Iowa City High Schools Earn 47 Journalism Awards
Students at City, Liberty, and West High Schools took home top honors at the state fall press conference.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Student journalists from Iowa City, Liberty, and West High Schools brought home 47 awards at the Iowa High School Press Association Fall Conference. The honors recognized excellence in photography, design, and storytelling from the local student newsrooms.
Why it matters
These awards highlight the high level of media literacy and technical skill being developed in local secondary classrooms. The conference serves as a critical annual benchmark for student journalism programs across the state.
Students secured 47 total awards at the event, including News Team of the Year honors for both City High and West High. West High also claimed the state Yearbook of the Year award, while individual students secured first-place finishes in music divider and sports writing categories.
The players
Iowa High School Press Association
A state organization dedicated to supporting scholastic journalism through student competitions and educational resources.
The details
The conference celebrates student work across writing, photography, design, and multimedia storytelling platforms. Attendees participate in workshops and collaboration sessions designed to sharpen reporting techniques and layout skills under the guidance of professional advisers.
Timeline
October 23, 2026, marked the occurrence of the state conference in Iowa City.
The Home Front
Local high school media programs continue to set the pace within the Iowa High School Press Association competitive circuit. This consistent performance underscores the ongoing community investment in secondary-level writing and design curriculum.
Parents and local community members should check their school's digital news sites and yearbooks to see the award-winning student work firsthand. Supporting these programs ensures that local students continue to have access to high-quality training in media and communication.
The takeaway
Student journalism programs serve as essential training grounds for future writers and designers in our community. Celebrate this success by reading the latest student publications from City, Liberty, and West High Schools.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in local classrooms on the Secondary Education page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KGAN.
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