Journalism programs for high schoolers.

All journalism programs

1. Freedom Forum

   Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference

   An all-expenses-paid journalism conference for one student from every US state and DC.

   📍 Washington, D.C.⏱ 1 week📅 February 15🎓 11

   Selective
2. Freedom Forum

   Al Neuharth Free Spirit Conference

   All-expenses-paid journalism conference + $1,000 scholarship for 51 students.

   📍 Washington, DC⏱ 1 week📅 February🎓 11

   Selective
3. American University

   American University Discover the World of Communication

   Pre-college program in journalism, film, PR, and digital media.

   📍 Washington, DC⏱ 1-3 weeks📅 May🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

   Highly Selective
4. AAJA

   Asian American Journalists Association JCamp

   Free six-day multicultural journalism program for high school students.

   📍 Rotating (US)⏱ 6 days📅 Winter🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

   Selective
5. AAJA

   Asian American Journalists Association JCamp

   Six-day multicultural journalism training for HS students.

   📍 Rotating cities⏱ 6 days📅 March🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

   Selective
6. C-SPAN

   C-SPAN StudentCam

   Annual student documentary competition on public policy.

   📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 January🎓 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

   Selective
7. Freedom Forum

   ChiPS Chips Quinn Scholars (pipeline)

   Diversity journalism pipeline programs for students of color.

   📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

   Highly Selective
8. CSPA

   Columbia Scholastic Press Association Awards

   Top awards recognizing student newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks.

   📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Fall🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

   Moderate
9. Kenyon Review

   Kenyon Review Young Writers (Online Program & Publication)

   The official high school literary magazine of the Kenyon Review, accepting poetry and prose globally. Virtual workshops also available.

   📍 Online/Kenyon College⏱ Annual publication📅 May (Summer Review)🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

   Selective
10. Knight Foundation

    Knight Foundation High School Journalism

    Various Knight-funded high school journalism programs and fellowships.

    📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
11. University of Pennsylvania

    Knowledge@Wharton Comment & Win

    Monthly free contests where students comment on Knowledge@Wharton articles for cash prizes.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Monthly🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
12. City Bureau

    Local News for Teens Internships (CityBureau Documenters)

    Paid civic journalism documenters program in select cities.

    📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
13. Northwestern Medill

    Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute

    Five-week premier high school journalism program.

    📍 Evanston, IL⏱ 5 weeks📅 February🎓 11

    Moderate
14. University of Missouri

    Mizzou High School Journalism Workshops

    Summer journalism workshops at the nation's oldest J-school.

    📍 Columbia, MO⏱ 1-2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
15. Student Press Law Center

    New Voices Student Press Freedom

    Youth advocacy network defending student press freedoms.

    📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
16. The New York Times Learning Network

    New York Times Editorial Contest

    Annual student editorial writing contest for teens 13-19.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
17. The New York Times Learning Network

    New York Times Personal Narrative Contest

    Free 600-word personal essay contest; published winners.

    📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
18. The New York Times Learning Network

    New York Times Personal Narrative Contest

    Annual personal narrative writing contest for teens 13-19.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Fall🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
19. NYT/School of the New York Times

    New York Times Summer Academy

    Pre-college summer programs in journalism, business, media, and storytelling.

    📍 New York, NY⏱ 1-2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
20. NPR

    NPR Student Podcast Challenge

    Free annual podcasting contest. Submit a 3-8 minute podcast. Winning student is featured on NPR.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 April🎓 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
21. National Speech and Debate Association

    NSDA Nationals

    Largest US speech and debate tournament. Qualify through your district. Substantial scholarships for finalists.

    📍 Rotating US city⏱ 1 week📅 June🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
22. National Scholastic Press Association

    NSPA Best of the High School Press

    National recognition program for student publications.

    📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Fall🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
23. The New York Times

    NYT Personal Narrative Contest

    Annual short personal narrative contest for teens. 600 words. Free entry.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 October🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
24. The New York Times

    NYT Student Editorial Contest

    Free annual contest for students aged 13-19 to write a 450-word evidence-based editorial. Top entries are published by the Times.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 March🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
25. NYT Learning Network

    NYT Student Editorial Contest

    Write a 450-word evidence-backed editorial on a topic that matters to you.

    📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 March🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
26. NYT / NABJ / NAHJ

    NYT Student Journalism Institute

    Paid summer journalism program at The New York Times for diverse students.

    📍 New York, NY⏱ Summer📅 Rolling🎓 11, 12

    Selective
27. The New York Times

    NYT Summer Academy

    Journalism, filmmaking, and writing courses taught by Times journalists. Limited need-based aid.

    📍 NY / Remote (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 Rolling🎓 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
28. The New York Times

    NYT Summer Reading Contest

    Each summer week, students pick a Times piece and write 350 words about it. Free; winners published.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 June-August🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
29. The New York Times Learning Network

    NYT Summer Reading Contest

    Weekly summer contest for students 13-19 responding to NYT articles.

    📍 Online⏱ 10 weeks📅 June🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
30. PBS

    PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs

    Network of student newsrooms producing stories for PBS.

    📍 Multiple states⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
31. Princeton University

    Princeton Summer Journalism Program

    Fully-funded journalism program for high-achieving, low-income juniors. Travel and lodging covered.

    📍 NJ (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 10 days (summer)📅 February🎓 11

    Selective
32. Princeton University

    Princeton Summer Journalism Program

    Free 10-day residential program for low-income high school juniors.

    📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ 10 days📅 February🎓 11

    Selective
33. Princeton University

    Princeton Summer Journalism Program

    Fully free 10-day intensive for low-income rising seniors with strong journalism interest. All travel, room, and board paid. Participants get a 4-year journalism mentor.

    📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ 10 days📅 February🎓 11

    Selective
34. Quill and Scroll

    Quill and Scroll International Writing Contest

    Writing and photography contest for student journalists.

    📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 February🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
35. Alliance for Young Artists & Writers

    Scholastic Writing Awards

    Regional and national recognition for student writers in 11 categories. Need-based fee waivers available.

    📍 Regional + national⏱ Self-paced📅 Sept-Dec by region🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
36. NYT / Hult

    School of The New York Times Summer Academy

    Need-based scholarships available; commuter and residential pre-college journalism courses in NYC.

    📍 New York, NY⏱ 1-3 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
37. The Young Authors Foundation

    Teen Ink

    An award-winning monthly print and online magazine by and for teens.

    📍 Online / Jersey City, NJ⏱ N/A📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective

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