14 Best Journalism Programs for High School Students
Summer programs can help you gain practical skills, industry exposure, and professional connections without interfering with your school year. If you’re interested in journalism, these programs offer hands-on experience in reporting, writing, and editing, along with mentorship from media professionals and opportunities to work on real-world projects.
These programs also give you a chance to explore journalism more deeply and strengthen your college applications. Many of the programs are fully funded, have low acceptance rates, and are hosted by well-known organizations, making them competitive and well-respected.
In this blog, we’ve put together a list of the 14 best journalism programs for high school students. These programs offer professional training and exposure, helping you develop your skills and build a strong foundation in journalism. To explore additional free, online, and paid opportunities, as well as internships for high school students, check out our blogs here.
14 Best Journalism Programs for High School Students
Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Cost: Starts at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Program Dates: Summer: June - August, fall: September - December, winter: December - February, spring: March - June.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Summer Cohort I priority application deadline is March 9!
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum GPA of 3.3/4.0; no prior experience in the subject area required.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an intensive research experience tailored for high school students looking to delve deep into their academic interests. You will be paired with Ph.D. mentors who will guide you through your independent research project on journalism. The program offers 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
Over 12 weeks, you’ll conduct original research under the guidance of Ph.D. mentors, culminating in a high-quality independent research paper. The program’s virtual format allows you to collaborate with world-class mentors from anywhere in the world. The program helps you develop critical skills such as writing, reporting, and content creation.
Location: Hybrid (Virtual + Princeton Campus)
Cost: Fully funded
Program Dates: Online classes start around mid-July and will conclude in residential classes at Princeton from late July through early August.
Application Deadline: February, with additional documentation and interview deadlines in April and May.
Eligibility: High-achieving high school juniors from low-income families with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5/4.0 and a demonstrated interest in journalism.
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) is a year-long hybrid program for 40 high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds who are interested in journalism and political reporting. It includes a free residential summer session at Princeton University and online college preparation throughout the year.
In the summer session, you will attend workshops and lectures from Princeton professors, journalists from The New York Times and The Washington Post, and program alumni. You will learn skills like interviewing, feature writing, and news coverage, and explore how to cover topics like race, politics, social class, business, and the environment. Your work will be published in the Princeton Summer Journal at the end of the program. Check out our guide to the program here!
Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (Full financial aid available)
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. The Summer Cohort priority application deadline is March 9!
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can commit to 10–20 hours per week
Ladder Internships connects high school students with high-growth start-ups for hands-on internships. Through the Journalism Track, you’ll collaborate on content creation, media strategy, and storytelling projects for start-ups in the media and communications space. You will work with managers and Ladder Coaches to build skills like writing, reporting, and content creation.
At the end of the program, you will present your final work to the start-up team, gaining real-world experience in a professional environment. Ladder’s partner start-ups cover journalism, marketing, and health tech, with many having raised over $1 million in funding.
Location: In-person (Columbia University, NY) & Virtual
Cost: Residential (in-person): $2,199 (includes housing & meals); Commuter (in-person): $1,399; Virtual: $999
Program Dates: In-person: June 22–June 27; Virtual: July 7–11, July 14–18, July 21–28
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until seats are filled, early applications are encouraged.
Eligibility: Open to high school students (grades 9–12). Junior high or middle school students are not eligible.
The Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) offers the 44th Annual Summer Journalism Workshop for high school students and publication staff. Hosted by Columbia University, the program covers reporting, writing, editorial leadership, design, and digital media. You can choose between in-person and virtual sessions.
The in-person session takes place on Columbia’s campus in June, while three virtual sessions run in July. You’ll choose from tracks focused on editorial leadership, digital media production, and publication design, gaining hands-on experience from professional journalists and educators. Greenman Leadership Grants, funded by the Reckson Foundation, are available to support your participation.
Location: CUNY Brooklyn or CUNY York College campuses
Cost: Free + $1,000 stipend provided
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort.
Program Dates: Two cohorts Summer (May) and Fall (September).
Eligibility: Open to rising juniors or seniors, including recent high school graduates, residing in New York.
City Limits, New York City's oldest nonprofit investigative news agency, offers the CLARIFY program to empower you and train you in public service journalism. You will learn essential skills like research, interviewing, investigative techniques, media ethics, and photojournalism.
Through this program, you’ll work with City Limits to report on locally focused stories about significant issues in New York City, particularly those affecting underrepresented communities. The program offers two cohort options: an English-Language Cohort and a Bilingual Cohort for Spanish and English speakers. If Spanish is your native language, City Limits encourages you to join the bilingual cohort to help amplify the voices of underserved communities.
Location: Los Angeles (for residents) / Remote
Cost: No cost; stipend provided ($16/hour)
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: Open to high school students across all grades who are residing in Los Angeles County or Orange County, California, and who can commit to working in the El Segundo office. Must be eligible to work in the United States.
The L.A. Times High School Insider Internship gives you the chance to report real stories and learn journalism from professionals. Over six weeks, you’ll cover breaking news, write feature stories, and explore multimedia storytelling. You’ll get hands-on experience while working closely with L.A. Times journalists through training sessions and mentorship.
You’ll work 24 hours a week, with three days in person at the El Segundo office and one remote day each week. You’ll report on current events, education, and arts, building a strong portfolio of published work. This program is open only to students living in Los Angeles County or Orange County, California, who can commute to the El Segundo office.
Location: American University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $4,295
Program Dates: June 12 - June 20; June 24 - July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to high school students with strong academic records and demonstrated leadership potential.
The NSLC Journalism Program gives you a newsroom-like experience where you can sharpen your reporting and broadcasting skills. You can choose to focus on news writing and investigative reporting, where you’ll learn how to dig into stories and use investigative techniques to report on influential organizations and individuals. If you’re drawn to broadcast journalism, you’ll work on creating news shows, capturing high-quality video and audio, and mastering visual storytelling.
For those interested in photojournalism, the program teaches you how to document real moments, focusing on composition, lighting, and ethical storytelling. Throughout the program, you’ll also hear from experienced journalists, including Pulitzer Prize winners and professionals from outlets like The Washington Post and ESPN.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 26 to August 1
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Open to high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, with priority given to sophomores and juniors; exceptional freshmen are encouraged to apply.
The Asian American Journalists Association’s JCamp is a 6-day program where you’ll learn journalism from veteran reporters and media leaders. You’ll get hands-on training in broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, online media, and photojournalism, creating stories for JCamp’s multimedia news site. The program focuses on diversity in media, cross-cultural communication, leadership, journalistic ethics, and career development. Check out our guide to the program here!
Location: New York, NY
Cost: $7,664
Program Dates: Session 1: May 19 – July 1; Session 2: July 2 – August 13
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors.
The Summer Journalism program at NYU gives you a six-week deep dive into journalism in New York City. You’ll balance classroom learning with real-world reporting, investigative storytelling, and multimedia production. Courses cover skills like podcasting, photojournalism, fashion coverage, food writing, interviewing, and digital content creation. Taught by NYU faculty and industry pros, the program offers workshops, discussions, and assignments that prepare you for journalism careers.
Location: Northwestern University Campus in Evanston, IL
Cost: $5,000
Program Dates: June 29 to July 25
Application Deadline: Mid-March
Eligibility: Open to 11th-grade students
The Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute, known as Medill Cherubs, is a four-week summer program for high school juniors. You’ll take part in seminars, workshops, and hands-on projects focused on reporting, writing, editing, and multimedia storytelling. You’ll work on assignments across print, video, audio, photojournalism, and digital platforms, with an opportunity to learn coding. By the end of the program, you’ll have a portfolio of news stories, features, and opinion pieces, along with a network of fellow aspiring journalists.
Location: Athens, GA
Cost: $530 (Day Camp), $1,255 (Residential Camp)
Program Dates: June 16 – June 20
Application Deadline: March. For more information, contact the program directly.
Eligibility: High school students aged 13–17
The UGA Summer Media Academy at the University of Georgia is a week-long program where you’ll dive into journalism, broadcasting, filmmaking, and digital media production through interactive workshops. You’ll get hands-on experience creating real-world projects like producing a broadcast show, writing articles for a news site, or developing ad campaigns for local nonprofits.
Guided by experienced faculty and media professionals, you’ll learn the basics of content production, from screenwriting to digital editing, while using professional equipment. By the end of the week, you’ll have projects to showcase in your portfolio.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free; includes a $1,000 scholarship
Dates: June 22–June 27
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Open to 11th-grade students
The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is a five-day program in Washington, D.C., focused on press freedom and journalistic excellence, and selects 51 students each year. Through workshops, discussions, and mentorship from industry professionals, you’ll explore journalism ethics and the media’s role in society. You’ll also join a network of over 1,500 alumni working at top organizations like The Washington Post, USA TODAY, and ABC News.
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Cost: $699
Dates: June 23–June 30
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9–12
The Cronkite School Summer Journalism Institute at Arizona State University is a week-long program where you can specialize in digital journalism, broadcast journalism, or sports media. Through hands-on workshops and mentorship, you’ll build essential skills in reporting, storytelling, and multimedia production. The program covers topics like media studies, personal branding, and story development. You’ll learn how to ask insightful questions, create engaging audio stories, and verify sources for accuracy. Check out our guide to the program here!
Location: Held in 8 different locations.
Cost: Varies by program
Application Deadline (Summer): Deadlines range from February 28 to June 10
Program Dates (Summer): Vary by program
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Dow Jones News Fund hosts summer workshops designed to help high school students overcome challenges in pursuing journalism careers. These workshops take place across the country, each focusing on different aspects of journalism. At the Howard University Multicultural Media Academy in Washington, D.C., you’ll use multimedia storytelling to highlight health and wellness issues in underrepresented communities, working on news stories and video content.
Detroit Forward’s Journalism Camp lets you pick a topic, report on it, and develop a detailed story with support from an Editing Coach and Writing Room sessions - your finished work gets published on The Detroit Writing Room’s website.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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