15 Best Summer Journalism Programs for High School Students
If you're a high school student interested in reporting, storytelling, or media production, a summer journalism program can help you explore the field in a hands-on, engaging way. These programs teach you how to write articles, conduct interviews, fact-check sources, and even produce multimedia content, all while collaborating with experienced journalists and mentors.
Many of the best summer journalism programs are hosted by universities or professional media organizations and provide practical newsroom experience through collaborative projects and editorial simulations. You’ll also develop critical thinking and communication skills that translate well to any future career path once you graduate.
To simplify your search, we’ve compiled the 15 best summer journalism programs for high school students.
1. University of Alabama’s Multicultural Journalism Workshop (MJW)
Location: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 18
Dates: June 8 – June 14
Eligibility: Students entering 9th grade through their freshman year of college
The Multicultural Journalism Workshop (MJW) at The University of Alabama is a six-day residential program for high school students interested in exploring journalism and media. You’ll live in UA dorms and gain hands-on experience in reporting, writing, editing, design, and photography. Field trips to Tuscaloosa and the Black Belt region give you the chance to cover real stories while working under deadlines. Professional journalists from across the country mentor you throughout the program, offering guidance and feedback. Your work will be published in the “MJW Journal,” showcasing the skills you’ve developed.
2. Ladder Internships - Journalism Track
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available | None
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a competitive program created for high school students to gain practical experience with high-growth start-ups. Through this program, students take on remote internships with companies across industries such as technology, deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are supported by Y Combinator, with founders who have backgrounds at organizations like Google, McKinsey, and Microsoft. During the internship, you will work closely with both a start-up manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach on key projects, finishing with a presentation of your work to the company.
3. Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline:
Round 1: December - February
Round 2: March - April
Round 3: May
Dates: July 24 – August 3
Eligibility: High school juniors at the time of application with a minimum unweighted grade point average of 3.5 out of 4.0
Princeton's PSJP program is geared towards high school juniors who are interested in journalism and getting ready for college. You’ll take part in online workshops in July, hear from top journalists in lectures, and start working on writing projects and college applications. The program’s highlight is a 10-day residential session on Princeton’s campus, where you live in dorms and immerse yourself in hands-on reporting. Field trips to top media outlets and coverage of real-world events provide you with firsthand industry exposure. You’ll also help write, edit, and design The Princeton Summer Journal as part of the newsroom experience. Mentorship and one-on-one guidance make the program a comprehensive introduction to journalism.
4. Florida International University’s Journalism Jumpstart Program
Location: Florida International University, North Miami, FL
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: June 13
Dates: June 23 – July 3
Eligibility: Middle school and high school students of Miami-Dade and Broward counties
The Journalism Jumpstart Program at Florida International University is a free summer opportunity for middle and high school students in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. You’ll work closely with media professionals and instructors to build skills in reporting, interviewing, and multimedia production. Throughout the program, you will produce articles, graphics, and short multimedia packages on health and community topics provided by the Dow Jones News Fund. Your work will be published in the Jumpstart Journal, providing you with a platform to showcase your progress. By the end, you’ll have a portfolio reflecting your growth as a student journalist.
5. FIRE’s Free Speech Forum
Location: American University, Washington, DC
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 30
Dates: June 22 – June 28
Eligibility: Rising 10th through 12th graders
The FIRE Free Speech Forum offers a free, week-long summer experience for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. You’ll learn the foundations of free speech and its role in civic life through interactive lectures and workshops. Sessions are led by First Amendment experts who bring real-world insight into discussions. The program includes leadership-building activities and experiences in and around Washington, D.C., providing both educational and exploratory opportunities. A 10:1 student-to-staff ratio ensures a supportive learning environment.
6. Summer Journalism Bootcamp by The Daily Free Press
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: August 5, August 12, and August 19
Eligibility: High school students
The Summer Journalism Bootcamp by The Daily Free Press is a no-cost, remote program for high school and college students at any experience level. Across three online sessions, you’ll explore topics including reporting ethics, hard and feature news writing, multimedia skills, and newsroom diversity. You’ll complete assignments between sessions to build your own story, with the possibility of publication in the FreeP. Experienced editors offer one-on-one mentorship, providing personalized feedback on your reporting and writing. Guest speakers include FreeP alumni who work at national news organizations such as The Washington Post and The New York Times.
7. AAJA’s JCamp
Location: Asian American Journalists Association, Seattle, WA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: January 31
Dates: July 26 – August 1
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
At AAJA’s JCamp, you’ll join students from across the country for a six-day, fully funded journalism training experience. You’ll work on news packages for JCamp Live while attending sessions led by experienced journalists and media leaders. The curriculum emphasizes ethics, leadership, cross-cultural communication, and the importance of diversity in media. The week-long experience offers both technical skills and valuable insight into the journalism profession.
8. UNC’s Chuck Stone Program for Diversity in Education and Media
Location: UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – June 24
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The Chuck Stone Program at UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media is a one-week summer experience for rising high school seniors. Twelve students are selected to spend the week in Chapel Hill learning the foundations of reporting, writing, and storytelling across multiple platforms. You’ll work on a collaborative multimedia project, The Mix, while gaining experience in real-world interviews and newsroom practice. The program combines classroom study with hands-on training and mentorship from industry professionals, offering continued support throughout the college and early career stages.
9. AI Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference
Location: Washington, D.C
Stipend: $1,000 scholarship
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – June 27
Eligibility: Current high school junior (rising senior), one person from each state and the District of Columbia is selected as a representative.
The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is a five-day summer program in Washington, D.C., for 51 high school juniors, one from each state and the District of Columbia. You’ll attend panels on topics like investigative reporting, media ethics, the First Amendment, and news innovation. The program includes tours of Capitol Hill, Smithsonian museums, and D.C. memorials, along with a Potomac River dinner cruise. You’ll also visit newsrooms such as The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and C-SPAN for a behind-the-scenes look at the industry. Networking events connect you with journalists, policymakers, and Free Spirit alumni.
10. LA Times High School Insider Internship
Location: Hybrid (at El Segundo office)
Stipend: $16.90/hour
Application Deadline: February 26
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: High school student graduating in the next 3 years
Each summer, the L.A. Times High School Insider Internship offers a seven-week, paid opportunity for aspiring young journalists. You’ll experience the daily work of a professional reporter, covering breaking news, writing feature stories, and exploring multimedia projects. Your work, which includes stories, videos, and podcasts, will be published. The internship also provides extensive training and mentorship from Times reporters and editors. You’ll learn to research, schedule interviews, and refine your work through collaborative editing.
11. CSPA Summer Journalism Workshop
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY/ Virtual
Cost: $999 - $2,199
Application Deadline: May 23
Dates: In-person: June 22 – 27 | Virtual: July 7 – 11; July 14 – 18; July 21 – 25
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school; the residential option is open to students who will be 15 years of age or older by the start of the program.
The CSPA Summer Journalism Workshop provides a mix of in-person and virtual instruction in key areas of modern journalism. You can enroll in News Reporting and Writing to build strong reporting and writing skills for your publication. Editorial Leadership sessions focus on teamwork, collaboration, and newsroom management strategies. The Design Concepts track introduces you to design principles like hierarchy, typography, and effective photo packaging. For students interested in multimedia, the Digital Media course covers photography, video, and digital storytelling techniques. Each track is designed to help you gain practical skills and confidence for your school newsroom.
12. UGA Summer Media Academy
Location: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Cost: Day Camp: $530 | Residential Camp: $1,255
Application Deadline: Rolling basis, with registrations opening on January 15
Dates: Weeklong camps in the summer
Eligibility: Ages 13-17 at the start of camp
At the UGA Summer Media Academy, you’ll spend a week exploring different areas of media through focused, in-person camps. Tracks include Advertising and Public Relations, Broadcast Journalism, Multimedia Journalism, and Entertainment and Media Studies. Each day combines interactive lessons with practical, project-based learning. Instructors guide you through the fundamentals of your chosen subject, while guest speakers provide industry insights. By the end of the week, you’ll complete a specialized project showcasing your skills.
13. Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute
Location: Northwestern University Campus, Evanston, IL
Cost: $5,000 + $50 application fee
Application Deadline: March 6
Dates: June 29 – July 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute, known as “Medill cherubs,” is a four-week summer program for rising high school seniors. You’ll focus on reporting, writing, and editing for print, digital, and broadcast platforms while exploring video, audio, and photojournalism. Over the course of the program, you’ll take at least 50 classes, including lectures, labs, and workshops led by Northwestern faculty and professional journalists. With a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, you’ll receive personalized feedback and thorough evaluations of your work. Field trips to Chicago also provide opportunities to apply your skills in real-world settings.
14. Game Changers: Sports Communications and the Fan Experience
Location: Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT
Cost: $1,400 - $1,680
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 14 – July 18 | Session 2: July 21 – July 25
Eligibility: Current high school students
The Game Changers: Sports Communications and the Fan Experience program at Quinnipiac is a one-week summer camp for students passionate about sports media. You’ll explore careers in sports journalism, broadcasting, social media, advertising, and production. Working in state-of-the-art facilities, you’ll write, record, produce, and edit stories that reflect real-world industry standards. The program includes hands-on experience in conducting interviews and creating content across various platforms, including video, audio, and written formats. Professionals from the sports industry provide mentorship and insight throughout the week.
15. Indiana University High School Journalism Institute
Location: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Cost: $525
Application Deadline: June 15
Dates: July 7 – July 11 and July 13 – July 17
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen
Indiana University’s High School Journalism Institute offers a week of immersive training for student journalists. You can choose from a wide range of workshops, including reporting and writing, sportscasting, photography, yearbook production, podcasting, and documentary storytelling. Each day combines classroom instruction, individual mentoring, and group discussions with experienced professionals. Evenings provide opportunities for interactive activities and networking with peers who share your interests.
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