An open letter to 2012 students

November 1, 2011
By

DEADLINE FOR APPLYING: April 14, 2012

Apply for the 2012 workshop nowThe 61st annual California Scholastic Press Association – Cal Poly Journalism Workshop, the most prestigious high school journalism seminar in the nation, will return to the beautiful California Polytechnic State University  at San Luis Obispo campus this summer. The workshop, from Sunday, July 15, through Friday, July 27, 2012, is limited to 25 high school juniors and seniors considering a career in journalism. The students will be housed in the same dorm on campus used by most of the faculty, enabling the participants to meet and confer with these professional journalists throughout the day and evening, as well as in the classroom.

Participants will complete 35 journalism assignments, and have the opportunity to:

  • Attend several press conferences
  • Publish their own newspaper
  • Post breaking Web updates and publish blogs
  • Write a sports story
  • Conduct multiple  interviews, learn research techniques
  • Report on a simulated major disaster
  • Learn how to cover simulated breaking crime story
  • Cover a  trial
  • Tour the San Luis Obispo daily newspaper office and television station
  • Produce and tape a television newscast
  • Shoot and process news photos

Classes are in session from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Students should expect to complete as many as five assignments a day. Graduates receive a prestigious certificate of completion.

This year’s instructors are expected to include:

  • Steve Harvey, former Los Angeles Times feature writer and columnist
  • Art Aguilar, former community newspaper editor and  publisher
  • Stan Kelton, attorney, First Amendment specialist
  • Jay Berman,  former reporter, editor, Cal State Fullerton journalism professor
  • Gil Chesterton, award-winning high school journalism adviser
  • Rich Hammond, blogger, Los Angeles Kings
  • Todd Harmonson, a sports editor at the Orange County Register
  • Cam Inman, sports columnist, Contra Costa Times
  • Kim Minugh, reporter, Sacramento Bee
  • Lance Orozco,  award-winning television reporter ,
  • Chris Carlson, Associated Press  photographer
  • Daniel Thigpen, former reporter, Stockton Record
  • Nicole Vargas, former sports reporter, San Diego Union-Tribune
  • Larry Welborn, legal affairs reporter, The Orange County Register

For 30 years the workshop was guided by Ralph and Millie Alexander, who dedicated their lives to journalism education. Both died in 1981. It is with Ralph and Millie in mind that we announce this 61st workshop. Tuition, which includes meals, lodging and some supplies, is $1,200. We do have a limited number of partial scholarships for low-income, deserving students. Transportation to and from San Luis Obispo is the applicant’s responsibility. For more information, please see our web site at www.cspaworkshop.org.

Deadline for applying is Saturday, April 14, 2012. The application is available to complete online. Click here or visit http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1139724-TdbqSv2U1M. Students residing outside the U.S. must complete the application and submit it via snail mail. Download it here.

Sincerely,

Larry Welborn, Chairman, Executive Board, CSPA

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

What Alumni Say

It was probably the best-spent two weeks of my life, and everyone can use an experience like that. — Stewart King, workshop 1993

I have never had such a positive, entertaining, educational, informative and stimulating two weeks in my life. — Ally Van Deuren, workshop 2010

It was one of the best experiences of my life and definitely the best thing I could have done this summer. — Allie Silvas, workshop 2011

CSPA really allowed me to grow as a writer and a person. It was inspiring to be around people who have the same goals and interests as myself. — Nicole Fisher, workshop 2009

I can honestly say that it was a pleasure to be immersed in such a fast paced, diverse and incredible 12 days of journalism. — LiAnn Ishizuka, workshop 2007

I met incredible people at CSPA, learned invaluable lessons, made unforgettable friends. I will never forget this experience. — Kim Minugh, workshop 1998

My experience was absolutely amazing … Journalism is more than just writing and exposes, but about responsibility to readers as well. — Laura Nelson, workshop 2007

The skills I learned and the people I met are truly irreplaceable. — Kelsey Wong, workshop 2007

I don’t know how to possibly sum up my gratitude for giving me the most important two weeks of my life. — Nicole Sunderland, workshop 1995

I found that I learned an immense amount about journalism in two short weeks … I would not trade the friendships or the memories I made there for anything. — Crystie McIntyre, workshop 1988

I learned so much in the two weeks I spent at Cal Poly about writing, people skills, and what journalism is really like. — Kerry Murray, workshop 1994

What a wonderful, confidence-building, learning experience I had at the workshop. I have never worked so hard and laughed so hard in my entire life. — Alicia P. Ross, workshop 1997

It definitely was a wonderful learning experience. The workshop re-affirmed my love for writing and journalism. — Christine Byun, workshop 1998

I learned more about journalism than I did in my entire year working for my school newspaper. — Amy Marcoullier, workshop 1996

What made it so special was the earnest effort that comes through on the part of the instructors … the fact they wanted to be there teaching was inspirational. — Rebecca Marshall, workshop 1990

... I came into the workshop a little apprehensive about the intense workload, but after two weeks of nonstop writing and fun, I can definitely say that I wouldn’t trade my time ... for anything in the world. — Camille Amparo, workshop 2007

The workshop was the highlight of my high school years … The last memories, all the laughs, all of the wonderful friends I met and the things I learned about journalism … were invaluable. — Anthony Lee, workshop 1998

I never considered myself much of a writer, but I think the workshop gave me a chance to pull some writing blood out from within me. — Thomas Lee, workshop 1995

I can count the workshop as one of the best experiences in my high school career. — Ruth Kwan, workshop 1993

I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I first heard about the CSPA workshop, but now I wouldn’t trade those classes for anything … Every class was so unforgettable. — Jennifer Chou, workshop 1995

2012 application online

Apply for the 2012 workshop now

New on cspaworkshop.org