School Bell Award

The SCEA recognizes the contributions made by members of the mass media (radio, television, newspapers, billboards) in public awareness and advancement of quality public education. The award expresses appreciation to South Carolina media that have made outstanding contributions to telling the story of the positive roles in public education of the Association (state and/or local) and its members.

Categories:

• Newspapers (Daily and Non-Daily)
• Broadcast (Radio and Television)

Newspaper Categories:

1. Daily papers: published at least five times per week
2. Non-daily papers: published less than five times per week

Newspaper Entry Types:

1. Sustained Coverage - how consistently and thoughtfully a newspaper has covered the Association and its members' positive roles in public education throughout the year including news and feature stories, editorials, in-depth articles and photos
2. Other Features - editorials, news articles, news analysis, feature articles

Broadcast Categories:

1. Radio and Television - two categories each:
   • Sustained Coverage: how well a station has covered school activities throughout the year, excluding athletic (unless related to a broader education issue). Includes news programs, talk shows, and special programs.
   • Special Programs or Features: specially prepared broadcast highlighting significant events or situations about the Association or members' positive roles in an education issue

Nomination Process:

• Newspapers or broadcast stations that cover counties or the entire state may be nominated by any one local education association in the region served, or jointly by several local associations
• A one-page letter of endorsement by the local education association must be submitted with the entry form
• Letter should briefly give reasons why the nominee is being submitted for competition

Submission Guidelines:

• Except for sustained coverage, newspaper entries should consist of a clipping or copy of the article
• A newspaper may have several entries
• For sustained coverage, format is left to discretion of each local education association; orderly presentation is helpful but judgment is made on content
• Broadcast sustained coverage entries should consist of copies of news, scripts, special scripts, talk show summaries, and other written documentation. Audio or video are acceptable and recommended (but not required)
• Special programs entries should consist of audio tapes for radio programs and video tapes for television programs
• A station may have several entries

Judging Criteria:

• Quality of coverage
• Understanding and knowledge of the Association and its members' positive roles in education issues
• Service to public education and the community
• For special programs: amount of coverage provided and service to the Association, public education and the community

Recommendation: Local Education Associations are encouraged to work with members of the media in selecting and preparing nominations.

Geographic Scope: South Carolina

How to Apply

For Newspapers:

1. Complete entry form for sustained coverage or other features category
2. For sustained coverage entries:
   • Provide documentation in format of discretion of local education association
   • Include orderly presentation of materials
3. For other features:
   • Provide clipping or copy of article
   • May submit multiple entries
4. Obtain one-page letter of endorsement from the local education association in the region served
   • Letter should briefly explain why nominee is being submitted
5. Submit entry form with letter of endorsement and materials

For Broadcast (Radio and Television):

1. Complete entry form for sustained coverage or special programs/features category
2. For sustained coverage:
   • Provide copies of news scripts
   • Provide special scripts, talk show summaries
   • Provide other written documentation
   • Audio or video acceptable and recommended (but not required)
3. For special programs:
   • Submit audio tapes for radio programs
   • Submit video tapes for television programs
   • May submit multiple entries
4. Obtain one-page letter of endorsement from the local education association in the region served
   • Letter should briefly explain why nominee is being submitted
5. Submit entry form with letter of endorsement and materials

Recommendation: Work with members of the media in selecting and preparing nominations