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

JDay Celebration 2026

Scholastic Journalism Day – JDay – will be hosted at Mizzou on Wednesday, March 25, 2026!  

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. To better plan for the events, teachers are welcome to use this sheet.

JDay Schedule and JDay Speakers

  • MIJA is happy to announce that the keynote speaker will be Tyson Ellison. A graduate of Boonville High School and former Mizzou linebacker, Ellison is the host and executive producer of the 2026 Tiger Kickoff Show and a reporter and anchor for KOMU 8 Sports.  
  • Feel free to use this Planning Sheet, which can be used just to help your students plan their sessions or as an assignment for the day. A map with pictures of the buildings where sessions will be held is below.

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 January to the MIJA JDay Contests. 

Schools wishing to attend this FREE event still need to register in advance for 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.

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.
  • Exhibitors pay $350
    • Exhibitors who present will receive a discounted rate (applies to non-educational institution vendors only). 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.
  • 8:45-9:00 a.m. Opening and Introductions
  • 9:00-9:25 a.m. Keynote Speaker
  • 9:35 a.m.-1:05 p.m. On-Site Contests and Breakout Sessions around campus
  • 1:15-2:15 p.m.  Closing Ceremony and Awards Presentation in Jesse Auditorium

PARKING

Personal Vehicle Parking: Parking structure permits are $10.00 per day in Turner Avenue garage. Visitors no longer receive physical parking permits. Instead, license plates are scanned, and tickets are issued to vehicles not in the Parking and Transportation system portal. If you are planning on bringing your own car or personal vehicle, please purchase your parking permit by following the instructions that were emailed to you.

Bus Parking: Buses can drop off and pick up their passengers outside Jesse Hall. Buses can be parked around Columbia using free public parking allowing the drivers to enjoy time off the buses and visit local places. To assist with finding public parking around Columbia, reference this map of public parking suggestions such as Columbia Mall, Walmart or local parks. Alternatively, parking for buses will be available in lot SG4/N by the Hearnes Center for $8/bus. Please see the email that was sent to you about how to secure a bus parking permit.

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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 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
  • 2024 – 1,066 students and teachers in attendance
  • 2025 – 1,207 students and teachers in attendance
  • 2026 – 1,360 students and teachers in attendance

THANK YOU:

Thank you to the following organizations and companies for their donations and sponsorships for JDay 2026. Without them, much of JDay would not be possible.

  • Jostens
  • Journalism Educator Association
  • Media Now
  • Missouri School of Journalism
  • SNO Sites
  • Student Press Law Center
  • Varsity Yearbook
  • Walsworth