About Us

SISPA, Southern Illinois School Press Association, supports student journalists and advisers as they publish their schools’ newspapers and yearbooks.  Through the support of the SIU Carbondale’s School of Journalism, the organization offers support, critique services, workshops, and much more to high schools, junior highs and middle schools in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana. The Southern Alumnus documents the fourth meeting of the group as occurring in 1953. The document is linked on our archive page.

The earliest edition of the SISPA Editor, the mailed newsletter of the organization was released in 1958. Since then, hard copies of the newsletter have been replaced with emails to group members by the organization’s sitting director.

If you would like to be included in these communications, please email Gina Shook.

SISPA Executive Committee

Dana Donovan, co-director & newspaper contests

Gina Shook, co-director & yearbook contests

Sami Goetting, on-site contests & site editor

Darlene Reidelberger, SIUC liaison

Dr. Jan Thompson, director, SIUC School of Journalism