- To promote professionalism in scholastic journalism.
- To offer national certification to scholastic journalism teachers and advisers.
- To designate as master teachers educators whose experience and expertise make them outstanding professionals.
- To recognize educators who possess the education or experience to teach scholastic journalism and advise student publications.
- To encourage those who are teaching scholastic journalism or advising student publications without an adequate background to increase their knowledge of journalism and to provide a model for their continuing education.
- To increase the availability of courses and workshops appropriate for the scholastic journalism teacher and adviser.
- To provide model certification requirements for scholastic journalism teachers in states that do not offer licensing in this field.
- To improve public and school district perceptions of certified scholasticjournalism teachers as professionals.
Why should I seek certification?
Certification will demonstrate that you are qualified to teach journalism and validate the credibility of your program to administrators, parents, fellow teachers, students and others. It will recognize your commitment to journalistic training and provide tangible evidence of your qualifications to remain in journalism education. It recognizes journalism teaching and advising as an academic field worthy of professional status. JEA will notify administrators and local media of your certification. A certificate and pin, as well as your listing in the CJE/MJE Directory, will testify to your qualification. Your listing in the directory also will be an automatic reference for available positions in and opportunities to serve scholastic journalism. The directory will be given to workshop coordinators so they might consider CJE and MJE individuals for workshop positions.
Does this mean journalism teachers and advisers must earn this certification?
No. Designed to recognize teachers with the background and experience necessary to do a good job, this program is entirely voluntary. JEA encourages all journalism educators to be well prepared.
What if I don’t have many college credits in journalism?
You can qualify for certification under Option B, in which a test substitutes for credits.
How does this program differ from state certification?
State certification, which does not exist in many states, is usually mandatory and based entirely on college credits. Through the test, this program will recognize teachers who have gained knowledge through experience and self-study or from attending convention sessions or non-credit workshops. It also offers national certification whether or not a state program exists. The Master Journalism Educator program recognizes the teacher of unusual ability and expertise, a recognition that state certification cannot provide.
How will it improve journalism education nationwide?
JEA hopes colleges and universities will offer courses and workshops to help teachers meet these requirements. JEA also hopes colleges and universities will realize classes taught by CJEs and MJEs are bona fide English classes and should be accepted as such when determining college admissions.
What does it cost to become a Certified Journalism Educator?
Application fee is $60 for JEA members, $110 for nonmembers. Fees cover only a portion of administration, judging, mailing and costs of pins and certificates. Other expenses for developing criteria and tests will be covered by JEA. School districts are encouraged to pay the fees for their applicants.
What are the qualifications for CJE?
Applicants must complete an application and (1) provide evidence of a valid state teaching certificate, unless one is not required in special instances, and (2) provide evidence of journalistic training from one of two options:
Option A: Copies of transcripts showing a college major or minor in journalism or mass communications, with a course in publications advising or 18 semester (27 quarter) credits of journalism, including course work in news writing and reporting, communications law, and publications advising. Credit may be from undergraduate or graduate courses, workshops, independent (correspondence) study or technology classes. CLICK HERE for a list of colleges and universities that offer these classes.
Option B: Provide evidence of at least three years, minimum, journalism teaching or advising and pass a written examination administered by JEA.
If I choose Option B, what kind of test will be given?
The 2 1/2-hour, written test requires short responses to 20 questions covering news writing and reporting, communications law and publications advising. A study guide will be sent on request.
NEW! Can I take the certification on computer?
Yes, the CJE and MJE exams are now taken on computer at the national conventions. Candidates are allowed to use the computer lab to word process their responses. A safe system has been developed to make sure the exams and responses are secure and reliable. A back-up system also has been implemented "just in case."
After CJE status, what’s the next step?
CJEs may apply for Master Journalism Educator status, which recognizes journalism teachers with outstanding abilities and expertise in the field.
What are the qualifications for MJE?
Applicants must complete an application and
- have earned CJE status;
- verify five years of journalism teaching or advising experience;
- submit a letter of endorsement from a supervisor or principal who has directly observed the journalism educator while teaching or advising;
- show evidence of participation in scholastic journalism professional growth activities at local, state, regional or national levels;
- pass the Master Journalism Educator examination (a 2 1/2-hour essay test of the educator’s knowledge and ability to advise others about journalism); and
- submit a pre-approved project, paper or teaching unit.
What is the fee for MJE status?
Application fee is $85 for JEA members, $135 for non-members. This fee is higher than that for CJE because more extensive judging is necessary. School districts are encouraged to pay the fee.
What is the application deadline and when will I receive my award?
Applications for CJE Option A should be postmarked by Oct. 1 to be announced at the fall convention and by March 1 to be announced at the spring convention. Applications for MJE or CJE using Option B should be postmarked by Oct. 1 to qualify the applicant to take the test at the fall convention and by March 1 to take the test at the spring convention. Test results will be sent six to eight weeks after the test, and applicants will be notified about selection as soon as all application procedures are complete. Successful applicants will be announced at the next convention. CJE award certificates or MJE plaques will be presented at JEA conventions or will be mailed to the recipients.
How will tests be judged?
All test judging will be anonymous. JEA headquarters will assign a number to each test, which will go to a Review Board of judges, who will independently grade the test. A composite score will be given.
How long will certification be current?
The CJE and MJE will be valid for five years and may be renewed by showing evidence of continued professional growth. The renewal fee is $10. If certification is not renewed at the end of five years, it will be considered void.
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