2008 Workshop information

The 56th 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 13, through Friday, July 25, is limited to 25 high school juniors and seniors considering a career in communications. 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
• Learn how to cover a simulated breaking crime story
• Cover a trial
• Write a football game story
• Conduct an interview
• Report on a simulated major disaster
• Publish their own newspaper
• Learn editing techniques
• Have their high school newspapers critiqued
• Practice online journalism
• Produce and tape their own television newscast
• Shoot and process news photographs

Students accepted should expect to attend classes from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Students should expect to write as many as five stories a day. Graduates receive a prestigious certificate of completion.

This year’s instructors include:
• Steve Harvey, Los Angeles Times feature writer and columnist
• Art Aguilar, former community newspaper editor and publisher
• Stan Kelton, attorney, First Amendment specialist
• Jay Berman, retired Cal State Fullerton journalism professor
• Gil Chesterton, award-winning high school journalism adviser
• Janet Eastman, Life and Style editor, Los Angeles Times
• Rich Hammond, sports writer at the Los Angeles Daily News
• Todd Harmonson, a sports editor at The Orange County Register
• Scott Harris, former columnist at the Los Angeles Times, now a freelance writer
• Pat Mott, freelance writer, novelist
• Lance Orosco, television reporter
• Chris Carlson, award-winning freelance photographer
• Nicole Vargas, sports reporter at the 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 55th workshop.

Tuition, which includes meals, lodging and some supplies, is $975. Transportation to and from San Luis Obispo is the family's responsibility. We have a limited number of partial scholarships.

Deadline for applying is Friday, May 2, 2008.. Applications should be sent to:
Steve Harvey, CSPA Student Office, 384 Mira Mar Ave., Long Beach, CA 90814.

Questions? Please call (714) 834-3784.