High school students with a strong interest in all forms of journalism are encouraged to apply. All costs to attend this program, including airfare, campus housing and meals, are covered by AAJA.

DEADLINE: Friday, January 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Application Materials:

• Letter of Recommendation
• Introduction Video (60-90 secs target, 2 mins maximum)
• Short answer questions (100 words or less):
• A) Please discuss a specific challenge you've faced and how you've grown from the experience.
• B) Where do you get your news from? Please identify through which platform(s) and what are some recent pieces/stories that caught your attention?
• C) In the time before you graduate from high school, how would you like to grow and develop as a person? (75 words or less)
• Student Essays:
• A) Why do you want to attend JCamp this summer? (150 words or less)
• B) If you were able to spend a month reporting on any single issue within your region, what would it be and why? What would you want to achieve with this piece? Who would you speak with and how do you envision your final product? (250 words or less)
• C) OPTIONAL - Is there anything else you would like us to consider with your application? (150 words or less)
• Various other short answer questions on interests, involvement and extracurriculars
• Work Samples (optional, three maximum)

About JCamp:
  AAJA’s JCamp is a national multicultural journalism program for high school students. The six-day training camp brings together culturally diverse students from across the nation to learn from veteran journalists and leading media executives. JCamp participants will receive hands-on training and produce multiplatform news packages for the program’s news site, JCamp Live. Since 2001, over 850 high school students have graduated from JCamp. Every year, AAJA receives hundreds of applications from all regions of the country. To learn more about JCamp, visit our website.

DEADLINE: Friday, January 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

For any questions related to the application or camp, please email support@aaja.org.

VOICES is a student fellowship program that provides aspiring journalists with career-ready skills to succeed in the continually-evolving media landscape. The program’s mission is to help a diverse group of aspiring journalists understand how audiences engage with them, how communities view the work they produce and how they can understand the impact of their work. By nurturing relationships between students and professional volunteers, VOICES also gives students the opportunity to tap into mentors’ networks and begin their own. 

This program is open to college students interested in journalism. We are looking for students who are interested in producing a long-form, in-depth news project over the course of the summer. Reporters, social media strategists, designers, developers, data engineers, podcasters, broadcasters and bloggers are all welcome to apply.

The program this year will consist of summer-long training and project work that culminates at the AAJA National Convention in Seattle, Washington from July 30 to August 3, 2025.

     As a VOICES fellow, students will:

• Attend virtual trainings throughout the summer led by industry leaders
• Build lasting relationships with their editors and other AAJA professionals
• Be a part of AAJA's National Convention as attendees and presenters
• Meet and interview with recruiters from major news companies 

Past fellows have gone onto internships and jobs at news companies such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Frontline and more. Former VOICES students and editors are now Pulitzer Prize winners, documentarians, public relations professionals, broadcast anchors and newsroom editors. Above all, VOICES is a community that lasts far beyond one summer – it's a community that students will be a part of for a lifetime. To view past work by fellows, visit the VOICES website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please check here for information on eligibility, the program and other general questions.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: March 7, 2025, 11:59 p.m. PT

MENTOR with AAJA

Applications to be part of the 2025 Mentor Match cohort are now open, for both mentors and mentees to apply! 

• Mentor applications close on February 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

By March, final matches will be notified and soon after, a first conference call will be held.
 

Mentors and mentees must have a paid, active AAJA membership to participate in the program. To be an eligible candidate, become an AAJA member here.

Applications
Applications to be part of the 2025 Mentor Match cohort are now open, for both mentors and mentees to apply!  

• Mentee applications close on February 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 
• Mentor applications close on February 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

By the end of March, final matches will be notified and soon after, a first conference call will be held.
Mentors and mentees must have a paid, active AAJA membership to participate in the program. To be an eligible candidate, become an AAJA member here.

The Executive Leadership Program (ELP) is for journalists and media professionals who are interested in advancing their careers and developing the skills necessary to achieve their professional and personal goals. ELP offers a challenging, practical, and life-changing experience.

This is not a typical program about how to become a better manager; it is a transformational journey designed to develop emerging journalism leaders capable of navigating unpredictable challenges and building a sustainable future for the industry.

The program explores the responsibilities and challenges within a media workplace, how to lead in a changing landscape, and how cultural values influence leadership. Experienced career coaches and senior news executives guide participants as they delve into a variety of topics in a small, supportive environment.

The trainings are highly-interactive and participants will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects and questions such as:
 

• How do leadership styles across various cultures affect our work?
• How can we deconstruct corporate culture to find paths to success and overcome barriers?
• In what ways do my background and passion impact my work?
• How does digital media impact the industry and what is my role in it?
• How can I meaningfully contribute to the industry and my community?
• What lessons can be learned from established and emerging media markets? 

    Participants will also explore perspectives on and gain concrete approaches to:
 

• Diversity and culture in the workplace
• Leadership skills, styles, and opportunities 
• Power, politics, and influence
• Professional and career goal setting
• Personal branding and confidence
• Negotiation tactics 

QUALIFICATIONS

Individuals with four to seven years of experience are encouraged to apply. Space is limited and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Acceptance into the program may be contingent upon an interview.
 

LOGISTICS

The 2025 ELP sessions will be held both in person and virtually. Participants are required to attend all live and virtual sessions. They are also responsible for having all the technology needed to attend the virtual trainings, including a computer, webcam, and a strong internet connection.
 

2025 Sessions (all times are for the Eastern Time Zone)

In-person Opening Session: Wednesday through Saturday, April 23-26, in Washington, D.C.
Virtual Sessions: Monthly two-hour sessions from May through July. Times and dates TBD.  
In-person Closing Session: Wednesday, July 30, during AAJA's National Convention in Seattle, Washington.

TUITION AND PAYMENT

Tuition for ELP is $1,750 for AAJA members and $2,250 for non-members. It includes the costs of training materials, meals during in-person sessions, and basic registration for the 2025 AAJA National Convention.
 

Applicants accepted to ELP must pay for the program by April 15. For those who need it, there will be an option to pay the tuition in two payments. Applicants who cancel their registration after April 15 will not receive a refund.

Those in need of financial assistance may reach out to their employers or local AAJA chapter leadership (AAJA members only).
 

HOW TO APPLY

You must be a professional working actively in the journalism and media industry to apply for the program.

Fill out the application below for the U.S. ELP Cohort.
 

Applications are due by Friday, February 28 at 11:59 PM PT. Please note that space is very limited.

Attach the following documents to the form:
    • A résumé or link to your LinkedIn profile
    • A professional, high-resolution color photo
    • A letter of recommendation from a supervisor (OPTIONAL)
    • A short 40-word biography

    Contact AAJA HQ at https://www.aaja.org/about/contact/ with any questions.