Whether you’re just getting into journalism or have years of experience, these student workshops provide you with the tools to learn new skills and sharpen your existing talents. Through hands-on experience, interaction with high-grade equipment, and instruction from field professionals, you’ll receive important tips, tutorials, and resources to help you pursue your passions.
Register now for the session and workshop of your choice to begin building your media career. You may only sign up for one workshop in each session.
Learn the basics of news design using products in the Adobe Creative suite. You will learn how to design layouts, as well as how to cater design to best suit the needs of digital and print products (print, web, social media). Instructors will work with you on the principles of effective design and how these principles can be applied to share information and appeal to an audience.
Tell a story beyond words
The Introduction to Photography workshop will teach you the basics of how to manipulate the settings of a digital camera in order to take better photographs. This workshop will focus on learning and incorporating composition basics, finding and using the best light, and making better photographs. You will also explore journalistic principles, editing fundamentals, and visual storytelling approaches. You will learn how to be in control of the camera and in charge of the photographic outcome, and to edit images through Photoshop.
We recommend photojournalists bring a digital camera with manual override. If one is not available, a point and shoot-type digital camera will be fine. For publication quality, cameras should be at least three megapixels.
Be a leader with a purpose
These workshops prepare you as a student media editor, manager, or director to lead your staff, regardless of the platform (newspaper, yearbook, web, social media, broadcast, podcast, etc.). You will develop plans for effective staff organization and motivation. Faculty work with students on communication skills, teamwork, professionalism, project management, goal-setting, and self-advocacy.
Should I sign up for Section 1 or Section 2?
Section 1 will focus on leading entire staffs. This workshop is for students who are currently serving as editors-in-chief, executive producers, or managing editors and directors (or will be the coming school year).
Section 2 will focus on skill-building for students who oversee part of a staff or team. This workshop is for students who are currently serving as section or associate editors, or senior reporters.
Select your section (1 or 2) based on your staff leadership role at school (currently or this coming school year).
Reporting through the lens
This workshop is designed for students who will serve as photojournalists or photo editors for a student media staff. Some photography and Photoshop experience is highly recommended.
In this workshop, you learn how to cover events, make environmental portraits, shoot action, and create photo stories. You will be prepared to produce sports, feature, and news photos for student media at your school. This session emphasizes the reporting skills needed by photojournalists and the best practices used by professionals.
We recommend that you bring a digital SLR camera with manual override. If one is not available, you may borrow one from The Media School.
Write stories that matter
In the Reporting and Writing workshops, you will examine the role of the media in news and develop a sense of news judgment. You will have the opportunity to practice your own writing, decision-making, and editing skills. This workshop will assist you in learning to edit the work of others, exploring the basic principles of design, and discussing staff motivation.
Other topics covered include organizing effective news beats, generating story ideas, developing good staff relationships and organization, and learning the legal and ethical issues in media.
Which lab should I register for?
News Reporting & Writing: If you are new to journalism, this lab will teach you the fundamentals of news and introduce you to the Associated Press writing style.
Magazine & Feature Writing: To register for this lab, you must have at least one semester of journalism under your belt. This lab will teach you to craft compelling feature stories while still following the rules of news writing. Feature editors are welcome to register.
Opinion Writing: You will learn useful tips on selecting editorial topics, researching editorials and columns, and writing opinion pieces of various kinds in this opinion lab. It will also cover judgments made in setting up policies for opinion/editorial pages.
Sports Reporting & Writing: The sports lab will dive into sports reporting, writing, and editing, and give you some of the best tips on covering sports events and news. This lab is suggested for newspaper and yearbook staff members who are interested in sports reporting.
Explore the best ways to represent your school
Yearbook staffers and editors of all ability and experience who enroll in one of the yearbook sessions will study theme development and trends in yearbook design and coverage, and explore ways to make their books relevant to their school population. Staffs who enroll together will work to create a “starter kit” for the next school year, including a strong thematic approach, trend-right designs, an organized ladder, and ideas for increasing book sales.
While staffs are encouraged to enroll together to build camaraderie and teamwork, sessions throughout the week are tailored to the individual. Much instruction is one-on-one, both in state-of-the-art classrooms and in the Media School’s desktop publishing lab.
The Adobe suite of software, including InDesign, will be the primary teaching platform for design. If you want to use other design software, we encourage you to come to HSJI with up-to-date login information and, if available, technical guides.
Session 2: July 13-17, 2025
Build stories through multiple platforms
If you are seeking to pursue journalism in a multimedia-based context, the 360 Journalism workshop is for you! This workshop provides maximum hands-on experience. You will interview newsmakers and cover events while producing stories for multiple platforms and learning the differences in style and approach.
Once you’ve completed this workshop, you will be able to shoot and edit still and video images, write scripts for broadcasts and podcasts, and repurpose content for social media.
Develop engaging content
This workshop will cover the basics of building a social media presence. You will learn about the principles of design and how to apply these to social media posts.
In this workshop, you will create a sample social media schedule and design templates that can be used to share information on social media for school publications. This workshop will also cover basic skills using Adobe Creative suite products. You will leave this workshop with the skillset and materials to boost your publication's presence on social media.
The art and craft of capturing real stories
HSJI’s Documentary Filmmaking workshop introduces documentary concepts using in-class instruction and hands-on experience with nonfiction video journalism. You will learn about shooting with a DSLR camera, recording audio, and digital editing, as well as writing, producing, and editing documentary-style video.
This workshop is for students who are interested in film or journalism careers or who work with digital or broadcast student media at their schools.
Convey fashion news in a larger context
Fashion journalists cover designers, styles, and trends. But fashion journalism is more than just writing about what we wear – it is also about business, culture, sustainability, and politics. In this workshop, we will explore how to create compelling stories that explore many of the ways that fashion touches our lives. Through hands-on activities, you’ll learn about key journalistic practices, from interviewing and researching to writing and editing. The workshop is perfect for aspiring writers, bloggers, content creators or anyone looking to gain experience in fashion and lifestyle journalism. Our instructors will teach you the core skills needed to create compelling fashion content across digital and print platforms.
Tell a story beyond words
The Introduction to Photography workshop will teach you the basics of how to manipulate the settings of a digital camera in order to take better photographs. This workshop will focus on learning and incorporating composition basics, finding and using the best light, and making better photographs. You will also explore journalistic principles, editing fundamentals, and visual storytelling approaches. You will learn how to be in control of the camera and in charge of the photographic outcome, and to edit images through Photoshop.
We recommend photojournalists bring a digital camera with manual override. If one is not available, a point and shoot-type digital camera will be fine. For publication quality, cameras should be at least three megapixels.
From script to soundwave
In this hands-on audio lab, you will produce episodes of a real podcast on community radio station WFHB!
During the session, you will:
Use professional audio gear
Visit a working radio station
Conduct podcast interviews
Edit audio for content and length
Produce finished episodes and load them onto an online archive
Your content will air on 91.3 FM and will be archived online at wfhb.org and on the mainstream podcast platforms!
Capture the court
Interested in exploring the world of sportscasting? Our workshop offers on-camera experience including anchoring and on-camera panel discussions, as well as skills such as broadcast writing, sports reporting and editing, and podcasting.
You’ll have the chance to interview Indiana University athletics staff and athletes, then use your footage to create a story. You’ll also try out the anchor desk in The Media School’s Beckley Studio.
You’ll learn how to engage with cameras and transition through segments and receive feedback from faculty and students in The Media School’s sports media program.
You may take this five-day session as a standalone, or you may combine it with the Reporting and Writing sports workshop. This workshop is for students who need to learn the basics of sports writing and reporting.
Maximum enrollment is 18. If you register for this workshop you may be placed on the waitlist and notified if a spot opens up.
Explore the best ways to represent your school
Yearbook staffers and editors of all ability and experience who enroll in one of the yearbook sessions will study theme development and trends in yearbook design and coverage, and explore ways to make their books relevant to their school population. Staffs who enroll together will work to create a “starter kit” for the next school year, including a strong thematic approach, trend-right designs, an organized ladder, and ideas for increasing book sales.
While staffs are encouraged to enroll together to build camaraderie and teamwork, sessions throughout the week are tailored to the individual. Much instruction is one-on-one, both in state-of-the-art classrooms and in the Media School’s desktop publishing lab.
The Adobe suite of software, including InDesign, will be the primary teaching platform for design. If you want to use other design software, we encourage you to come to HSJI with up-to-date login information and, if available, technical guides.
