The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA

The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA

The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA

JDay Celebration

Scholastic Journalism Day – JDay – will be hosted at Mizzou on Wednesday, March 27! You can register for JDay on this page for this upcoming 2024 event. 

It is a full day of speakers, workshops, awards and fun! And it’s FREE for all MIJA member advisers and their students. In a normal year, dozens of schools from across the state bring their entire staff on a bus to Columbia, arriving between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. to Jesse Hall to gather for the kickoff! Come early and enjoy a staff photo slideshow, visit vendors and wake up with games to play and prizes to win.

Students wear their own staff shirts or can purchase JDay T-shirts in advance using an online order form and spread the JDay spirit. After you use the Google Form to purchase your shirts (link coming soon), please click on this link to pay for your shirts. 

JDay Presenters

JDay Schedule

Following the Kickoff, students can choose from four sessions featuring dozens of journalism-related workshops and learn hands-on from a variety of professionals. Multiple class blocks offering nearly three dozen sessions ranging from yearbook to newspaper/magazine to broadcast, photography, current events, trending topics and more are scheduled.

Journalism students from all MIJA member schools are eligible to win awards by submitting their work in February to the MIJA JDay Contests. 

Schools wishing to attend this FREE event still need to register in advance for Wednesday, March 27, 2024 JDay. Registration closes at midnight a week before JDay. Teachers, please don’t forget about the requirement for chaperones. (You can see below for more on Mizzou’s policy.)

Student registration for particular sessions is not needed. Just complete teacher and school information, the total number of students and teacher lunch request, if needed. You can also have your students register themselves!

Don’t miss out on this valuable educational and celebratory day for your journalism students!

Please send any questions to [email protected].

  • Member schools are complimentary
  • Non-member schools pay $50/school.
  • NEW! Zoom online critique sessions are available. Schools may register for up to three critique sessions per school at $60/session. Speak with a judge live during one of your sessions.
    • These critique sessions will be held during JDay in MU classrooms with the judge zooming in.
    • The school will need to send their work before the JDay session.
  • Exhibitors pay $350
    • Exhibitors who present will receive a discounted rate. Please email [email protected] for more information

The tentative schedule for JDay is:

Schedule:
  • 8:00-8:45 a.m. Registration desk opens in Jesse Auditorium lobby.
  • 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Opening and Introductions
  • 9:15-10:00 a.m. Keynote Speaker
  • 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Vendor Trade Show
  • 10:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.  Contests and Breakout sessions around campus
  • 1:15-2:00 p.m.  Closing Ceremony and awards presentation in Jesse Auditorium

MIZZOU REQUIREMENTS

The University of Missouri System has implemented a Youth Protection Policy for youth events on our campuses. View the parent/guardian letter here and the full Youth Protection Policy here. As you plan your campus visit, make sure to have a supervision ratio goal of one chaperone to every 12-15 students.

The University expects chaperones to provide supervision of youth on university property throughout the event. Chaperones should not leave youth unsupervised and should be able to account for them at all times.

The University offers an emergency alert system. If you haven’t already signed up for alerts, you can do so here. If youth have phones during the event, they may also sign up to be alerted of emergencies.

REGISTRANTS:

  • 2019 – 1,340 students and teachers in attendance
  • 2020 – 1,525 students and teachers registered, canceled due to Covid-19
  • 2021 – Held virtually
  • 2022 – 1,074 students and teachers in attendance
  • 2023 – 1,193 students and teachers in attendance