Women and men in all areas of the communications industry may join NPW.
Scholarship Applications Due April 19 - Nebraska Press Women annually awards two scholarships - one to a high school senior and one to a college student.

The Nebraska Press Women’s $1,000 Marianne Beel Scholarship is open to all Nebraska high school seniors of any gender who have a heart for photography, writing, podcasting, videography or who keep a strong social media/online presence for their school publication, volunteer organization or employer.

The Nebraska Press Women’s $1,000 Memorial Scholarship is available for full-time graduate or upper-class undergraduate students of any gender who are pursuing a career in a communications-related field.

Find our how to apply.

Batie Named Runner-up for National COA - Barb Bierman Batie of Lexington, Neb., has been named the runner-up for the 2023 Communicator of Achievement Award from the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW).

Batie was recognized during a celebration at the organization’s annual conference held June 22-24, 2023, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Now in its 86th year, NFPW is a nationwide organization of professional women and men pursuing careers across the spectrum of journalism and communications.
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Students Win National Communications Awards - Nebraska high school students earned two first places, two second places, four third places and nine honorable mentions in the National Federation of Press Women High School Communications Contest.

Winners were announced during a May 17 awards ceremony held via Zoom. Nebraska’s national winners are from eight schools – Dorchester Public School in Dorchester, Gretna High School in Gretna, Lexington High School in Lexington, Marian High School in Omaha, Millard North High School in Omaha, Millard South High School in Omaha, Ralston High School in Ralston, and Westside High School in Omaha.
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NPW Communications Contest Awards - All three NPW Sweepstakes Award recipients in the Nebraska Press Women Communications Contest this year are from central Nebraska. The three and their placements include: Mary Jane Skala, Kearney Hub lifestyle writer and columnist, first; Lori Potter, Kearney-based freelance writer and columnist, second; and Barb Batie, Lexington-based freelance writer, third.

Other members also were recognized for their work.
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Two Named to Hall of Fame - Two trailblazing journalists, one in broadcast journalism and the other in journalism education, were inducted into the Marian Andersen Women Journalists Hall of Fame on April 22. Ceremonies were conducted during the Nebraska Press Women’s spring conference awards banquet in Beatrice. Linda Beermann, long-time reporter, photographer, news assignment editor and weather newscaster for KOLN/KGIN-TV, was a posthumous induction. Mary Hepburn of North Platte was recognized for her work as a reporter/writer for numerous U.S. and Canadian newspapers, publications and government agencies, as well as her years as a journalism educator.
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Students Win Communications Awards -

Students from 13 schools won state awards in the contest that includes categories in the areas of writing, visual, broadcast or video, and yearbook. The contest was open to high school students across the state. It was judged by communications professionals, with constructive feedback provided on each entry.

Westside High School in Omaha accumulated the most points based on contest results and received the Sweepstakes Award. Marian High School, also in Omaha, placed as runner up for the Sweepstakes Award. Bellevue West High School placed third. All three schools received awards.  <

Read the list of winners.

Barb Batie Is Named COA - Lexington journalist Barb Batie was named the 2022 Communicator Achievement (COA) by the Nebraska Press Women (NPW) at its recent fall conference in Kearney. This award is the organization’s highest honor for members. It recognizes professional achievement, community service and also service to the organization.

Batie is known for her reporting, particularly on agricultural issues. A farmer as well as a journalist, Batie has won awards for her columns, photos, and reporting.
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LuAnn Schindler Is National COA - LuAnn Schindler of Clearwater, Neb., received the 2022 Communicator of Achievement Award from the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW during a celebration at the organization’s annual conference, held June 23-25, 2022, in Fargo, N.D. The Communicator of Achievement award is the highest honor bestowed by NFPW upon those members who have distinguished themselves within and beyond their field.

Schindler, a member of Nebraska Press Women, is co-publisher (along with her husband, Scott) and editor-in-chief of the weekly Summerland Advocate-Messenger, serving the communities of Clearwater, Orchard, Ewing, Page and Royal.
Read more.

March 15, 2024 Hall of Fame nomination deadline

April 19, 2024 - NPW Board Meeting, Lexington

April 20, 2024 - NPW Spring Convention, Lexington


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Each year, the Nebraska Press Women organization sponsors a Professional Communications Contest. A collegiate communications contest is a separate division of the professional contest. Award winners in both contests are recognized at the state level with top prizes being first, second and third place Sweepstakes Awards. All NFPW first place winners from Nebraska are eligible to compete in the national contest. For more information, go to the menu above and click on Contests, then Contest Rules.

NPW also holds an annual High School Communications Contest with 23 categories encompassing newspaper, yearbook and video work done by students. The first-place entry in each of the categories advances to the national contest held by the National Federation of Press Women. This is the only existing high school journalism contest that feeds into a national competition. For more information on the high school contest, go to the menu above and click on Contests, then High School.

Click the link below to find out more about NPW's contests.