The Brodsky Prize
All New Hampshire public, charter, and parochial high school students are eligible for the annual $5,000 Brodsky Prize for innovation in journalism.
The Brodsky Prize was established in 2018 by the late Jeffrey Brodsky and his father, Howard, to encourage journalistic initiative and enterprise, as well as what Jeffrey called "a contrarian nature and out-of-the-box thinking."
Applications will open in Spring 2026.
Who is Eligible?
High school students who live in New Hampshire and attend public, charter, or parochial schools. Students who live in a neighboring state, but attend a New Hampshire school, are also eligible.
Entry requirements
High school students who live in New Hampshire and attend public, charter, or parochial schools are eligible to apply. Students who live in a neighboring state, but attend a New Hampshire school, are also eligible.
Each student will respond to three questions in an essay format. The questions will be available when applications open.
Submit three recent examples of your student journalism work. At least two examples should have been published in a school-run publication, used as part of your school’s communications, or printed/broadcast by a local news outlet. The examples must be submitted as PDFs with the name of the student, the publication and date visible. Links can be included along with the PDFs.
A panel of judges will consider students’ journalistic initiative and enterprise, contrarian nature and out-of- the-box thinking, as well as other spelling and grammar, an attention-getting lead, fairness and accuracy, and whether the entry clearly explains the issue it covers.
We will be accepting applications for the Brodsky Prize in the Spring of 2026.
About Jeffrey Brodsky
When Jeffrey Brodsky was a student at Manchester’s Central High School, he found his voice as co-editor of Central’s student newspaper, the Little Green. He made significant changes to the newspaper, improving circulation by 800%. During this time, Jeffrey interviewed all nine candidates for the 1992 presidential election and was selected as a student intern for the Chicago Sun-Times covering the White House.
His unconventional thinking as editor brought him headlines beyond the campus and started him on a career in the media. Jeffrey was a noted journalist, oral historian and graduate of the Oral History Master of Arts program at Columbia University.
In honor of those early student journalism experiences, he and his father, Howard, established the scholarship program to give back to their community and encourage further generations of journalists.
Jeffrey passed away on July 26, 2023, at the age of 49.
You can read about Jeff’s life and watch this video prepared by his family.
Past Winners of the Brodsky Prize
2025 Brodsky Prize Winners
Kelsey Sweet, a junior at Londonderry High School, received the first-place award earning the $5,000 prize. Josefina Eliessetch, a junior from Kearsarge Regional High School, received second place, and Eleanor Rioux, a senior from Manchester Central High School, came in third place.
2024 Brodsky Prize Winners
Kaylee Mague of Londonderry High School, Class of 2026, was named first-place winner, with Mia Boyd, a senior from Oyster River High School, in second place, and Sarah Bufano, a senior from Sanborn Regional High School, in third place. Anna Kual, a senior at Manchester Central High School, was name a finalist.
2023 Brodsky Prize Winners
Samuel Marcotte, a senior at Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, and Aiden Barker, right, senior at Hollis-Brookline High School, were named co-winners. Second place went to Michael Blair of Manchester Central High. Madison Harressey, Pinkerton Academy, and Vick Mahindru, Manchester High School West, were named finalists.
2022 Brodsky Prize Winners
Siera Biddle, a senior at Souhegan High School, received first place. Second place went to Emily Bisson of Manchester Central High, and third place was Samantha Autumn of Pinkerton Academy. Finalists were: Matthew Blair and Kathryn Craig, of Manchester Central High; and Rachel Phinney and Emily Polsin, of Pembroke High School.
2021 Brodsky Prize Winners
Serena Pugh, a senior at Gilford High School, was the first-place winner. Second place went to Eve Brown-Ryder of Manchester Memorial and Zachary Rioux of Bishop Guertin. Third place went to Tyler Hughes of Winnacunnet High School, and Daisy Macdonald of Hinsdale High School.
2020 Brodsky Prize Winners
Emma Rosenbaum, a senior at Bedford High School, received first place.
2019 Brodsky Prize Winners
Central High School student journalists Eamonn Ryan and Carley Crain shared the first-place title.
2018 Brodsky Prize Winners
Monericka Semeran, of Manchester Central High School, was the winner of the prize.
Student Journalism Resources
The Loeb School’s classes are open to people of all ages. High School students are invited to join us for classes, both in-person and online.
The New Hampshire Press Association offers mentoring opportunities and internship matches for high school and college students interested in careers in journalism. Each Spring, it hosts a workshop and awards luncheon for high school and college journalists.
The New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters offers a statewide station/ association-funded program, the Student Broadcaster Scholarship Program, which awards qualified students with a $2,500 scholarship toward pursuing a degree in over-the-air broadcasting.
The New England High School Journalism Collaborative has introduced hundreds of high school students to the field of journalism, through workshops, internships, and programs that let students work directly with professional reporters, photographers and editors from area newspapers.Additionally, it offers a a one-week all-expense paid summer workshop for aspiring young journalists throughout New England.
The New England Newspapers & Press Association offers resources, scholarships, and other opportunities to student journalists.
The Student Press Law Center provides information, training and legal assistance at no charge to student journalists and the educators who work with them. Founded in 1974, the SPLC is based in Washington, D.C.