Are you a high school student interested in expanding your writing, reporting and research skills? Do you have a special interest in the climate, health or environment in your community? Or do you simply enjoy storytelling and writing about issues you care about?
The Detroit Writing Room’s 2025 Summer Journalism Camp in partnership with Coaching Detroit Forward and Planet Detroit is for you!
The two-week day camp will be held this July at Wayne State University’s Journalism Institute for Media Diversity. Students will learn from over 25 Detroit Writing Room coaches and award-winning journalists who have worked at publications from The New York Times to The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.
The camp provides an immersive experience that teaches high school students fundamental writing and reporting skills while focusing on issues impacting their neighborhoods. Most importantly, they’ll receive the tools and confidence to write about issues that matter to them and their communities. With access to some of the top editors, journalists and photographers in Detroit, students also gain mentors who can guide them to future internship and job opportunities.
This year’s camp is in partnership with Planet Detroit, a nonprofit news outlet that covers important stories about environmental, public health and social justice topics in Detroit. Each day, students will learn from journalists covering these beats and participate in interactive workshops and real-world reporting exercises.
Publication Opportunities
Over the two weeks, students will report and write a story focused on an environmental, health or equity topic they choose. They will also be paired with an Editing Coach to receive feedback and one-on-one editing. On the last day, students will share their stories with the group.
Each student will have their article published online at planetdetroit.org and detroitwritingroom.com. Articles will also be printed in the sixth edition of Perspectives Magazine, an annual print publication produced by students in our journalism and photography camps. Student articles will also be entered for Society of Professional Journalist Detroit Awards.
Students Who Attend
Will Receive
• A welcome package with writing supplies, T-shirt, water bottle, press pass and “A Newshound’s Guide to Student Journalism”
• Daily lunch and snacks
• Daily parking pass or rideshare transportation stipend
• A certificate of completion
• Copies of Perspectives Magazine
• Invitations to a Perspectives Magazine Launch Party at Playground Detroit in November 2025
• Free tickets to select Detroit Writing Room workshops and events throughout the year
A Bonus for the
College Bound
Our coaches also help write letters of recommendation for college, scholarships, internships and more! We’re proud to share our former students have been accepted to the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Northwestern University, Howard University, Texas A&M University, University of Florida, Indiana University and other schools to study journalism, communications, English and more.
Apply for Journalism Camp at https://www.detroitwritingroom.com/journalism-camp
What Students Say About Journalism Camp
"Being a part of the camp served as a wake-up call for the writer inside of me and has helped me with a story I've been struggling with for multiple years now. Luckily I was able to open up my computer and begin writing with a new purpose and a stronger plan for writing the story. (The camp) is an amazing experience for furthering knowledge in the field of writing. As a personal narrative style writer, learning about how to show experiences through my eyes just cannot be stopped for me." Torrance is now studying at Wayne State University. He hopes to pursue a career in music production and writing.
– Torrance Johnson
Camp Dates: July 7-18, 2025; Weekdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Wayne State University
Cost: $599 for 2 weeks
Scholarship Opportunities: Students who attend a Detroit high school or live in Detroit are eligible to apply for a scholarship to attend the camp free of charge. These scholarships are made possible by Coaching Detroit Forward donors, a Michigan Environmental Council award and sponsors, including the Rotary Club of Detroit, Automotive Press Association, Detroit NABJ and SPJ Detroit.
The deadline to apply is May 2, 2025
Apply for Journalism Camp at
https://www.detroitwritingroom.com/journalism-camp
2025 Camp Coaches
• Kate Abbey-Lambertz, Outlier Media product and engagement editor
• Krishnan Anantharaman, Chalkbeat Detroit editor
• Emilia Askari, University of Michigan environmental journalism lecturer
• Laura Berman, former Detroit News columnist
• Jena Brooker, BridgeDetroit environmental reporter
• Della Cassia, writer, former journalist and adjunct English instructor at Oakland Community College
• Anna Clark, ProPublica reporter
• Elaine Cromie, Chalkbeat photojournalist
• Patrick Dunn, Concentrate managing editor
• Randy Essex, Detroit Free Press health, environment and courts editor
• Bob Goetz, former New York Times sports editor
• Nargis Hakim Rahman, WDET Radio civic reporter
• Dorothy Hernandez, Chicago Sun Times editor
• Lori Higgins, Chalkbeat Detroit editor
• Nina Ignaczak, Planet Detroit founder
• Amy Parlapiano, The Washington Post emerging news products
• Katina Paron, author of “A NewsHound’s Guide to Student Journalism”
• Walter T. Middlebrook, former Detroit News assistant managing editor
• SaMya Overall, Outlier Media reporter
• Michelle Sheridan, Detroit Jewish News and SEEN Magazine creative director
• Kat Stafford, Reuters global race and justice editor
• Josh Sharpe, investigative journalist and author
• Stephanie Steinberg, Detroit Writing Room founder & U.S. News & World Report contributing editor
• Isabelle Tavares, Planet Detroit reporter
• Sydnee Thompson, freelance editor
• Bill Vlasic, former New York Times Detroit bureau chief
