Attention all student journalists, storytellers and multimedia creators! SPJ San Diego is thrilled to announce that we’re offering an epic opportunity for you to elevate your academic journey with our prestigious scholarships!

This year, we’re excited to award multiple scholarships to outstanding local college students. Whether your expertise shines in print, photojournalism or video/audio/multimedia, these scholarships are designed to encourage and empower the next generation of media movers and shakers.

Scholarships overview:

• Up to six $1,575 San Diego Area Journalism Awards Merit Scholarships for San Diego County college students
  • Categories: print, photojournalism, video/audio/multimedia
• Agnes Diggs Road to College Scholarship: $1,520
• Bradley J. Fikes Scholarship: $1,000
• All scholarships recognize outstanding student journalists while honoring some of San Diego’s top reporters.
• Non-county students must submit their ties to San Diego County in order to qualify.
• See the PDF document below for the application requirements.

Special Memorial Scholarships:

In homage to the legacies of two remarkable journalists, we’re honored to offer two memorial scholarships:

• The Agnes Diggs Road to College Scholarship of $1,520—celebrating the profound impact of the late North County Times columnist.
• The Bradley J. Fikes Scholarship of $1,000—in memory of the esteemed San Diego Union-Tribune reporter, whose dedication to the craft continues to inspire.

The deadline to submit your scholarship application is swiftly approaching! Ensure your chance to be considered by applying before 9 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2026.

To submit your application please fill out this Google Form for the 2026 Journalism Scholarships. See the PDF document below for the application requirements.

Good luck to all applicants!

We need judges!! 

Ever wonder how the SPJ contest runs and what happens after you submit your entries? Our entries in San Diego actually go to judges in other parts of the country while we get entries from our judging partners in other cities. This year, we need your help judging the entries from our judging partners in other cities. 

Sign up to help us judge and get $10 off your 2026 awards ceremony ticket. Contact Elizabeth by March 18 at spjsandiego@gmail.com. 

It’s not too late to submit award entries! The final deadline has been extended to March 16 at 9 p.m. PST.

Submit your entries using the BetterBNC Media Awards platform. 

Below are directions for preparing and submitting entries. If you have questions, please contact sdspjcontest@gmail.com

The Early Bird entry deadline for the 2026 San Diego Area Journalism Contest is coming up, Monday, March 2, 2026, at 9 p.m. PST. 

Starting Tuesday, March 3 entry fees will increase. The final deadline is Monday, March 9, 2026, at 9 p.m. PST.

Between March 3 and the final deadline of March 9, professionals pay an additional $15 per entry, and students pay an additional $5 per entry, making them $30 for SPJ members, $50 for nonmembers and $10 for students. (NOTE: Top awards have a different entry fee amount.)

Submit your entries using the BetterBNC Media Awards platform.

Students: This year’s scholarship contest will be run separately from the San Diego and Tijuana area competition. Please stay tuned for additional information to be posted later.

Below are directions for preparing and submitting entries. If you have questions, please contact sdspjcontest@gmail.com.

Good luck!