Summer Journalism Program
First to the Frontpage is a virtual program for middle and high school students interested in the wide field of journalism including photography, news writing, multimedia, and more. Through this program, both middle school and high school students will engage in a variety of interactive activities or seminars that align with their interests.
First to the Frontpage hosts two branches: 1. Branch 1 of First to the Frontpage is catered towards middle schoolers, including rising 9th graders. Students will be taught by experienced high school journalists across the country and will learn about a variety of topics within the realm of journalism including the fundamentals of journalism, how to write an article, news literacy, social media, and more. Session 1: July 18 - 29 Session 2: August 15 - 26 2. Branch 2 of First to the Frontpage is catered towards high schoolers. Students will join seminars and listen to a variety of keynote speakers speaking about their experiences either as a college journalist or a journalist that works at a genuine publication. Students will be encouraged to voice their passions and ask questions. Session 1: July 18 - 22 Session 2: August 15 - 19 Apply to the 2023 summer session now! |
Student Work (2020-2023)Keynote SpeakersDavid Scharfenberg is an editorial writer and staff writer for the Globe’s Ideas section. He previously worked as a reporter in the Globe’s State House bureau. A graduate of Brown University, he has written for The New York Times and The Providence Journal and was a radio reporter at WBUR in Boston.
Jen Maxfield is an emmy-award winning TV news reporter who has worked for 20 years in NYC, currently for NBC NY. She recently wrote and published a book More after the Break: A Reporter Returns to Ten Unforgettable News Stories to investigate what happened to the subjects of ten of the most impactful news stories she covered after their names faded from the headlines. She has also worked as an adjunct professor at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism for seven years. Doug Johnson is a teacher at the Wellesley High School who teaches Animation, Beginning Photo, Photo Intensive, and Intermediate Photo. Lian Parsons-Thomason is a Digital Content Producer at Harvard’s Division for Continuing Education, writing blog posts for DCE’s various brands and developing content strategy. She was previously the Editorial Production Assistant at the Harvard Gazette, serving as content editor, proofreader, contributing correspondent, and events promotion manager. Olivia Gieger went to Amherst College, where she studied English and Environmental Studies and joined the college paper, The Student. She began as the Arts Editor and a news writer. During her Junior and Senior years, she served as the paper's Editor in Chief and led it through the Covid pandemic. After her tenure as EiC, Olivia launched The Student's first news podcast. She graduated in 2021 from Amherst College and now works as a climate change writer for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Riley Wilson is the senior sub-editor for the Woolworths Group. Prior to this, she was a desk editor, creator of the Greater Good newsletter, journalist and interim foreign editor at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald; the Sydney correspondent for The Washington Post's digital travel initiative By The Way; and a writer and editor covering agriculture, architecture, food, hospitality, social enterprise and sustainability. Once upon a time, she was the editor-in-chief of The Bradford. |