UM Journalism School Offers Summer Camps, Workshops For High Schoolers

Courtesy University of Montana

With a keen interest in impacting Montana communities and, ultimately, democracy, the University of Montana School of Journalism will once again train high school journalists from across the state on and off campus this summer.

The Montana Journalism and Media Summer Camp will host students July 17-22 on campus in Missoula. In this one-week intensive, hands-on camp, students will learn reporting, writing, editing, photography, sports journalism and podcasting.

“It’s so great to see these kids just light up when they tell stories that matter to them and their communities,” said Courtney Cowgill, a UM adjunct professor and director of media and engagement at the School of Journalism. “It’s never been more important for the next generation to understand the impact that media and journalism has on them individually, on the communities they are a part of and on democracy and society as a whole.”

In addition, the Montana Media Lab, a program of the School of Journalism, will hit the highway to bring journalism workshops to rural high school students.

In these workshops, students will learn about the journalism happening in their communities, practice conducting interviews and editing stories, get hand-on experience using podcast recording equipment and produce radio stories that they will present to their communities.

“Young people spend much of their lives online, so it’s important they know how to parse fact from fiction in digital spaces,” said Mary Auld, assistant director of the Montana Media Lab. “Our workshops help them find the truth in the media so they can understand the world and advocate for themselves.”

Montana Media Lab will travel May 31-June 3 to Aaniiih Nakoda College in Harlem, June 6-10 to Lodge Grass High School and June 13-17 to Great Falls.

For more information or to see camp and workshop descriptions, visit the School of Journalism’s summer webpage.