10 Summer Journalism Programs for Middle School Students in California
- Stephen Turban
- 4 hours ago
- 7 min read
Participating in summer journalism programs for middle school students in Chicago offers a compelling pathway to build foundational communication skills while experiencing college-level academic environments early in your education. These programs allow you to develop practical media literacy, gain valuable industry exposure, and build professional connections, all without requiring an exorbitant financial investment. Engaging with journalism at this stage introduces you to interviewing techniques and newsroom dynamics that can give you a significant academic advantage. For students who are serious about media and storytelling, an online or hybrid summer program provides the flexibility to learn from top-tier instructors without geographic barriers. We have carefully curated a list of the top summer journalism programs for middle school students in Chicago to help you navigate your options. Our selection prioritizes programs that offer rigorous training, robust networking opportunities, and hosting by prestigious organizations, including fully funded options with competitive acceptance rates.
10 Summer Journalism Programs for Middle School Students in Chicago
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies; Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 8-week program; multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
Location: Gorton Center, Lake Forest, IL
Cost/Stipend: $750 (Financial assistance and flexible payment options available)
Acceptance size/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 - July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until the start of the program
Eligibility: Middle school students ages 11–14
This hands-on, video-centered journalism program teaches you how to produce compelling visual news stories using an iPhone and professional editing software like Final Cut Pro. You will work in small teams through every stage of production, including brainstorming story ideas, writing scripts, filming, and final editing. High school mentors and experienced media educators provide direct guidance throughout the process to build your technical capability and communication skills. The program culminates in finished digital short films, allowing you to showcase your unique voice and community perspective. This collaborative environment offers a practical introduction to modern multimedia journalism and real-world media techniques.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate or Cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8; no coding or technical background required
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces you to key concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning through live instruction and collaborative learning. Over 25 hours, you learn Python programming, explore data analysis, and build models using regression and classification techniques. You receive personalized guidance through small-group mentoring, with a five-to-one student-to-mentor ratio. As the program progresses, you explore more advanced topics such as neural networks and AI ethics. A central part of the experience is the team-based capstone project, where you and a few peers apply your new skills to solve a real-world challenge and present your findings at the end.
Location: The Park School, Brookline, MA
Cost/Stipend: $1680.00
Acceptance size/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 - July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until the start of the program
Eligibility: Entering grades 5-8
This interactive, audio-focused journalism program introduces you to the rapidly growing field of podcast storytelling. You will learn the core foundations of modern audio broadcasting, including how to research topics, write tight scripts, and conduct professional interviews. The curriculum balances classroom learning with hands-on technical practice, giving you direct experience with recording gear and digital sound editing software. By collaborating closely with your peers, you will work together to build a structured, collaborative narrative from an initial concept to a final polished product. The session culminates in the creation of an original podcast episode that highlights your unique perspective and allows you to present your audio journalism piece to the community.
Location: Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: Space is limited (exact size not specified)
Dates: Five sessions ending on July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
This introductory, production-centered journalism camp teaches you the foundational elements of modern audio and video digital media creation. You will gain hands-on technical practice with professional camcorders and microphones while studying the core principles of compelling audio storytelling. Throughout the intensive program, you will practice writing structured podcast outlines, recording engaging oral content, and navigating basic digital editing software. Your finished broadcast segments will be published directly to YouTube and Biblioboard, the library's official streaming platform, allowing you to showcase your final work to the local community. Middle school participants who complete the full workshop series also unlock exclusive school-year digital media lab access privileges normally reserved only for high school students.
Location: Online (via Zoom)
Cost/Stipend: $695
Acceptance size/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 - July 3
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until the start of the program
Eligibility: Sports fanatics ages 10–18
This interactive, virtual journalism program allows you to dive into the fast-paced world of sports broadcasting right from your own home. The comprehensive curriculum walks you through crucial multimedia journalism formats, including anchoring, play-by-play calling, podcasting, and sideline reporting. You will participate in daily interactive exercises, prepare for professional guest interviews, and practice hosting simulated sports debate shows. A major highlight of the camp is the opportunity to attend press conferences with actual athletes and network with major media professionals, including announcers and sports reporters from ESPN and CBS Sports. By engaging in these daily technical tracks, you will build critical communication skills, learn real-world on-air techniques, and discover how to write and deliver breaking news sports stories effectively.
Location: Holiday Inn Skokie Illinois, Skokie, IL
Cost/Stipend: $895 for day camp; $1,695 for overnight camp
Acceptance size/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6-10
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until the start of the program
Eligibility: Sports fanatics ages 10–18
This dynamic, regional journalism program introduces you to the high-energy field of sports broadcasting through intensive, studio-style modules. You will rotate through age-appropriate interactive activities designed to build specialized multimedia journalism skills, including writing scripts, making personalized play-by-play tapes, and tracking live stats. The curriculum includes instructional tracking on professional techniques for on-camera rants, pre-game or post-game analysis, and television anchor presentations. You will also participate in unique out-of-office excursions, such as a behind-the-scenes historical tour of Wrigley Field and a live play-by-play practice session during a Chicago Sky basketball game at the Allstate Arena. Throughout the week, you will engage in direct dialogue with prominent guest speakers and industry veterans, including award-winning sports anchors, network reporters, and professional team announcers.
Location: 4043 N. Ravenswood, #222, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $350 (Full scholarships are available for students who cannot meet the tuition requirements)
Acceptance size/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 - June 26, July 13 - July 17, and July 27 - July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
This creative, writing-centered summer program introduces you to foundational media and storytelling elements that parallel modern literary journalism tracks. Under the direct guidance of talented instructors, you will analyze published mentor readings to explore inspiring craft techniques and unique narrative formats. The curriculum incorporates a balanced mix of individual writing exercises and collaborative group projects designed to expand your imagination while breaking through creative blocks. You will also participate in interactive workshopping sessions where you share your drafts and exchange peer feedback to strengthen your writing skills. The program concludes with a final showcase event where you rehearse and perform your written work live for an audience of your peers, family, and friends.
Location: Street Level, 1637 N Ashland Ave Ste 1, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: Approximately 10 young artists for documentary tracks (overall size not specified)
Dates: Creative sessions run throughout the summer months (specific calendar days not specified)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Creative young people ages 13 and up
This community-centered, media-focused journalism program provides you with an open, collaborative space to build modern media skills. Working alongside experienced staff members and professional artists, you will explore youth-led contemporary themes such as civic engagement, identity, and regional culture. The media literacy curriculum guides you through the creation of diverse multimedia content, including written reporting and youth-directed video documentaries. Your finished news and editorial projects are published directly on Mildsauce, the official community-led digital blog site run by the media center. The program also features collaborations and potential site visits with notable regional partners, including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago History Museum, to enrich your storytelling perspective.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance size/cohort size: Open enrollment, over 3,000 learners registered
Dates: Self-paced, ongoing availability
Application Deadline: None, continuous registration
Eligibility: Anyone interested in journalism who is at least 13 years old
This interactive, self-paced online course allows you to build a foundational understanding of media literacy and newsgathering essentials from your own home. Led by world-class correspondents and anchors from the NBCUniversal News Group, the curriculum covers eight distinct modules including journalism ethics, news writing, interview techniques, and story pitching. You will engage with over three hours of high-quality video content alongside practical readings, realistic scenarios, and interactive quizzes designed to simulate real-life newsroom challenges. The asynchronous platform allows you to complete the average seven-hour course workload entirely at your own speed, making it an excellent addition to your summer schedule. Upon successful completion of all modules, you will download a verified digital credential to highlight your specialized skills on future high-school applications or academic resumes.
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.