High school students:
If you entered high school (grades 9 through 12) in the fall of 2008 and you enjoy writing, journalism, or photography, the Penn State Institute for High School Journalists should definitely be on your schedule next summer.
You can choose your favorite type of journalism:
- newspaper
- photo
Depending on the track you select, you can:
- write stories for and create an online newspaper
- use digital cameras to create a photo-essay for the online newspaper
- enhance your journalism skills in an advanced track of the program
- get your newspapers evaluated by professionals
- experience campus life at Penn State!
- researching topics and interviewing people
- producing documentaries
- covering a press conference
- planning a design strategy for an online newspaper
You can learn good journalism practices and gain special skills in:
- feature, profile, and editorial writing
- interviewing
- page designing
- headline writing
- photography
You can also gain insight on management issues; learn the background on legal issues concerning software programs for high school publications, including FrontPage; talk with the students who write and edit Penn State's independent student newspaper, The Daily Collegian, and tour their facilities.
More benefits
- If you make the most of your time, you can return to school with usable stories and practical plans for your high school publications.
- When you complete the workshop, you will be awarded the Penn State Institute for High School Journalists certificate.
Sharpen Your Journalism Skills at Penn State!
Journalism has been defined as "history as it happens." Journalists face the daily challenge of helping people understand the world around them. As a journalist, you must be curious, have a sense of social responsibility, a strong sense of ethics, an interest in people, and the ability to write quickly and accurately. You must also be persistent and able to work under any conditions.
The Penn State Institute for High School Journalists will help you explore your interest in journalism through hands-on activities. You will write and report stories, develop an online newspaper, analyze world events, and shoot and create your own photo-essay. The institute will help you develop your journalistic skills and give you a taste of what a career as a journalist or photojournalist might be like.
Learn from the "Pros"
What a wonderful opportunity to study and train with the finest professionals—you will be off to a good start with experienced Penn State faculty. Penn State's journalism faculty have had professional experience as producers, reporters, photographers, and editors. Plus, you get to experience campus life at Penn State!
Please note: prior experience in journalism isn't necessary. You need only to enjoy writing or photography!
Sample Agenda
Support from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
Generous financial support of the 2009 Penn State Institute for High School Journalists has come from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, resulting in significant cost savings in the regular registration fee for this institute.
Financial Aid
Partial financial aid is available. For more information, e-mail Julie Evak at jqe3@psu.edu.
program of the College of CommunicationsThis site is a product of Penn State Outreach Marketing and Communications.
Program questions? E-mail ConferenceInfo1@outreach.psu.edu or call 800-PSU-TODAY (778-8632).
Web site questions? E-mail WebInfo@outreach.psu.edu.
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