Journalism Jumpstart: Caplin Summer Institute
Journalism Jumpstart is a FREE summer program for middle and high school students designed to invigorate and cultivate the minds of young writers. Its mission is to provide training, resources, and support for traditional and non-traditional media programs across the Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
FIU’s Journalism Jumpstart gives students the opportunity to collaborate with media professionals and instructors with the goal of helping students produce articles and other media for publication. Students work will be showcased on the Jumpstart Journal.
Summer 2025 dates are Monday, June 23-Thursday, July 3, 10 a.m. to 4.p.m. The program is housed at FIU’s beautiful Biscayne Bay Campus located at 3000 N.E. 151st Street in North Miami, FL. Participation is FREE, and lunch is provided, but please apply here.
The program became part of the Florida International University College of Communications Architecture + the Arts (CARTA) Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media in 2021. The program’s founding director, Dr. Karla Kennedy, is a former Miami-Dade County Public Schools student media adviser and journalism instructor. Dr. Kennedy first started the program to help the schools in Portland, Oregon that no longer supported journalism programs in their schools. The program was initially funded by the Dow Jones News Fund.
Jumpstart Journal
The stories and other media produced for the workshop are housed on the Jumpstart Journal. Each attended must write a story based on themes given to us by the Dow Jones News Fund. Students produce news feature articles, a short multimedia package, and a graphic for each health and/or community themed assignment. Students get the chance to research, conduct interviews, write, and produce.
Instructors
Charles Strouse
Assistant Chair, Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media
Digital Director of South Florida Media Network (SFMN)
Associate Teaching Professor
Stephen Kairalla
Clinical Associate Professor of Professional Practice
Area Coordinator, Digital Broadcast Journalism
Evans Yoyo
Mr. Evens Yoyo is a business magnet teacher at North Miami Senior High, teaching digital media and career skills. He leads the Pioneers OnDemand Sports Media Club, where students gain real-world experience in photography, video, design, and journalism.
How to Enroll
The program is open to all students of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Enrollment is open for everyone. Students do not have to be part of a school-sponsored program and can be of any level in their writing careers. Simply click here and complete the application before the deadline. The program is free of charge and lunch will be provided. Students who live in the in the southern region of Miami-Dade County can receive transportation to BBC via the University’s shuttle bus from MMC.
Calling All Miami-Dade and Broward County High School Students Who Enjoy Writing!
You are invited to apply for FIU Communication, Architecture + The Arts’ free two-week intensive summer journalism program at FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus.
- Work with writing coaches and former major news outlet editors and media professionals.
- Participate with college students to produce the award winning live news show Caplin News.
- Compete for a scholarship from the Dow Jones News Fund.
- Produce multimedia stories with video and data journalism.
- Get published in the Jumpstart Journal.