Summer Journalism Workshop

2026 Mizzou High School Workshop

The Missouri Method in Action

At the Mizzou High School Journalism Workshop, students from around the U.S.  work together with the guidance of professional journalists to produce stories, photos and broadcasts using the Missouri Method offering two tracks programming with one common goal for all of the students learn by doing!

Since 1970, the program has helped students learn how to cover issues, news and current events in an inclusive way. Over the course of a week, they produce stories with the opportunity to be featured in the school’s award-winning, hands-on learning laboratories, including the Columbia Missourian newspaper; KOMU-TV, the local NBC affiliate; KBIA-FM, mid-Missouri’s NPR affiliate, as well as across multiple media platforms. Instruction will be guided by faculty experts at the Missouri School of Journalism and industry professionals.

Highlights of the workshop include:

  • Mobile Technologies: Students learn how to interview sources, shoot video, take photos — do everything they need for their story — while they’re on location. In today’s world, journalists can work from anywhere.
  • Social Media: Students use social platforms to engage with the public, gather information and more for all stages of their reporting.
  • Sports reporting: Learn how to report the action, tell athlete stories and produce content for print, broadcast and digital platforms. 
  • Data Journalism: Students dig deep into publicly-available information in government databases to discover facts and statistics. They learn how to produce graphics that visualize the information for the public.
  • Campaign Strategy: Students advance their knowledge of principles and processes, including creative strategies, concept development and advertising design execution to create powerful visual communication.

The cost for the Missouri High School Journalism Workshop, held on the University of Missouri campus, includes most meals, lodging and all workshop activities. Some scholarships are available to those who qualify for financial need.

Sandy Sharp, NBCU Academy, working with workshop students.
Dominick Lee teaching Drone Journalism
News Director Jeimmie Navalga speaks to 2025 High School Workshop Team.
NBCU Academy team pose with workshop students
Professor Tracy Draksler Brown
Maya Oleff, left, and Grace Ainger, both seated, produce the 6 p.m. KOMU-TV newscast on June 25, 2025.
High School Summer Workshop participants pose for a photo in the KOMU-TV news studio on June 25, 2025.
Frank Corridori, Professor
Sandy Sharp, Leila Rahimi of NBCU Academy

The opportunity to hear from real-world journalism and strategic communication professionals and engage with them while still in high school was very eye-opening in deciding what I wanted to study in college. From the beginning, the professors leading the workshop were very welcoming and willing to help us learn new skills. The experience is why I attended Mizzou.”

Mikayla Higgins, BJ ‘ 25, MA ‘26

Select your Track

Coach Eli Hoff pose annual High School Summer Workshop Program students June 22-27, 2025, at the J-School.

Journalism Workshop

Students are immersed in learning the Missouri Method of journalism, hands-on learning by doing. Sessions include exercises for writing and interviewing, plus opportunities for coaching. Bring story ideas you want to develop for next school year or just come and learn as much as you can to make you a better journalist. Original reporting experience provides students’ real newsroom skills and allow for more creative work. The workshop will also focus on reporting accuracy and covering diverse communities that are often left out of the news coverage.

Advertising and Public relations participants Audrey Scarpace, Alexi Mullins, Isabel Blakely, Cora Thebeau, and Madeline Boyd

Advertising & Public Relations

Using the Missouri Method of learning-by-doing, students are busy exploring how creative production, copywriting, design, public relations and project management work to solve the complex communication needs of major modern brands. Students will gain insight and expert knowledge through presentations given by experts working in the field on top brands at top national agencies. Projects are guided by those same professionals and stress the importance of working together to create a single, clear and engaging piece of creative communication based on strategic insights.

Sample Schedule

Day 1 – Sunday

  • Check in at dorm
  • Dorm safety presentation by Res Life
  • Welcome to the University of Missouri
  • Expectations Regulations
  • Scavenger Hunt

Day 2 – Monday

  • Meet Workshop Leaders
  • Welcome from Dean of the Missouri School of Journalism
  • NBCU Academy session
  • Covering big events: The World Cup, ESPN
  • Meet the Journalism Faculty and Workshop coaches
  • Campus Tour
  • ESPN Session
  • Brainstorming session with workshop coaches
  • Visual Arts and Photography Lecture
  • Dinner
  • Documentary Journalism Screening

Day 3 – Tuesday

  • Group photos wearing workshop t-shirts
  • Joint Session Strategic Communications and Journalism Tracks – All about AI
  • Journalism track session – Using Social media as an investigative tool
  • Strategic Communications track Session – Creative Process 101: Creating your own logos with Critique
  • Lunch
  • Sports Journalism with John Anderson
  • Newsroom reporting time

Day 4 – Wednesday

  • Joint Session with Strategic Communications and Journalism Tracks
  • Lunch
  • KOMU 8 Tour
  • Newsroom reporting time

Day 5 – Thursday

  • Joint Session with Strategic Communications and Journalism Tracks – Drones
  • VFX Storytelling
  • Newsroom reporting time
  • Dinner

Day 6 – Friday

  • Joint Session: Careers in Journalism, Strategic Communications & Sports
  • Presentation of certificates to workshop participants
  • Workshop concludes