15 Summer Journalism Internships for High School Students

If you're thinking about a future in journalism, a summer internship is a great way to dip your toes into the industry. Whether you’re writing articles, shadowing reporters, or helping produce real stories, summer journalism internships for high school students offer a chance to go beyond the classroom. 

They can help you build your portfolio, gain experience, and figure out what kind of media work excites you most. Summer journalism internships for high school students also look great on college applications and show that you’re motivated and curious about the world. 

That’s why we’ve curated a list of 15 summer journalism internships for high school students that offer mentorship from experienced journalists, and opportunities to produce publish-ready content. Whether you’re drawn to local reporting, digital media, or magazine writing, this list is created to help you find the right match and get your journalism career started.

15 Summer Journalism Internships for High School Students

1. L.A. Times High School Insider Internship

Location: Los Angeles Times, El Segundo, CA (hybrid)
Stipend: $16.90/hour
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 16–August 1, 7 weeks
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: High school students graduating in 2025, 2026, or 2027 | Must reside in LA or Orange County and commute to the El Segundo office 3 days/week | Legally authorized to work in the United States

In this seven-week internship, you’ll gain newsroom experience at the L.A. Times, producing breaking news stories, enterprise features, and multimedia content for HS Insider. You’ll work four days per week, in the newsroom three days and remotely one day, covering stories under the guidance of professional journalists. Training includes workshops and editorial feedback on reporting, writing, and multimedia production, which will help sharpen your storytelling skills. There are mentorship opportunities and peer networking activities that expose you to editorial practices and news ethics. Your work may be published on the HS Insider site, giving you early exposure to digital publication and journalistic standards.

2. Ladder Internships 

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: varies based on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12), commit to 10–15 hours/week

Ladder Internships partners you with a high-growth startup that is aligned with your interests, in this case, journalism. Ladder’s start-ups are dynamic, often having raised substantial funding, with founders from top accelerators like Y Combinator and companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. You’ll collaborate with a mentor from the start-up and your Ladder Coach on projects such as content strategy, reporting, social media, or newsletter writing. You’ll also work on your soft skills training and produce real deliverables that matter to your host organization. Weekly group check-ins and peer networking sessions offer ongoing support and opportunities for professional growth. The experience concludes with a final presentation of your work to both company mentors and the Ladder community.

3. Asian American Journalists Association’s JCamp Summer Program

Location: Seattle, Washington
Cost/Stipend: None (domestic transportation, lodging, and meals covered)
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: July 26–August 1
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors

JCamp offers a six-day training experience led by veteran journalists and media professionals focused on storytelling, multimedia reporting, and ethics. You’ll participate in workshops, field reporting exercises, and multimedia news package projects. The program emphasizes cross-cultural communication, leadership skills, and inclusive storytelling, preparing students from diverse backgrounds for careers in journalism. Networking opportunities include attending the AAJA convention and connecting with editors and journalists across news outlets. You’ll also hear from industry speakers, attend Q&As, and gain feedback on your journalism portfolio. JCamp is a multicultural camp that brings together culturally diverse students from across the nation.

4. Medill‑Northwestern Journalism Institute (“Cherubs”)

Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee + $5,000 program fee (tuition, room, board, field trips included; financial aid available)/None
Acceptance rate: Highly selective, approximately 35-40%
Dates: June 29–July 25 (tentative), 4 weeks
Application Deadline: March 6 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors

At “Cherubs,” you’ll spend four weeks on Northwestern’s campus learning journalism fundamentals, such as reporting, writing, and editing for print, broadcast, and digital media. Faculty and professional journalists will also guide you through assignments in photojournalism and digital storytelling. You will work one-on-one with mentors who offer individualized critique, attend workshops, and collaborate with peers from across the globe. Field trips and weekly labs can broaden your media perspective, culminating in the publication and presentation of your work to instructors and peers. The experience offers extensive editorial exposure and in-depth mentorship for aspiring journalism students.

5. NYU Urban Journalism Workshop

Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None (tuition, housing, meals covered)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: July 13–19, 10 days, (tentative)
Application Deadline: March 8 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students in the tri-state area (New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey), age 16+ 

The NYU Urban Journalism Workshop is a free residential program for high school students from the New York City metropolitan area. Over a 10-day session, you’ll learn about multimedia journalism training at NYU. You will engage in writing, reporting, interviewing, and digital storytelling led by NYU faculty and industry journalists. You’ll live in NYU dorms, tour major newsrooms like CNN and The New York Times, and produce multimedia pieces published on the program’s site, The Spectrum. Instruction includes hands-on labs, ethical reporting guidance, and field reporting around NYC. It is a solid option for summer journalism internships for high school students who want exposure to broadcast-ready journalism.

6. Princeton University Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)

Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (virtual workshops + 10‑day residential on campus)
Cost: None (fully funded, including travel, housing, meals, and program resources)/
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: Online July 1–24 + residential July 24–August 3 (6-week hybrid)
Application Deadline: Typically December to February
Eligibility: High school juniors from low‑income families (GPA ≥ 3.5) | Live in the United States or Puerto Rico and intend to attend a domestic 4-year college

PSJP offers a year-long journalism and college-prep track that culminates in a hybrid summer intensive, combining online instruction with a ten-day campus residency. You attend workshops on journalism ethics, investigative reporting, and multimedia storytelling, and produce The Princeton Summer Journal as your final publication. The program includes visits to major news outlets such as the New York Times, Huffington Post, Bloomberg, professional sports event coverage, conducting an investigative report, attending workshops led by professional journalists, and more. A personal college adviser supports you throughout. This program is for high-achieving students from underrepresented backgrounds who are seeking pathways into journalism and higher education.

7. Boston University Summer Journalism Academy

Location: Boston University College of Communication, Boston, MA (virtual option available)
Cost: $50 application fee; $1,500–3,000 (lower tuition for virtual)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: On-campus: Typically 3 weeks between June–July; Virtual: June 16–27, June 30–July 11, July 14–25 (2-week sessions)
Application Deadline: On-campus: Typically April; Virtual: Typically May
Eligibility: On-campus: High school students, rising juniors, rising seniors and current seniors, with journalism experience | Virtual: High school students aged 14–18 

The Boston University Summer Journalism Academy for 2025 offers a hands-on journalism experience for high school students with both on-campus and remote learning options. Throughout the program, you’ll learn journalism fundamentals, interviewing, story structure, ethics, and multimedia reporting under working journalists as instructors. Each day includes hands-on newsroom sessions where you pitch and report real stories, often covering campus and city events. You’ll receive feedback during newsroom coaching labs and work on individual or team projects published on The Terrier news site. Guest speakers from organizations like WBUR and the Boston Globe offer insight into media careers and professional skills. On-campus students also visit Boston newsrooms and do city tours.

8. University of Georgia Summer Media Academy (Grady College)

Location: University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Grady College campus)
Cost: Day Camp $530; Residential Camp $1,255 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate: Moderately selective
Dates: Week-long sessions between June 9–20
Application Deadline: Open January 15; rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students (ages 13-17)

In this weeklong program at UGA’s Grady College, you can choose from tracks such as multimedia journalism, broadcast journalism, advertising and public relations, or entertainment and media studies. You’ll participate in team broadcast shoots, podcast production, media campaign planning, or investigative stories, depending on your chosen pathway. Local industry professionals and faculty speak at workshops and guest lectures that you can attend. You may also tour active media environments like The Red & Black newsroom or WUOG radio station. The program culminates in final projects and provides opportunities to receive feedback on them.

9. CSPA Summer Journalism Workshop (Columbia University)

Location: Columbia University School of Professional Studies, New York, NY (virtual option available)
Cost: $2,199 (residential), $1,399 (commuter), $999 (virtual); financial aid (Greenman Leadership Grants) is available
Acceptance rate: Moderately selective
Dates: In-person June 22–27 ; Virtual sessions in July 7–11, July 14–18, July 21–28 (tentative)
Application Deadline: March 14; Rolling after this date
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old at the start of the workshop

The CSPA Summer Journalism Workshop at Columbia University is an intensive, week-long program designed for high school students passionate about journalism. It provides intensive instruction in journalism, editorial leadership, and design concepts to participating students. You will engage in hands-on activities such as writing articles, editing content, designing layouts, and managing student media teams, all modeled after real-world newsroom scenarios. You can also attend in-person at Columbia's NYC campus, or virtually, learning editing, layout, management, or writing skills aligned with publication responsibilities. Sessions are led by student press veterans and faculty advisers, with critiques and guidance on your work.

10. The School of The New York Times NYC Summer Academy

Location: NYU, New York City, NY
Cost:  $50 application fee + $5,935 (Day); $7,265 (Residential); limited scholarships  and discounts available
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple two‑week terms between June 8 and August 1
Application Deadline: Open in early fall; rolling until full
Eligibility: Rising high school students entering grades 10–12 | Ages 15-18 by the program’s start date

The School of The New York Times NYC Summer Academy offers high school students an immersive experience in New York City, where they explore a range of topics such as journalism, media, technology, arts, culture, sports, fashion, business, and science. During this two-week program, you’ll choose a specialized journalism or media course, such as investigative reporting, fashion writing, or opinion commentary, led by NYT editors and guest speakers. You’ll work on writing assignments, receive editorial feedback, and learn storytelling techniques used in professional newsrooms. Field trips include visits to New York City news sites, and you collaborate with peers on media projects that culminate in a presentation. 

11. Stanford Daily Pre‑Collegiate Summer Workshops - Journalism Program

Location: Virtual
Cost:  $2,380 + $30 application fee; partial scholarships available
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 16–August 8 (8‑week online journalism track)
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12

The Stanford Daily Pre-Collegiate Summer Workshops Journalism Program is designed for high school students interested in developing their journalism skills through immersive, real-world reporting experiences. You will learn about journalism fundamentals, pitching, researching, reporting, and writing under the mentorship of The Stanford Daily’s editors. You can have your stories published on the Daily’s website, and weekly one-on-one meetings with newsroom staff offer granular feedback. Content includes multimedia modules like podcast scripting, photojournalism, and interactive reporting. The curriculum includes guest webinars with notable journalists and Slack-based newsroom collaboration for daily check-ins. Projects culminate in a final showcase and portfolio-ready stories.

12. Library of Congress High School Summer Internship (Journalism)

Location: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (hybrid: mostly virtual with once-weekly in-person for local students)
Stipend: None (community service credit hours can be arranged, up to 60 hours)
Acceptance rate: Moderately selective
Dates: June 23–July 17 (4‑week program)
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 16 or older at the time of the internship

The Library of Congress High School Summer Internship (Journalism) is a unique 4-week, unpaid program designed for high school students aged 16 and older who have an interest in libraries, museums, research, writing, and exhibition development. Partnering with the Office of Learning, Literacy & Engagement, this internship places you in content development roles, such as researching Library collections and writing exhibit materials for youth and family audiences. You’ll gain writing and public communication experience, crafting interpretive guide content and helping design programs for museum-like displays. You can also attend virtual workshops and peer collaborative groups, while local participants can contribute in person at least once a week.

13. Project Write Now Teen Internship

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None (can earn community service hours)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Offered year-round; flexible internship blocks during summer months
Application Deadline: Typically June
Eligibility: High school students; ages 15-18

As a Project Write Now intern, you can contribute to digital storytelling by writing for content platforms or assisting with youth writing workshops. It offers three internships: teaching assistant, editorial assistant, and interview project. You'll work on editorial projects, including poetry, creative essays, plus social media or newsletter pieces, along with assisting with the management of their young adult literary magazine, Bridge Ink. You gain communication and editorial experience by helping plan and facilitate mentorship sessions for younger writers, under guidance from professional writers and educators. The program also includes collaboration on multi-format projects and optional involvement in public events. At completion, you receive a letter of accomplishment and portfolio-ready content showcasing your contributions.

14. EnergyMag Journalism Internship

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Flexible summer placements (2–8 week half-time internships)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors | GPA ≥ 3.25 | At least one Honors English or Science course 

This virtual internship engages you in research, writing, and editorial contributions focused on renewable energy and climate technology topics. You collaborate one-on-one with a mentor, analyze industry trends, interview experts, and draft reports that may be published on EnergyMag. You’ll research technologies, companies, and markets, complete assignments within flexible weekly hours, and receive feedback that builds writing and analytical skills. The internship may culminate in a publishable report credited to your name. You will also earn a letter summarizing your accomplishments, a valuable addition to your college applications. The program emphasizes critical research, professional communication, and storytelling grounded in factual clarity.

15. Dow Jones News Fund High School Summer Journalism Workshops

Location: Workshops are held across various universities, nonprofits, and media organizations in 24 states and the District of Columbia, including places like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Howard University
Cost: None
Acceptance rate: Selective 
Dates: 1 to 2 weeks between May and August (dates vary by location)
Application Deadline: Varies by location; typically between February and May
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors

These DJNF-sponsored workshops bring high school students to university campuses or community journalism sites for a summer training in multimedia reporting, health/wellness coverage, photography, and digital storytelling. You’ll work under the guidance of journalists and instructors through reporting assignments, multimedia story production, and ethics sessions. Workshops often include group discussions, newsroom simulations, and field reporting exercises. The experience culminates in published pieces, digital, print, or broadcast, that showcase your journalism skills. The program is highly regarded as a way to strengthen college applications by demonstrating real-world journalism experience, a passion for the field, and community engagement.

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