The school is the center of statewide activity concerning mass-communication education in middle and secondary schools. Two associations are involved, N.C. Scholastic Media Association (NCSMA) and N.C. Scholastic Media Advisers Association (NCSMAA).

NCSMA, formerly N.C. Scholastic Press Association, was founded in the late 1930s and has a history of leadership and service. Its name was changed in 1995 to include the electronic and now digital media. Principal activities are a statewide contest and critique service in the spring, an annual institute in June and regional workshops in the fall.

The institute draws hundreds of students and publication advisers to Chapel Hill for four days of intensive training in electronic media; newspaper, yearbook and literary magazine journalism; desktop publishing; photojournalism; and scholastic media advising. NCSMA offers opportunities for problem-solving, networking and creativity. Fall regional workshops on college campuses throughout the state take journalism education to more than 1,200 high school students and advisers each year, from Manteo to Asheville.

NCSMAA, founded in 1976, is an arm of NCSMA that gives publication advisers education in journalistic techniques, produces a statewide newsletter and serves as a forum for exchanging ideas.

NCSMAA offers fellowships to advisers to help them take graduate-level courses in scholastic media advising. Designed to cover in-state tuition, fees, lodging and textbooks, these fellowships cover some $1,230 in expenses for up to 10 advisers each summer. JOMC 605, "Design and Production of Secondary School Publications" and JOMC 490, "Teaching Broadcast Journalism in the Secondary School," are usually offered as intensive two-week courses in July. The School has offered additional courses in scholastic media advising as online options. JOMC 602, "Mass Communication Education in Secondary School" is currently offered as a self-paced study online course. Other online options have included JOMC 603, "Mass Communication Law in Secondary School" and JOMC 604, "Mass Communication Writing and Editing in Secondary School."

Mailing Address:
North Carolina Scholastic Media Association
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
284 Carroll Hall, CB# 3365
UNC-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Phone: 919.962.4639
Toll free: 888.JMC.NCSM or 888.562.6276
Fax: 919.962.0620
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

To be added to the NCSMA listserv, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it