Philadelphia Inquirer Features Philadelphia Student Press Association’s Regional Impact

PHILADELPHIA – December 22, 2025 – The Philadelphia Student Press Association (PSPA) was recently featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer in an article highlighting the organization’s mission to support student journalism, foster collaboration across campuses, and seek sustainable funding at a time of increasing financial pressure on college newsrooms.

The article, written by Inquirer higher education reporter Susan Snyder and published December 22, profiles PSPA’s founding, growth, and expanding role as a regional network for student journalists across Greater Philadelphia. Founded earlier this year by Haverford College senior Jackson Juzang, PSPA brings together student editors and reporters from 11 colleges and universities, collectively representing approximately 400 student journalists.

The feature traces PSPA’s origins to a conversation Juzang had with a Haverford College administrator about the lack of a regional support system for student newspapers. When it became clear that no such network existed, Juzang decided to build one.

The article details how PSPA’s member publications include student newsrooms at Temple University, Drexel University, Villanova University, La Salle University, St. Joseph’s University, Rowan University, Rutgers–Camden, Bryn Mawr College, Swarthmore College, Haverford College, and Eastern University. Guided by the slogan “Rooted in Philly, Reporting for All,” the association provides a forum for student leaders to share resources, troubleshoot common challenges, and plan collaborative workshops.

Student editors interviewed for the piece emphasized the value of peer support, particularly as college newsrooms navigate rising print costs, limited budgets, and evolving ethical questions around artificial intelligence in journalism. PSPA board members described monthly meetings where editors discuss issues ranging from newsroom funding models to editorial standards and emerging technologies.

The article also highlights PSPA’s fundraising efforts, including outreach to foundations and external partners to help expand professional development opportunities, cover reporting-related expenses, and support student publications with fewer institutional resources. Several student leaders noted that the association helps normalize challenges that can otherwise feel isolating on individual campuses.

In addition to its regional focus, the feature notes PSPA’s long-term vision. Juzang shared plans to assist colleges that have lost student news outlets in reviving them, as well as early conversations with student journalists in other major metro areas about replicating the PSPA model nationally.

College administrators also praised the organization’s impact, underscoring the importance of students sharing institutional knowledge and advocating collectively for the future of campus journalism.

PSPA continues to host workshops, convene student leaders, and pursue partnerships aimed at strengthening student-led reporting across the Philadelphia region.

Read the full article: https://www.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-student-press-association-journalists-20251222.html

---

About the Philadelphia Student Press Association

The Philadelphia Student Press Association (PSPA) is a nonprofit network of student newsrooms across Greater Philadelphia. PSPA connects student journalists with peer leaders and professional mentors, supports collaboration between campuses, and advocates for sustainable, community-centered student journalism in the region.