Your connection to collegiate news | Aug. 25, 2026

Welcome to this semester's first edition of the lede, SCPA's newsletter for collegiate journalists and advisers! We hope you had a great summer and are ready to get back to serving your campuses!

Please reach out to let us know the content or topics you'd like to see featured in upcoming editions, and send us items to include so we can showcase the outstanding work done by the Palmetto State's collegiate journalists! Also, please share this with your staff and encourage them to subscribe!

In case you need a refresher, here are the benefits of SCPA membership. Information about membership dues was emailed to all advisers earlier this month. If you need us to resend your invoice, say the word.

Editor's Note: As the summer comes to a close, so does the SCPA Foundation's internship program. Let's hear from Nathan Inman of Clemson, who spent his summer at The (Seneca) Journal. Nathan is associate editor for Clemson's newspaper, The Tiger.

By Nathan Inman, Clemson University Senior
My experience with The Journal has been nothing short of spectacular throughout this summer. Stepping into a newsroom with a sports background and virtually no news experience, I was nervous and unsure of what to expect. 

Admittedly, my expectations were low — how could a sports reporter enjoy covering “boring” local news?

A group of veterans celebrating 50 years of friendship, a local nonprofit helping residents gain financial independence and, most recently, a local resident battling Parkinson’s Disease tackling a 95-mile kayaking journey — all amazing and inspiring stories I would have otherwise never known about. And while I didn’t realize it at the time, I also covered what would be longtime-senator Lindsey Graham’s final campaign stop in his hometown of Seneca.

From fascinating local stories to local and state politics, I had the opportunity to write about so many amazing topics. I am so grateful to the SCPA Foundation for this opportunity, and to The Journal for having me for this eight-week internship — and three additional weeks after my internship officially ended!

How to apply 
Eight-week internships valued at $4,480 are open to student journalists who attend a four-year college in South Carolina or reside in South Carolina and attend a four-year college elsewhere. Rising juniors and seniors are eligible to apply by Dec. 1.

Collegiate member press IDs will be dated for the '26-27 academic year.
Learn more and order today!

The S.C. Press Association is partnering with SC Investigates to host a FREE virtual panel discussion on writing for impact. The event will be held over Zoom on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 2-3 p.m.
Panelists will include recent winners of South Carolina’s A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism:
   •  Tony Bartelme, The Post and Courier
   •  Zak Koeske, The State
   •  Glenn Smith, The Post and Courier
Gina Smith, founder and director of SC Investigates will moderate the discussion.
This event is catered specifically toward S.C. professional and collegiate journalists so regardless of your beat or your organization’s size, frequency or resources, you’ll walk away with practical skills.
If you’re looking to grow your accountability and investigative journalism skills from experts in the Palmetto State, you don’t want to miss this session!
Thanks to sponsorship from the A-Mark Foundation, there is no cost to attend this event but you must RSVP by Sept. 17. 

Collegiate members:  the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications is hosting the National AI Conference Featuring Leaders from BBDO Worldwide, AT&T and FOX News Media. College students across South Carolina are invited to attend both days of the conference, Oct. 9-10, for free but must register online. A companion Student AI Challenge will take place Oct. 10, challenging teams of university students from across South Carolina to solve real-world communications problems using artificial intelligence, research, strategy, and creativity while receiving mentorship from industry professionals. The students will be competing for cash prizes totaling $15,000. Learn more and register.  

The Tiger at Clemson University hears from the students at Tiger Prowl 2026 on Instagram! | Watch here

The Daily Gamecock at USC wraps up the first week back to school through a video on Instagram! | Watch here

Artificial intelligence in content creation | By Ezekiel Chilton,
The Vision, North Greenville University | Read more

If you want your work featured, send us your clips on Instagram or Facebook!