Northern Kentucky University combines the art of storytelling, the skills of technology – and a taste of college life – in its Journalism & Digital Media Academy for high school students July 22-26.
High school students have the opportunity to sample almost every aspect of media creation during the weeklong academy.
“We pack a lot of learning into the academy and it happens through going out in the field and immersing students in real-world journalism,” said Michele Day, co-director of NKU’s journalism program and director of the academy since its launch in 2008. “This is not the kind of program where you sit at a desk and watch PowerPoint slides all week.”
Photos provided from last year’s program
At the academy, students learn how to frame photos while shooting images for an Instagram contest. They learn about how to gather quality audio by recording sound in a noisy place like a crowded simulation lab or a windy baseball field. They learn about using questions as reporting tools through one-on-one interviews with scientists, artists and athletes – and even a press conference with a newsmaker.
They learn about news writing while developing stories for the academy website. They create infographics and data visualizations and experiment with the latest digital apps.
The focus goes beyond the technical skills for media production, Day said. The program includes training in ethical and legal guidelines, as well as media credibility and literacy.
“In this day and age, it’s important to know where your information is coming from and to be able to judge the credibility of your sources,” said John Gibson, an NKU electronic media and broadcasting professor who leads video sessions throughout the week. “You also need to know what you’re doing as a creator and how that can impact the audience. When you take a photo a certain way, it can impact the message that you’re sending.”
The academy also provides a unique introduction to college life.
“As students venture across campus in the quest for stories and work one-on-one with the mentors from the College of Informatics they learn far more about the university than you can ever get from a campus tour,” said Day.
Enrollment is limited to 20 students. Hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 22-26.
For more information and to register, visit the Journalism & Digital Media Academy website at nku.edu/digitalage.
For questions, contact Michele Day at daymi@nku.edu or 859-572-1921.
