A NJ Non-Profit Company 501 c(3)
Summer 2025
High School Student Journalism Program
We are currently enrolling for our summer high school
JOURNALISM MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
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Funded by the Civic Information Consortium, this free program offers high school students a strong foundation in journalism and media production.
Designed for students eager to explore journalism, media studies, and media production, this course provides hands-on learning experiences. Participants who complete the program will receive a certificate of completion and a digital badge credential, recognizing their achievements.
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Introduction
The Online Journalism Mentorship Program offers a unique pre-college experience for high school students interested in journalism, media production, and community storytelling. Over 12 weeks of online modules, students will gain college-level training in essential skills like recording, editing, and storytelling.
Each participant will also be paired with a college-level journalism mentor, who will provide weekly guidance, feedback, and insight into college preparedness and success. Through hands-on projects, students will develop their own journalistic stories, focusing on issues within their local communities.
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The Mission
The Journalism Mentorship Program aims to ignite curiosity in storytelling, journalism, and community engagement among New Jersey high school students. By fostering awareness and preparedness, the program seeks to increase participation in local journalism while promoting democracy, equity, and diversity in public discourse.
Through the mentorship relationship, students receive personalized support, helping them prepare for higher education and careers in media. Mentors serve as role models, sharing their experiences with college, internships, and career paths while also encouraging students to focus on their academics and long-term goals. Parents may also benefit by gaining insight into college admissions and preparation.
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Summer 2025 Journalism Program Schedule
Program Dates: July & August 2025
Time Commitment: 3 hours per week, plus weekly mentor check-ins
Cost: FREE for accepted high school students​
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Digital Badge
Upon completion, students will earn a digital badge—a verified, web-based credential that showcases their achievement beyond traditional grades. This badge can be shared online and added to digital portfolios, resumes, and college applications.
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Program Description
Journalism plays a crucial role in society, shaping how we engage with our communities—locally, nationally, and globally. Journalists help us understand current events and the issues that impact our lives. As technology continues to transform how we communicate, journalism and media remain dynamic, ever-evolving fields.
In this program, you will step into the role of a journalist within your own community. You’ll learn how to craft informative, accurate, and compelling stories while maintaining journalistic integrity and respecting your audience. Using industry-standard tools, you will create original content and explore multimedia storytelling, from development to distribution across multiple platforms.
With a focus on multi-platform digital media, you will write, produce, and edit your own multimedia projects. Throughout the course, you’ll work alongside a college student mentor who will guide and support you every step of the way.
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Hands-On Learning Experiences
Students in this course will:
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Produce a podcast episode
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Create a news video featuring a local community story
Each student is paired with a mentor, who will meet with them virtually every week to provide guidance on course content and project completion.
Skills You’ll Develop:
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Scriptwriting
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Audio recording
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Podcast production & editing
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Video production
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Video editing
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Multimedia content distribution
Read more about the projects - Click Here
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Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
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Understand journalistic digital media production workflows, from concept to distribution.
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Distinguish between different media formats and select appropriate settings for project creation.
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Write, produce, design, record, and edit original content for websites, podcasts, and video productions.
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Develop and manage a news website using cloud-based web development tools optimized for multimedia content.
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Engage with their community by establishing a club or organization that promotes a more democratic news system in New Jersey.
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Explore pathways to majoring in journalism at a post-secondary institution.