The Poynter High School Journalism Program

Photo by Doug White

THIS JUST IN -- Ashley Sowell, 16, got behind the anchor desk at News Channel 8 during a field trip this summer.

Poynter's High School Journalism Program is designed to introduce students to all facets of the journalist's craft: reporting, writing, design, graphics, photography, broadcast, and multimedia.

The year-round program begins each summer with an intensive 10-day journalism "boot camp," and continues through the school year with evening seminars once a month at Poynter.

Lectures are infused with lessons on ethical decision-making and an appreciation of working in our multicultural society. Students get individual coaching and editing while working on their stories. The sessions are similar in content to the professional-level seminars Poynter conducts for working journalists. Classes are taught by members of Poynter's faculty, distinguished professionals from around the country, and local journalists.

Poynter has had programs for high school students since 1976. It's part of Poynter's mission to serve both the journalism industry and the Tampa Bay community that is our home.

This incarnation of Poynter's commitment to scholastic education is in its second year. Forty-one students from 20 area public and private high schools are participating. This summer the participants wrote on deadline, took photos, attended a Tampa Tribune news meeting, and even attended a movie premiere to write a film review.

Students accepted do not pay tuition but admission is competitive. The program is open to rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors in the Tampa Bay area.

Poynter also sponsors the Florida High School Writers Workshop, a daylong program that offers dozens of sessions on topics ranging from feature writing to broadcast. Speakers have included Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters, book authors, local print and broadcast professionals, college professors, and members of Poynter's nationally recognized faculty. The program is free and open to anyone. It is held twice a year in St. Petersburg.

Both programs are directed by Evelyn Hsu, a former reporter for The Washington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle. To be placed on the mailing list for more information and to receive application forms for either program, send an e-mail to program director Evelyn Hsu at ehsu@poynter.org. Please provide your name, street mailing address, home phone number, and preferred e-mail address.

To see the course description for this program, click here.