Summer Backpack Journalism Academy

Looking for information about the Groupon-advertised Citizen Backpack Journalist program? Click here.

Watch all the Summer 2011 Student Backpack Journalist videos here.

The Summer 2011 sessions are over. Contact us here to inquire about future Backpack Journalism classes.

Backpack Journalism is a form of broadcast journalism where the individual is the reporter, camera operator and editor. These individuals have the ability to get into their neighborhoods and communities to get the stories that matter to them. These reporters are vital to getting the word out in Montgomery County!

Here at Montgomery Community Media we are urging more and more backpack journalists to tell their stories. We strive to have a community atmosphere and backpack journalists are important to us. Click a tab below to read more about the Summer Backpack Journalism Academy.

If you have any questions, contact us here. To download a copy of the brochure, click here.

What Can I Expect?
Who Is Eligible?
When And Where?
How Do I Apply?

What Can I Expect?

The program is open to all high school students in Montgomery County. Students will have four (4) four-hour classes teaching them the basics of Backpack Journalism. After the first two classes, students will be ready to go out into their community with a camera to report on the news they find. The last two classes will be spent learning to edit news segments. After the last scheduled class, students may arrange for additional time until the end of the session to finish editing and submitting their news reports. Download a sample syllabus here.

Cameras will be supplied to students by Montgomery Community Media while they are enrolled in the Academy session.

Students will learn:

- story composition,
- camera work, and
- editing for submission.

Students will be able to broadcast/webcast their segments in Montgomery Community Media's Backpack Beat program and be a part of other programs that air on The Montgomery Channel and Access.19 .

If you have any questions, contact us here.

Who Is Eligible?

The program is open to all high school students who reside in Montgomery County. This includes students who will be new to high school in September 2011, as well as students graduating from high school in June 2011.

Free scholarships are available to qualified students!

If you have any questions, contact us here.

When and Where Are Sessions Held?

There are three sessions available for summer 2011:

July 5th - 15th
July 18th - 29th
August 1st - 12th

(Note: you will need to indicate 1st, 2nd & 3rd session preferences when applying to the Academy.)

Each session includes:

- lunch every class day,
- training materials,
- hands-on experience (yes, with a camera!), and
- DVD copies of completed shows.

All sessions are held at:

Montgomery Community Media
7548 Standish Place
Rockville, MD 20855

Backpack Journalism Session 1
Day	Activity
July 5, 10am-2pm	class
July 6, 10am-2pm	class
July 7 - 10	film news segments
July 11 10am-2pm	class
July 12 10am-2pm	final class
July 13 - 15	edit and submit news segments

Backpack Journalism Session 2
Day	Activity
July 18, 10am-2pm	class
July 19, 10am-2pm	class
July 20 - 24	film news segments
July 25 10am-2pm	class
July 26 10am-2pm	final class
July 27 - 29	edit and submit news segments

Backpack Journalism Session 3
Day	Activity
August 1, 10am-2pm	class
August 2, 10am-2pm	class
August 3 - 7	film news segments
August 8 10am-2pm	class
August 9 10am-2pm	final class
August 10 - 12	edit and submit news segments

If you have any questions, contact us here.

How Do I Apply?

To apply for a Montgomery Community Media Backpack Journalism session:

Click here to download an application form.
- Fill out the student portion of the form.
- Indicate 1st, 2nd & 3rd session preferences on the form.
- Have a parent or guardian fill out their portion of the form.
- Have a teacher fill out their portion of the form. No longer necessary!
- Mail or bring the completed form to:
- Montgomery Community Media
- Attn: Backpack Journalism
- 7548 Standish Place
- Rockville, MD 20855
- (Office hours: 9:00am to 5:30pm)

If you have any questions, contact us here.