J Camp

2009 J Camp Press Release
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J Camp 2009 students (PDF 396k)

2008 J Camp Survey: Young Students Still See Journalism as a Viable Option


Video: CNN's Richard Lui talks about J Camp

Young people have the opportunity to develop their written, speaking, communication and leadership skills, while learning about diversity through a program that allows them to meet with top journalists in the country.

AAJA's J Camp, a national multicultural journalism program for high school students, will next be held in Los Angeles, California at Loyola Marymount University from July 30- August 4, 2010. For more information and application, please download the following three documents. We recommend using Safari or Firefox.

Download brochure

Download 2010 J Camp Application

Download J Camp 2010 EXCEL form

For more information regarding J Camp, contact Nao Vang, AAJA National Student Programs Coordinator at: (415) 346- 2051 x102 or programs@aaja.org.

The students selected demonstrated a keen interest in broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, photojournalism, or online media. This program is not limited to Asian American students and is open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, or juniors. There is no fee to apply and all costs are covered - including airfare, lodging, and meals. Students will stay in university housing during the camp week.

Program Overview

J Camp's goal is to develop the next generation of journalists. This six-day training camp brings together a multicultural group of high school students from across the nation to sharpen their journalism skills and work together in a unique learning environment. The curriculum consists of interactive workshops, hands-on training, and field trips.

Since the first J Camp in 2001, a total of 377 of the nation's brightest young people have graduated from J Camp.

J Camp strives to help assure excellence in the profession for decades to come by confronting the lack of diversity in journalism, not just in race, but also in matters of religious background, political background and other factors. With a diverse team, readers and viewers get different views on city governments, human interest stories, entertainment and recreation, science and medicine, and national and international news.

Speakers have included: Tim Russert, managing editor and moderator of "Meet the Press"; Ed Bradley, correspondent for "60 Minutes"; Carl Bernstein, Pulitzer Prize-winning Watergate reporter; Aaron Brown, CNN anchor; James Colton, Sports Illustrated photography editor; Leonard Downie Jr., Washington Post executive editor; Hoda Kotb, "Dateline NBC" correspondent; Atoosa Rubenstein, Seventeen magazine editor-in-chief; Carole Simpson, ABC News senior correspondent; Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., New York Times publisher; Helen Thomas, Hearst Newspapers Washington columnist; and Brian Williams, "NBC Nightly News" anchor and managing editor.

J Camp 2009

J Camp 2009 was co-directed by Clea Benson, senior writer at CQ Weekly, Congressional Quarterly's weekly magazine in Washington, D.C., and Angie Lau, anchor, Bloomberg Chicago Bureau.

Directors, faculty and speakers all volunteer their time to participate. But in order to sustain J Camp as a top training opportunity for young people, the program requires financial support to cover the costs for students and program operations. Media companies, foundations, corporations, businesses, and individuals like you can help. To learn how you can sponsor the program or a student, contact the Student Programs Coordinator Nao Vang.

J Camp Video 1, Produced by Jackelyn Ho from Nao Vang on Vimeo.

J Camp Video 2, Produced by Jackelyn Ho from Nao Vang on Vimeo.

J Camp Video 3, Produced by Jackelyn Ho from Nao Vang on Vimeo.