11 Free Journalism Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 22
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 28
If you’re a high school student interested in journalism, applying for a free program can give you a solid + financially accessible head start in the field.
These opportunities, offered by prestigious universities and organizations, are fully funded, making them highly selective. They provide a well-rounded approach, helping you develop key skills such as critical thinking and communication, while also exploring different perspectives. Participating in such a program can also significantly enhance your college application, making you stand out to admissions committees.
In today’s blog, we’ll explore 11 free journalism programs for high school students.
Cost: Financial aid is available.
Location: Remote—you can participate from anywhere in the world!
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Program dates: Summer cohort runs from June to August, Fall cohort from September to December, Winter cohort from December to February, and Spring from March to June. Applications for the summer cohort are now open!
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15.
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students with a GPA of 3.3 or higher. No prior knowledge of your field of interest is required.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students, across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here!
Cost: Free
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Duration: 1 week
Program dates: July 13 – 19
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older and living in the NYC metropolitan area
NYU’s Urban Journalism Workshop selects 20 students each year for a week-long intensive boot camp focused on reporting, news writing, and multimedia journalism. You will participate in hands-on training and field visits to newsrooms such as CNN, VICE, and The New York Times. The program includes lectures from NYU faculty and visiting experts, offering insights into the journalism field and the college admissions process. In addition, you will have the opportunity to produce and publish your own story on the program’s website, The Spectrum. This program provides both practical experience and an inside look into the world of journalism.
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Cost: Free
Location: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Duration: 10 days
Program dates: May 31 – June 9
Application deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students entering 9th grade through their freshman year of college
The Multicultural Journalism Workshop (MJW) at The University of Alabama is a 10-day immersive program designed to teach essential journalism skills, with a focus on reporting and covering multicultural communities. You will gain experience in writing, editing, design, and photography. The program includes hands-on activities like field trips to Tuscaloosa and the Black Belt region, along with lectures from media professionals. The cohort will also collaborate on creating multimedia content to showcase their skills. This opportunity offers a practical approach to journalism, helping students develop a diverse skill set while exploring real-world applications.
Cost: Free
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Duration: 1 year
Program dates: Online classes begin in mid-July; residential experience runs from late-July to early-August
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors interested in journalism who are U.S. residents with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5/4. Applicants must meet one of the following socioeconomic conditions: combined family income below $60,000, qualify for free/reduced-price school lunch, or qualify for an SAT/ACT fee waiver. First-generation college students receive priority consideration.
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) is designed for high school students from limited-income backgrounds with an interest in journalism. This year-long program selects 40 students to participate in a hybrid learning environment that includes virtual and on-campus workshops and lectures. Led by Princeton professors, journalists, and alumni, the curriculum covers topics like reporting, food journalism, and feature writing. You will also engage in group discussions, reporting assignments, and mentorship sessions. The program concludes with a 10-day residential experience at Princeton, where students contribute to the publication of the Princeton Summer Journal.
Cost: Free
Location: Florida International University, Miami, FL
Program dates: June 17 – 28
Application deadline: June 10
Eligibility: Middle and high school students from Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Journalism Jumpstart, offered by Florida International University, is a two-week program designed for high school journalism students. As a participant, you will have the opportunity to shadow writing coaches, former editors, and media professionals, gaining hands-on experience in research, writing, and conducting interviews. You will also collaborate with college students to produce live news shows and multimedia stories, while contributing to the Jumpstart Journal. Top students may also have the chance to compete for a scholarship from the Dow Jones News Fund.
Cost: Free
Location: American University, Washington, D.C.
Program dates: June 22 – 28
Application deadline: No information available
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 12th graders
FIRE’s Free Speech Forum is a week-long summit for rising high school students interested in journalism and writing. During the program, you will explore the importance of free speech, which is fundamental to unbiased journalism. The curriculum focuses on skill-building activities and hands-on projects, all guided by legal experts. For more information, you can fill out this form on their website.
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Program dates: Three sessions in August, starting on August 5, 12, and 19
Application deadline: No information available
Eligibility: High school students
The Summer Journalism Program, curated by The Daily Free Press, is a two-week program where students participate in workshops and expert panels to gain practical journalism experience. A key highlight of the program is the one-on-one mentorship from the editors of the Free Press. You will also work on assignments that can be added to your portfolio, with the opportunity to have your work published in the Free Press.
9. AAJA’s JCamp
Cost: Free
Location: Seattle, Washington
Program dates: July 26 – August 1
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
AAJA’s JCamp is a six-day training camp for high school journalism students, admitting around 30 participants each year. You will receive hands-on training in areas like cross-cultural communication, leadership, diversity, and ethics from veteran journalists and media executives. The program includes interactive workshops and field trips, and it typically concludes with the production of multiplatform news packages for JCamp Live.
Cost: Free
Location: The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Program dates: June 22 – 25
Application deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
UNC’s Chuck Stone Program for Diversity in Education and Media selects 12 students for a mix of theoretical and practical journalism activities. You will participate in classroom study, real-world reporting, and newsroom practice while receiving professional mentorship from experienced journalists. The program emphasizes multi-platform storytelling to deepen your understanding of the journalism career.
Cost: Free; students can win a $1,000 college scholarship and other perks
Location: Washington, D.C.
Program dates: June 22 – 27
Application deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Current high school juniors interested in journalism and free expression, with creative skills and a willingness to take risks; must be available to attend the entire conference
The AI Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is a five-day program that selects 51 high school students from each state. You will have the chance to learn from top journalists and media experts, with topics including media ethics, photojournalism, news innovation, and the future of journalism. The program also includes city tours, game nights, and other interactive activities.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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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