Solutions Journalism Student Media Challenge

Solutions Journalism Student Media Challenge 2025-26: Empowering Student Journalists to Drive Change

Are you a student journalist eager to create meaningful change? Do you want to cover pressing issues in your community while exploring potential solutions? The Solutions Journalism Network (SJN) is inviting student news organizations to participate in an engaging program for the 2025-26 academic year, with a specific focus on student mental health reporting through a solutions-oriented perspective.

This initiative offers an opportunity to collaborate with fellow student journalists, receive mentorship from experienced professionals, and craft impactful stories that go beyond problem identification by highlighting effective community responses.

Program Overview

Selected student news organizations in the U.S. will receive a $7,500 grant to support their reporting efforts.
The program kicks off in September 2025 and continues with monthly meetings until May 2026.
Faculty advisors and student representatives will engage in monthly discussions with SJN staff to track progress and collaborate.
Participating newsrooms are expected to share their experiences and insights with other student journalists both on and off campus.

Benefits of Participation

Financial Support: A $7,500 grant to aid reporting initiatives.
Specialized Training: Hands-on guidance in solutions journalism for student newsroom teams.
One-on-One Mentorship: Direct support from SJN staff.
Informational Sessions: Insights into key topics in journalism.
Networking Opportunities: A collaborative community for idea exchange and feedback.

What SJN is Looking For

The program encourages proposals that explore:

How communities are addressing challenges such as health disparities, food insecurity, and campus safety issues.
The impact of the project on student journalists, their campus, and the broader community.
The role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in shaping coverage.

Selection Criteria

Applicants should demonstrate:

A commitment to in-depth reporting on youth mental health, considering social, economic, racial, and environmental factors.
The capability to produce investigative stories on significant community concerns.
A dedication to consistent solutions-focused reporting.
A strong commitment to serving marginalized communities, including newsrooms led by and serving diverse populations.

Note: Previous recipients of this grant are not eligible to apply.

Newsroom Expectations

While there is no fixed number of required stories, newsrooms must consistently produce solutions-driven reports.
Outlets must assess their audience engagement through surveys, focus groups, or other evaluation tools (training provided by SJN).
Active participation in monthly cohort meetings to exchange insights and best practices.
Appointment of a team leader (advisor, staff member, or editor) who will meet with the cohort lead monthly.
Inclusion of at least two additional newsroom members committed to using solutions journalism.
Development of a community engagement plan, which could involve class visits, blog posts, training sessions, social media outreach, or collaboration with other student media organizations.
Completion of the proposed activities within the 9-month program duration (September 2025 – May 2026).
Submission of contact details for a university officer or newsroom manager responsible for grant administration.

Application Process

The application process consists of two stages:

Initial application deadline: Friday, March 14, 2025, by 8 PM ET.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed before proceeding to the final selection phase.

Upcoming Information Sessions

SJN will hold two virtual information sessions in March 2025:

Monday, March 3rd, at 12 PM ET
Friday, March 7th, at 4 PM ET

This challenge provides student journalists with the resources, support, and platform to produce impactful journalism that not only reports on problems but also highlights effective solutions. If you’re passionate about driving change through storytelling, apply today and be part of this transformative initiative!

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Scholarship at Uniplus Global to apply