Fred Ross Systemic Change Journalism Competition

Overview

Submissions have closed for the 24-25 academic year. Winners will be announced at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in November 2025 in Nashville. 

The future of truth, democracy and meaningful systemic change in our country depends on equipping young journalists with the skills to distinguish between short-term solutions and lasting impact. Recognizing journalism’s vital role in upholding l democratic values, the Foundation for Systemic Change (FSC), partnered with the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) to create The Fred Ross Systemic Change Journalism Competition. The competition empowers young journalists to report on tangible, systemic strategies addressing pressing challenges like climate change, polarization, violence, LGBTQ+ rights, and the defense of democracy.

Stories should answer these two questions:

  • What is the complex challenge that requires systemic change?

  • How is the person(s)/organization you’re covering attempting to address the challenge in a systemic way?

We encourage high school journalists to report on the systemic change, strategy, person or idea taking place in their own communities. Submissions are accepted in a variety of formats including print, broadcast or mixed media. 

Prior to the submission deadline, the Foundation will offer workshops with working journalists to refine their reporting and ask questions about submissions, interviewing and more. Sign up to receive emails about Spring 2026 workshops here!

For additional inspiration, a new documentary, American Agitators, aims to motivate a new generation of activists to organize for systemic change by the teachings of Fred Ross. Learn more about the documentary American Agitators.

Fred Ross and Dolores Huerta

About Fred Ross

Stills from American Agitators

Named after the remarkable grassroots organizer who trained and mentored iconic leaders like Dolores Huerta, Fred Ross dedicated his life to organizing working men and women to better help themselves. Ross demonstrated how to channel anger and frustration into building member-led movements to change institutions and policies in meaningful ways that improve lives. He worked from the understanding that persistence and organization are required in order to build power and give people a voice in the decisions that shape their lives.

American Agitators illustrates the ways in which organized collective action can combat racism, bigotry, and greed, The Fred Ross Project (FRP) seeks to inspire a new generation of activists. Learn more about The Fred Ross Project here.  

2025 Winners

  • This article discusses the history of redlining in Louisville, highlighting the effects on marginalized communities. In Louisville, remnants of redlining remain in the city, as each area of the town lacks diversity and quality of living. Nonprofits like LMHA and HPI work to combat the lingering effects of redlining through relocation and financial services. Read the full piece here

  • This written piece follows the group Lad’s Lunch—a group aimed at fighting against toxic masculinity. By providing a space for healthy male relationships, Lads' Lunch helps men avoid social pressures related to their emotions and fosters an environment in which men are comfortable expressing their feelings. Read the full piece here.

  • Dreams of Tomorrow focuses on organizations in Louisville working to combat the child welfare crisis while facing another challenge of their own. Nonprofits Sleep In Heavenly Peace, The Clothing Assistance Program and Random Acts of Kindness provide children and families in need with necessities like clothing and beds, yet struggle to operate due to the lack of young volunteers. Read the full piece here. 

  • In Tools of Transformation, Luke Boggs follows the Guns to Gardens movement in Louisville. This campaign fights against the growing gun violence in the city through safe-surrender events where residents turn in their firearms. Despite legislation that contradicts their goals, Guns to Gardens continues to advocate for a peaceful future. Read the full piece here.

  • Maggie Stone explores the “school choice” amendment, allowing the creation of voucher programs and charter schools in Louisville. With this amendment, public schools' funding would be allocated to private and charter schools. This amendment is no longer a threat thanks to the efforts of Kentucky students, highlighting the importance of advocating for education. Read the full piece here.

  • In this written piece, Ela Patel-Euler highlights the charity foundation Youth for Armenia, founded by Maria Ayvazyan and her cousin Eduard Yeremyan. After a military attack left her homeland without food, water and resources, Ayvazyan took it upon herself to mobilize the youth to help those in need. Through fundraising, Youth for Armenia is able to collaborate with other nonprofits to to improve the lives of Armenians. Read the full piece here.  

  • This article tells the story of Tala and Mustafa, two young Gazan refugees seeking medical treatment in St. Louis, who were helped by HEAL Palestine. This organization transfers patients from the Middle East to the U.S. to receive care and goes into the affected areas to provide food and support to those in need. HEAL has made it possible for more kids like Mustafa and Tala to get the healthcare they require. Read the full piece here.

  • The written piece, Disruptive Empathy, discusses the divide caused by the Israel-Palestine conflict. As young people divide the conflict into two sides, they find it difficult to understand the other party. Disruptive empathy creates space for constructive conversations, allowing both sides to see peace as a more likely outcome. Read the full piece here. 

  • In this piece, Lillian Gray focuses on House Bill 3. Texas residents opposed HB3, which would permit taxpayer money to be used for specialized education, homeschooling, and private school tuition. Hundreds gathered to protest the bill, emphasizing the importance of public education. Read the full piece here.

  • In this podcast episode, Rooke Wiser is joined by Student Press Law Center’s Mike Hiestand to discuss the increase in threats faced by student journalists. As the government cracks down on the media and freedom of speech, the future of student journalism is uncertain. Listen to the full episode here.

2024 Winners

  • This documentary reports on the water crisis in Flint, MI that community residents have struggled with for ten years. This all started with the decision to switch the city’s water source to the Flint River. Despite the challenges they face, the people of Flint have come together, demonstrating love, leadership, passion, and, above all, resilience. Watch the full piece here.

  • This article by Josephine Schwartz highlights a movement in Iowa City to restore prairies, which once covered 85% of Iowa but are now nearly extinct. Through education and research, local schools and universities are inspiring future conservationists to preserve and restore these ecosystems, crucial. Read the full piece here.

  • Frederick Griffin, incarcerated at 17, found healing through art programs like Embodied Narrative Healing and Words Uncaged. These programs helped him reconnect with his body, address trauma, and regain his humanity, highlighting the importance of rehabilitation over punishment in U.S. prisons. Read the full piece here.

  • This article discusses the housing affordability crisis in Bethlehem, PA, that has worsened post-pandemic, pushing many families toward homelessness. In response, New Bethany Ministries launched a program connecting schools with housing advocates to support over 2,000 students, breaking language barriers and offering a systemic solution. Read the full piece here.

  • Allie Deutsch wrote about Senior Kaiya Williams, president of McLean's Black Student Union (BSU), who earned the Fairfax County Peace Award for her leadership in promoting inclusivity and organizing events, including a cookout with Langley’s Black Student Alliance. She advocates for recognizing African American history and fostering discussions on discrimination. Read the full piece here.

  • These journalists reported on the Environmental Club at Northwest, led by junior Juliet Nguyen, that is restoring the school’s prairie to absorb wastewater and promote pollination, while raising awareness about climate change and sustainability. Despite their efforts, members emphasize the need for larger systemic changes to effectively tackle environmental issues. Read the full piece here.

  • Abigail Rudy wrote about Girls Night Out Altoona Inc., which is a nonprofit dedicated to breast cancer awareness and early detection, founded by Juls Bratton in memory of a former boss. The organization supports local initiatives and partners with groups like the Bob Perks Fund to help ease the financial burdens faced by cancer patients. Read the full piece here.

  • These journalists reported on Liam Jones, a quadriplegic student with cerebral palsy, who is unable to participate in high school Unified Sports due to Oregon Special Olympics guidelines that exclude wheelchair athletes from team basketball competitions. The West Linn-Wilsonville School District is working to find a solution to ensure full inclusion for students like Jones in future Unified events. Read the full piece here.

2023 Winners

  • The Florence Fang Community Farm (FFCF) in San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point was transformed from a barren brownfield into a thriving hub for organic farming, led by community leaders Ted Fang and Faheem Carter. The farm addresses food insecurity and promotes sustainable agriculture, empowering local Black and Asian communities to grow their own food while fostering social justice, despite challenges like a violent attack on Carter. Read the full piece here.

  • This reporting by Kara and Elaine highlights a growing national labor movement across various industries, where workers are pushing for better wages, benefits, and safer conditions. Despite facing challenges from corporations and governments, union efforts and collective action are proving critical in advocating for improved working conditions. Read the full piece here.

  • The article details senior Charlie Northedge's efforts in organizing the Sept. 27 walkouts across Virginia to protest changes to the state's Model Transgender Policies, which limit students' control over their gender identity. Northedge highlights the negative mental health impacts these revisions could have on queer students and emphasizes the importance of community support and activism. Read the full piece here.

  • The article written by Chloe Sow explores the gap between Seattle's progressive values and its failure to address systemic inequalities, particularly in housing. Read the full piece here.

  • The article discusses the food insecurity crisis affecting students at West High, highlighting the efforts of the school's West High Supply food pantry, which provides discreet assistance to those in need, and emphasizes the broader systemic issues that contribute to hunger and its negative impact on students' education and well-being. Read the full piece here.

  • Peter and Carly wrote about Jeff Boyce, a long-time AP Environmental Science teacher, who embraces a political perspective in his teaching on climate change, emphasizing scientific observation over belief, and inspiring students to pursue environmental careers while addressing both environmental problems and solutions. Read the full piece here.

  • These journalists reported on the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which was passed in response to the industrial pollution of the Cuyahoga River that caught fire in 1969, requiring states to monitor and improve water quality. The Harpeth Conservancy, a nonprofit organization in Tennessee focused on preserving impaired rivers, empowers community members through initiatives like the River Stewards Awards, with intern Sydney highlighting the importance of local water conservation efforts. Watch the full piece here.

  • Izzy, Quinn, and Carly reported on STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting survivor Lucy Sarkissian continuing to struggle with anxiety and PTSD four years after the 2019 incident, highlighting the ongoing fear students face regarding gun violence in schools. Despite measures taken to improve safety, many students feel increasingly unsafe and experience heightened anxiety, prompting activism for stricter gun control laws and support from organizations like Moms Demand Action. Read the full piece here.

  • Lauren and Krish covered California's worsening homelessness crisis, which includes 30% of the nation's homeless population, and how it is being addressed in Cupertino through local initiatives and nonprofit partnerships aimed at providing housing solutions and community support. Read the full piece here.

  • Sara Rose Caplan, a St. John’s School alumna, wrote an open letter advocating for trans youth in Texas, expressing her concerns about the rising legislative attacks on trans rights and urging her community to acknowledge and support those affected by these challenges. Read the full piece here.