South Dakota Students Compete in Press Convention
Young journalists gathered at South Dakota State University for a series of high-stakes publication and individual contests.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Secondary Education
High school journalists from across South Dakota convened for the 2026 State High School Press Convention. Students demonstrated their skills in a variety of competitive media categories held on campus.
Why it matters
The annual event provides an essential platform for students to hone their journalistic crafts and receive professional feedback on their publication work. These competitions highlight the growing talent within the state's secondary school journalism programs.
Sioux Falls Lincoln secured an 88 in the Newspaper Content category, while Clark High School earned a 72 in Yearbook competition. Individual competitors like Paxten White achieved a 32 in Journalistic Photography.
The players
Clark High School
This educational institution earned a top publication award during the state press convention.
Sioux Falls Lincoln
The school is a prominent competitor in state-level journalism contests.
South Dakota State University
This public research university serves as a hub for academic and student-led events within the state.
The details
Participants engaged in both individual and publication-based challenges throughout the day. Winners were determined by a panel of judges who evaluated each submission based on specific scoring criteria.
Timeline
October 19, 2026: The 2026 High School Press Convention was held at South Dakota State University.
Culture Shift
This event reflects a broader trend of student engagement in digital media production and traditional investigative reporting. It highlights how young journalists are adapting their skills to meet the standards set by regional scholastic press associations.
Local communities benefit from high school students learning objective reporting and technical writing skills. Residents can support these programs by engaging with local student newspapers and yearbook projects.
The takeaway
Student journalism remains a cornerstone for developing critical thinking and media literacy in South Dakota. Readers are encouraged to support their local student-run publications to ensure these programs continue to thrive.
Further reading
For more on student-led academic initiatives in the state, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SDPB.
