On June 16, The Bethel Collegian formally accepted an invitation to join the Northern Plains Collegiate Media Association, or NPCMA, for the 2022-2023 academic year.
The NPCMA, which has long consisted of small schools across the state of Nebraska, is led by Executive Director Rob Breeding of the University of Nebraska-Kearney and is now expanding into adjoining states. The Collegian is expected to soon be joined by institutions spanning regionally from Kansas to South Dakota.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to not only grow The Collegian as an organization, but to give our editors and writers the opportunity to display their work on a larger scale and enhance their journalistic skills through the services and exposure the NPCMA will provide,” Editor-in-Chief Brett Esch said.
As part of its membership, The Collegian will participate in the Golden Leaf Awards — an annual competition that awards NPCMA-member publications for excellence in a variety of categories. This includes best overall website, best news reporting/writing, and best photojournalism, among others.
The Collegian’s membership in the NPCMA is a one-year agreement that will be available for renewal at the beginning of each academic year.