School Bell Award

The Wyoming School Bell Award is presented annually to a representative of the news media for outstanding coverage of education news and issues. The Wyoming School Bell Award is an expression of appreciation or excellence in the field of news media pertaining to education in the state of Wyoming.

Eligible recipients are: newspapers, editors, special correspondents, news commentators, and radio and television stations.

Nominations for the award shall be made by locals, regions, or state committees of the Wyoming Education Association. As you prepare your nomination materials, please be sure to include specific information about the nominee, his/her activities, and examples of supporting information which will aid the Board in its selection. Some locals have prepared notebooks or scrapbooks as their nomination format.

Criteria

The recipient of the award shall be selected on the basis of any one or more of the following:

• A. For the interest, skill and scope by which academic achievement, allied activities to education and professional issues of education are reported.
• B. For the consistent recognition of education as news.
• C. For the creation of an atmosphere that reflects in community interest and a willingness to put forth every effort to promote quality public education.
• D. For excellence in defining significant developments in education.
• E. For outstanding coverage of local, state, and national legislation that may have an impact on the quality of education.
• F. For the preservation of the basic principles of academic freedom and integrity.

Additional Criteria for the Selection Committee

In studying and evaluating the evidence of achievement for each nominee, the committee should keep the following questions in mind:

• A. Does the material seek to improve?
• B. Does it deal with the issue?
• C. Is it based on fact?
• D. Is it honest?
• E. Does it use restraint?
• F. Does it recognize strength and weakness?
• G. Does it tolerate differing opinions?
• H. Is there an open, cooperative, and constructive relationship with the WEA?