The NAA Foundation News Challenge is a cutting-edge training session for college students that will harness their creativity to create new content and business models for the newspaper industry.

The one-week program is scheduled for May 30-June 4, 2010, at the University of Nevada, Reno. The 15 participating students will be divided into teams to develop real-world prototypes for the newspaper industry. They will interact with digital news executives, advertising and marketing directors, educators and more over the course of the week.

This program will give participants a sense of the digital opportunities in the newspaper industry. The NAA Foundation will pay for students’ travel, housing and meals.

News Challenge podcast with Jeanne Fox-Alston

Overview of 2009 program

Criteria: The NAA Foundation News Challenge is open to all students who will enter their junior or senior years at an accredited college in summer or fall 2010. Graduate students currently enrolled in a degree program are also invited to apply. While News Challenge is open to students in all fields, applications are especially encouraged from those majoring in advertising, marketing, business, finance, computer science, computer graphics, communications and journalism.

How to apply: Applications are still being accepted. They must include a current college transcript, a résumé and two letters of recommendation from college professors and/or work supervisors.

For more information, contact Jeanne Fox-Alston, NAA Foundation vice president, at 571.366.1005 or jeanne.foxalston@naa.org.

2010 News Challenge Application