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Virtual Summer Journalism Camp
Are you a high school student interested in expanding your writing, reporting and journalism skills?
The Detroit Writing Room’s 2020 Summer Journalism Camp is for you!
This two-week virtual camp is taught by Detroit Writing Room coaches. The coaches are all award-winning journalists who have worked at publications from The New York Times and Wall Street Journal to The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.
Each day, students will learn a different topic from a Detroit Writing Room coach. For example, one day will be focused on news reporting with former New York Times Detroit bureau chief Bill Vlasic. Another day will be column writing with former Detroit News columnist Laura Berman. Model D Managing Editor Dorothy Hernandez will teach food writing, while New York Times freelance photographer Erin Kirkland will share how to capture the best photo with your iPhone. The students will have access to the top editors, journalists and photographers in Metro Detroit and gain mentors who can guide them to future internship and job opportunities.
Over the two weeks, students will report and write their own story on a topic of their choice. At the end, each student will receive editing from coaches and share their stories with the group. Their stories will be published on The Detroit Writing Room’s website, and students who complete the program will receive a certificate.
To attend the camp, students must be in high school and have access to a computer to join the sessions via Zoom.
The sessions are Monday through Friday:
Session 1: July 6-17, 2020
1 to 3:30 p.m. EST
Session 2: July 20-31, 2020
1 to 3:30 p.m. EST
Coaches Include:
Krishnan Anantharaman, former Wall Street Journal & Automotive News editor
Laura Berman, former Detroit News columnist
Anna Clark, “The Poisoned City” author and freelance journalist
Patrick Dunn, Concentrate managing editor
Ron Fournier, former Crain’s Detroit publisher
Dorothy Hernandez, Model D managing editor
Erin Kirkland, New York Times freelance photojournalist
Walter T. Middlebrook, former Detroit News editor
Stephanie Steinberg, Detroit Writing Room founder & former U.S. News & World Report editor
Bill Vlasic, former New York Times Detroit bureau chief
Jeff Waraniak, former Hour Magazine editor
Ashley Woods Branch, Detour Detroit founder
Tentative schedule:
Session 1
July 6 - Intro Day with coaches and students + story brainstorm
July 7 - News reporting with Bill Vlasic
July 8 - Finding stories and developing ideas with Ron Fournier
July 9 - AP Style, headline and lede writing with Krishnan Anantharaman and digital journalism with Ashley Woods Branch
July 10 - Feature writing with Jeff Waraniak
July 13 - Community reporting with Patrick Dunn
July 14 - Blogs, vlogs and column writing with Laura Berman
July 15 - Food writing with Dorothy Hernandez
July 16 - Photography with Erin Kirkland + Editing Day
.July 17 - Story Sharing Day
Session 2
July 20 - Intro Day with coaches and students + story brainstorm
July 21 - News reporting with Bill Vlasic
July 22 - Finding stories and developing ideas with Anna Clark
July 23 - AP Style, headline and lede writing with Krishnan Anantharaman and digital journalism with Ashley Woods Branch
July 24 - Feature writing with Jeff Waraniak
July 27 - Community reporting with Patrick Dunn
July 28 - Blogs, vlogs and column writing with Laura Berman
July 29 - Food writing with Dorothy Hernandez
July 30 - Photography with Erin Kirkland + Editing Day
.July 31 - Story Sharing Day
Cost:
Each session = $650
*Add $20 for credit card payments
Scholarship Opportunity:
Thanks to the support of the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit chapter, Detroit high school students in need of financial assistance are eligible to apply for a scholarship to attend the camp free of charge. (See application below.)
To Apply:
Students must fill out the application below. The deadline to apply is June 5. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis.