The future of American journalism has never been more uncertain; with seasoned reporters retiring, and digital chaos reigning over the country, spreading misinformation and propaganda, the question of who will hold the nation’s watchdogs has never been more important. The answer, surprisingly, can be found in the summer lecture halls and workshops of the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC), where 16 and 17-year-olds learn about ethics, policy, and the relentless pursuit of truth that the industry so desperately needs. 

“I had been leading publications for years when I received my invitation, and my learning when it came to journalism had grown stagnant. I knew going to a conference like this would allow me to build connections, learn new skills and tricks, and better my writing as a whole,” said Gabi Isenberg, senior student journalist at Indiana Area Senior High School in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and WJMC alumni. 

For two weeks and two sessions in the hot and humid summer of Washington, DC, George Mason hosts WJMC, a program to develop students interested in journalism through field visits, sessions with experts, and speakers. Students from all 50 states and five territories receive invitations to this program. Students are either nominated by peers, alumni of WJMC, teachers, or invited by the program itself. 

“When I was deciding whether or not to attend WJMC, the main thing that pushed me was the fact that it was an entire week in the journalism world,” said Olivia Martin, senior at Genoa High School in Genoa, Ohio, and WJMC alumnus. “I’m a fairly indecisive person and have been wondering about several different career paths. WJMC was a way for me to see different sides and aspects of journalism and allowed me to see if I was truly interested in making it a career.”

Throughout the week of the program, students – called national youth correspondents – immerse themselves in the work of journalism. Workshops that discuss their First Amendment rights, censorship, and personal branding taught important, real-life lessons that journalists face in the real world. On top of workshops, each day correspondents heard from journalists, photographers, members of the government, and various other speakers and were given opportunities to ask questions. 

“I expected to be very busy during my time with WJMC, and it was just that. Although the days were very busy, each day was filled with excitement, laughter, and learning, which made the days fly by,” said Rylee Pavel, senior at Norwin High School in Irwin, Pennsylvania, and WJMC alumni.

The purpose of these workshops and speakers was to introduce students to the various branches of journalism and to give them the confidence and connections to reach out and grow themselves into better journalists.

“On Thursday, we did a simulation where me and my partner had to come up with a headline and a pitch to different news outlets with different motives. The story was about mold in schools and the BOE (Board of Education) doing nothing. Me and my partner Rylee (Pavel) got 4/5 news outlets to take the story coming in first for the pink group,” said Sophia Smith, senior at Brunswick High School in Lawrenceville, Virginia, and WJMC Alumni. 

Once the workbooks were closed, and pencils were packed away, there was a whole other side to WJMC given to students. Due to the location of the host, George Mason University – right outside of the nation’s capital – youth correspondents got the opportunity to explore the city and all it has to offer. On Friday, the last day of the conference, students got to explore the National Mall, many of the Smithsonian museums, the Capitol Building, the botanical gardens, or simply wander around the nation’s capital. 

“ There are so many stories I could tell and so many big things I loved. Two things I’ll always remember is the tour of the capital Gabi (Isenberg) and I went on, which was so insane, but I’ll also remember forcing almost 20 people into the elevators at the national press club just to not take as much time,” said Martin. 

WJMC is not the only opportunity for up-and-coming journalists and reporters; across the country, there are hundreds of options for students to develop their skills. In North Carolina, local to Athens Drive itself, the Chuck Stone Program was created and hosted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program is completely free to the 12 selected students, and former Athens Oracle Editor-in-Chief Sophie King is an alumnus of that very program. It, alongside many others: the Carolina Sports Journalism Program at UNC, News&Observer summer internship, and the Dow Jones News Fund Workshops, are all summer programs that are available to students to apply to develop their journalism skills. 

“It’s an art. Learning to write journalistically, and learning to write in that style well, is something that takes practice and time,” said Isenberg, “The reward, though, is incredible. As a journalist, you have the opportunity to tell stories that may otherwise be neglected. You are the voice for those who don’t have one. Attending a conference like WJMC can help you do this to the best of your ability.”