Summer Investigative Journalism Workshop for High School Students

A unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on journalism experience at the New England Center for Investigative Reporting.

Date:
Session 1: July 19-23, 2010
Session 2: July 26-30, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily
Workshop sessions are one week. Optional second week as an NECIR Reporter-Trainee available.
Location: Boston University College of Communication

The 2010 Summer Investigative Journalism Workshop is a one-week program designed to give high school students intensive training in investigative reporting and the chance to work on investigative stories that could be published in their own school publications or in major media outlets in New England.

Selected students will spend a week on the campus of Boston University, participating in investigative reporting workshops led by university faculty as well as distinguished local and national journalists. They will work on investigative projects at BU’s New England Center for Investigative Reporting, and also visit area newsrooms.

Topics covered will include:

Initiating investigative stories/where to look; conducting effective interviews; computer-assisted reporting; how to present your findings on the web; news ethics.

Faculty will include:

Joe Bergantino, NECIR’s Director is an award-winning investigative reporter with 30 years experience, including 22 years as WBZ-TV’s I-Team Reporter and five years as an ABC News Correspondent.

Maggie Mulvihill, NECIR’s Associate Director is an award-winning investigative journalist with more than 20 years experience in both print and broadcast reporting.

Rochelle Sharpe, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with more than 25 years experience as a staff writer for The Wall Street Journal, Business Week and USA Today.

Lisa Chedekel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former investigative reporter for The Hartford Courant;

Helen F. Smith, executive director of the New England Scholastic Press Association and a member of the New England Newspaper and Press Association’s Professional Development Committee. She advised the The Newtonite at Newton North High School for 35 years.

Cost: $900 per session. For students needing housing, rooms in Boston University’s Warren Towers are available for $187/week. A 14-meal dining plan is an additional $139. No refunds after April 1, 2010.

Application deadline: July 1, 2010

Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in journalism and proficiency in writing.

To apply, fill out the application below and submit it electronically or print it out and mail it in. All applicants also need to submit:

  1. A signed letter from a parent or guardian, giving permission to enroll in the summer journalism workshop
  2. One writing sample (school paper or school news article)

Mail all items to:
New England Center for Investigative Reporting
Attn: Summer workshop registration
640 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215

Name:
Date of Birth: (MM/DD/YYYY)
Male/Female:
Parent/Guardian:
Street Address:
City:
State: ZIP Code:
Home Phone:
Cell Phone:
E-Mail Address:
Applicant’s School:
Anticipated Graduation (Year):
Emergency Contact:
Emergency Contact Phone:
Journalistic Activities (school newspaper, etc.):
Community and Extracurricular Activities:

Select a session:
Optional second week: Please indicate whether you would be interested in working as a Reporter-Trainee with the New England Center for Investigative Reporting for a second week following either workshop session (tuition $900):
Please tell us briefly why you are interested in investigative reporting, and what topics you might be interested in investigating.

Please also provide the following items. This application can be printed and mailed in or you may submit it electronically. However you apply please mail these items.

  1. A signed letter from a parent or guardian, giving permission to enroll in the summer journalism workshop
  2. One writing sample (school paper or school news article)

Mail all items to:
New England Center for Investigative Reporting
Attn: Summer workshop registration
640 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215

Thank you for completing this application form and for your interest in NECIR-BU’s Summer Workshop.