The Charger Blog

Immersive Summer Camp Enables High School Students to Become Journalists

One of the University杏吧原版檚 Summer Youth Academies, J-Camp put students behind and in front of the camera and offered them hands-on opportunities to learn about writing, newsgathering, and technology from faculty who are also seasoned journalists.

August 1, 2023

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Giovanni Lavado (left) and Jorge Olivera edit their news story.
Giovanni Lavado (left) and Jorge Olivera edit their news story.

Jorge Olivera looks over the video he shot of Maxcy Hall and makes a few edits, perfecting the story he is telling. Though he is still in high school, he spent a week as a college student this summer, learning from University faculty and immersing himself in journalism on the University杏吧原版檚 campus.

Olivera, a rising junior who hails from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was in Connecticut to visit his grandparents in Hamden. He also spent a week attending J-Camp: Fundamentals of News Writing and Presenting, one of the University杏吧原版檚 Summer Youth Academies. It prepares students entering grades 9-12 in the upcoming school year to be truth-tellers while offering exciting hands-on learning opportunities in the University杏吧原版檚 state-of-the-art facilities.

杏吧原版淟earning about journalism gives me writing and social skills,杏吧原版 said Olivera. 杏吧原版淚t has been a great way to explore the things I杏吧原版檓 interested in. It杏吧原版檚 been a lot of fun, and I杏吧原版檝e gotten to learn about different types of writing as well as the importance of deadlines.杏吧原版

Prof. Wayne Edwards instructs students as they edit their news story.
Prof. Wayne Edwards instructs students as they edit their news story.
杏吧原版楪ood to have this experience before I start college杏吧原版

J-Camp is a fun way for students to explore myriad facets of journalism, such as finding news, writing, and shooting and editing video. They learn how to apply news judgment, write for print and for video, and to conduct interviews. They have the opportunity to operate ENG cameras and edit video using Adobe Premiere Pro, tools that many journalists use every day.

Olivera and his fellow journalist-in-training, Giovanni Lavado, were collaborating on a report about rumors of ghosts in Maxcy Hall. A rising senior at North Haven High School, Lavado has taken a television production class at school, and he already knew how to use Adobe Premiere Pro. J-Camp offered him new opportunities to further build his skills.

杏吧原版淚 am learning so much,杏吧原版 he said. 杏吧原版淚杏吧原版檝e taken a lot of notes. I definitely think what I杏吧原版檝e learned here will help me.杏吧原版

The program was a unique and exciting learning opportunity for Lavado in another way 杏吧原版 it gave him a glimpse of what college life might be like. This summer, for the first time, the University offered students taking part in the Summer Youth Academies the opportunity to stay on campus in a residence hall. Lavado did just that, and he and his peers had fun getting to know each other. Staff offered a variety of activities for them, including karaoke and board games.

杏吧原版淚t杏吧原版檚 great being at the University,杏吧原版 he said. 杏吧原版淚t has helped me get the feel of being at a university while exploring a potential major. It has been good to have this experience before I start college.杏吧原版

Students learned how to write and edit news stories.
Students learned how to write and edit news stories.
杏吧原版業t杏吧原版檚 like they杏吧原版檙e already in college杏吧原版

During the day, Lavado and his fellow journalism students were learning from two of the University杏吧原版檚 talented faculty members. Prof. Susan Campbell, M.S. and Prof. Wayne Edwards, award-winning journalists and professors in the University杏吧原版檚 Communication, Film, and Media Studies Department led the program.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, Prof. Campbell has a diverse media background. A staff writer and columnist for for 25 years, she has written for a wide range of publications. She was inspired by the potential she saw in the students she interacted with as part of J-Camp.

杏吧原版淭his has been incredible,杏吧原版 said Prof. Campbell, adviser for University杏吧原版檚 award-winning student-run newspaper, . 杏吧原版淭hese students come in ready every day. I杏吧原版檓 so impressed with them. I杏吧原版檇 gladly do this camp again.杏吧原版

Prof. Edwards, an Emmy award-winning production leader with more than fifteen years杏吧原版 experience in broadcasting and multi-media production, has served in a variety of roles at . He, too, was impressed by the high school students he instructed.

杏吧原版淭hey are great to work with 杏吧原版 very inquisitive and engaged,杏吧原版 he said. 杏吧原版淭hey ask the right questions. It杏吧原版檚 like they杏吧原版檙e already in college.杏吧原版

杏吧原版楳ade it easier for me to learn杏吧原版

Profs. Campbell and Edwards shared their skills and industry experience with the students as they discussed writing and presented news in the University杏吧原版檚 cutting-edge television studio.

Hana Beauregard applied what she杏吧原版檇 learned as she worked on her news story. She and her peers were creating a piece about the construction outside Maxcy Hall. A rising sophomore who is involved with her school newspaper, she was excited to learn new skills that, she believes, will be invaluable.

杏吧原版淚 love writing and journalism,杏吧原版 she said. 杏吧原版淭he writing tips will help me, and interviewing helps with public speaking. This camp was very different from school because we worked in small groups, and that杏吧原版檚 important for me. I杏吧原版檓 quiet, and this made it easier for me to learn.杏吧原版