Throughout this week, journalism students across the country are participating in the Journalism Education Association’s Scholastic Journalism Week to showcase the benefits of scholastic journalism.

“Journalism courses teach students to research thoroughly and relentlessly, think critically and ask the right questions,” Adam Dawkins, who is coordinating Scholastic Journalism Week events for JEA, said.

Dawkins is the student media adviser of RJ Media at Regis Jesuit High School in Denver, Colorado, and the president of the Colorado Student Media Association.

During Scholastic Journalism Week, JEA also partners with the Society of Professional Journalists for an essay contest. Submissions are due Wednesday, Feb. 24. This year’s essay question asks: “Why it is important for journalists to seek the news and report it?”

“Over the years, Scholastic Journalism Week has been a source of inspiration for high school media staffs to share their work with a broader audience and be recognized for the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in a high school media classroom,” Dawkins said.

JEA encourages students and teachers to raise community consciousness regarding the benefits of scholastic journalism in schools.

“Establishing an open forum for student free expression through the student press is one of the most important things schools do,” Dawkins said. “Student journalists can tell the stories of their community better than anyone else can, and student voices can help promote positive school culture or help to change destructive culture.”

Dawkins said the best student media are often agents of change.

“In this way, oftentimes a healthy student press means a healthy community,” he said.

JEA has celebrated Scholastic Journalism Week in some form since 1989.

“In the past few years, we have chosen themes for the week to highlight the  great work of student media,” Dawkins said.

This year’s theme is “The Stories We Tell” and focuses on sharing powerful journalism from staffs across the country. For the past two years, JEA invited students to create an original design for the Scholastic Journalism Week theme. The winning logo is used throughout the year to promote the event. This year, James Fuance from Malvern (Pennsylvania) Preparatory School created the winning logo.

For more information on how to participate and celebrate Scholastic Journalism Week, visit JEA’s website. Don’t forget to follow Scholastic Journalism Week on Twitter at ScholasticJWeek or use the hashtag #SJW2016 throughout the week.