By Ireland Davies

The Philadelphia Student Press Association is working in collaboration with the Temple’s Community for Community-Engaged Media and the Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative to bridge the gap between student and professional newsrooms in the Greater Philadelphia area.

“It was definitely a core goal of mine to create this organization . . . where these professional journalists are able to come into rooms with (students) and talk and meet,” said Jackson Juzang, founder of the Philadelphia Student Press Association.

The Haverford College senior noticed a need for community among Philadelphia’s student news organizations while having a conversation with Haverford’s Director of Communications. “He asked if there are any umbrella organizations where all the student newsrooms in the city connect,” Juzang explained, “and that was the foundation of me saying, ‘Okay, I should go create one.’”

PSPA has grown rapidly since that initial conversation.

“We’ve gotten pretty much every major Philadelphia [student] newsroom in the initiative by now. We have 11 newsrooms,” highlighted Juzang.

The Temple News is one of the student newsrooms.

“We’re very excited to collaborate with our fellow student newspapers around Philadelphia,” said Temple News Editor-in-Chief Sidney Rochnik.

PSPA and CCEM

While organizing PSPA, Juzang met Letrell Crittenden, Director of Temple University’s Center for Community Engaged Media, through the National Association for Black Journalists. Crittenden, in turn, introduced Juzang to the Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative, a partnership of 30 Philadelphia newsrooms focused on community journalism. “It kind of blossomed into thinking about mentorship,” noted Juzang.

Gene Sonn, Project Manager of the Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative, was happy to work with PSPA member newsrooms. “Not only are we eager to help young journalists learn from PJC members, but we like to provide opportunities for everyone to connect in person,” said Sonn, “Student journalists today are doing impressive work, and I hope more newsrooms will connect with them beyond offering internships.”

Juzang echoed Sonn’s sentiment, noting that young journalists in Philadelphia should seek involvement beyond the professional opportunities the city offers. “I appreciate student journalists using [PSPA] as a launch to a professional career, but I also want them to have a passion for other aspects of Philadelphia,” Juzang emphasized, “We have an initiative where we give student journalists from all the newspapers room to report on the city itself, not just within the confines of their campuses.”

The idea of community engagement is one of the main focuses of the PSPA-PJC collaboration. “We're working with PSPA to put on a panel discussion about centering community voices in reporting,” Sonn mentioned, “This was a topic that PSPA requested, and we have great journalists from PJC who will be able to share how they do this.”

Juzang hopes that the alliance between PSPA, PJC and CCEM will encourage student journalists to continue building relationships, not just with professional organizations, but with the communities they are aiming to serve. “It’s really important to have mentorship in terms of educational value and professional value,” he said.

The PSPA panel on centering community voices will be held on Nov. 13 from 5–6 p.m. at Temple University’s Annenberg Hall in Room 304.

Keep up with PSPA through their website and on social media @phillystudentpress on Instagram and X.