business Manager, who is currently a sophomore.

WSPN hopes to attract more students to join the network. Its members also hope more students will take the journalism course next school year.

“I’m so thrilled that our students’ hard work is being acknowledged,” said Janet Karman, English teacher, WSPN co-adviser, and journalism co-instructor. “I hope this award inspires other WHS students to get involved.”

Learn more about the CSPA’s Crown Awards here
View other recipients of the Online Crown Awards here