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2023 Summer Journalism Camp
2024 Update: The Journalism Camp will not be held this summer. Please see our College Application Essay Writing Workshop in August for writing-related opportunities!
Are you a high school student interested in expanding your writing, reporting and journalism skills?
The Detroit Writing Room’s 2023 Summer Journalism Camp in partnership with Coaching Detroit Forward is for you!
This in-person two-week camp at Wayne State University is taught by Detroit Writing Room and New York Writing Room coaches. The coaches are all award-winning journalists who have worked at publications from The New York Times and Associated Press to The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.
Each day, students will learn a different topic from a 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 sports reporting with Detroit Free Press Pistons reporter Omari Sankofa II. Detroit News restaurant critic Melody Baetens 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 Detroit and New York 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. They will also be paired with an Editing Coach to receive feedback and editing. On the last day, students will share their stories with the group.
Their stories will be published on The Detroit Writing Room’s website and in the fourth edition of Perspectives Magazine, a print publication produced by students in our journalism and photography camps. Local media outlets, including Chalkbeat Detroit, Bridge Magazine and El Central Hispanic News, may also republish the students’ stories.
Students who attend the camp will receive:
A welcome package with writing supplies, T-shirt, water bottle, press pass and “A Newshound’s Guide to Student Journalism”
Daily lunch and snacks
A certificate of completion
Copies of Perspectives Magazine
Invitations to a Perspectives Magazine Launch Party at the Empowerment Plan in November 2023
Free tickets to select Detroit Writing Room workshops and events throughout the year
A bonus for the college-bound:
Our coaches will also help write letters of recommendation for college, scholarships, internships and more! We’re proud to share our former students have been accepted to the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Northwestern University, Howard University, Texas A&M University, University of Florida, Indiana University and other schools to study journalism, communications or English.
Photos by Dominick Sokotoff of our 2021 Journalism Camp
Dates:
This summer, there will be one in-person session of the camp. The camp is held Monday through Friday.
July 10-21, 2023
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST
Location: Wayne State University’s College of Education Building
Requirements:
To attend the camp, students must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Students will need a laptop each day. Coaching Detroit Forward laptops are available for Detroit students to borrow.
Coaches Include:
Kate Abbey-Lambertz, Detour Detroit co-founder
Rasha Almulaiki, The Michigan Chronicle multimedia journalist
Krishnan Anantharaman, Chalkbeat Detroit editor
Scott Atkinson, Hour Magazine editor
Melody Baetens, Detroit News restaurant critic
Jillian Berman, MarketWatch reporter
Laura Berman, former Detroit News columnist
Della Cassia, writer, former journalist and adjunct English instructor at Oakland Community College
Anna Clark, ProPublica reporter
M. L. Elrick, Detroit Free Press “On Guard” columnist
Randy Essex, Detroit Free Press health, environment and courts editor
Bob Goetz, former New York Times sports editor
Lori Higgins, Chalkbeat Detroit editor
Nina Ignaczak, Planet Detroit founder
Erin Kirkland, New York Times freelance photojournalist
Anna Medaris, Insider senior health correspondent
Amy Parlapiano, The Washington Post emerging news products
Katina Paron, author of “A NewsHound’s Guide to Student Journalism”
Walter T. Middlebrook, former Detroit News assistant managing editor
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press Pistons reporter
Michelle Sheridan, Detroit Jewish News and SEEN Magazine creative director
Kat Stafford, Associated Press race and ethnicity investigative writer
Stephanie Steinberg, Detroit Writing Room founder & U.S. News & World Report contributing editor
Bill Vlasic, former New York Times Detroit bureau chief
What Students Will Learn:
News reporting with Bill Vlasic
Sports writing with Bob Goetz and Omari Sankofa II
Column writing with Laura Berman
Race and social justice reporting with Kat Stafford
Health reporting with Anna Medaris
Feature writing with Scott Atkinson
Food writing with Dorothy Hernandez
Business reporting with Jillian Berman
Photography with Erin Kirkland
AP Style and nutgrafs with Krishnan Anantharaman
Headline writing and SEO with Kate Abbey-Lambertz
Publication design with Michelle Sheridan
Interviewing and journalism ethics with Stephanie Steinberg
Story structure with Walter Middlebrook
Check out stories written by students in our 2021 Journalism Camp
Check out stories written by students in our 2022 Journalism Camp
Cost:
$599 for 2 weeks
*Add $15 for credit card payments
Scholarship Opportunities:
Detroit Students:
Students who attend high school in the city of Detroit are eligible to apply for a scholarship to attend the journalism camp free of charge.
These scholarships are made possible by our nonprofit arm Coaching Detroit Forward, Dow Jones News Fund and sponsors, including Corewell Health, Wallace House Center for Journalists, SPJ Detroit and Individual Communicators Network.
To Apply:
Fill out the application below. We will consider applicants through early June.
Journalism Camp 2023 Application
SPJ Detroit Award Winners
Each year, we submit students’ stories to the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit Chapter Awards. Check out our award-winner stories below!
2021 Journalism Camp
The Loss: How Death Can Affect Children Under 18 by LayLa Sherman - 1st Place Health Reporting
The Vicious Cycle of Detroit’s Burnt Houses by Tamjid Islam - Community/Local News Reporting 1st Place
As Hate Crimes Against Asians Surge, a Student Speaks Out Through Art by Claudia Lin - Social Justice Reporting 2nd Place
Read in Color, a New Little Free Library Project, Reaches the Streets of Detroit by Lauren Brensel - Social Justice Reporting 3rd Place
How Lizzo’s Big Booty Affects Big Bodies in a Big Way by Brooke-Lynn Willingham - Feature Reporting 3rd Place
The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Students by Emily Zaretsky - Education Reporting 3rd Place
2020 Journalism Camp
If It Wasn’t for You, What Would I See? by Brianna Logan - Racial Justice Reporting 1st Place
The Effects of Covid-19 on Elder Care Abuse by Kenndall Wallace - Community/Watchdog Reporting 1st Place
Students from Journalism Camp 2020: Session 2
Students and coaches from Journalism Camp 2020: Session 1
What Students Say About the Camp
