The NAHJ Student Project
Applications will open soon for the 2025 Student Projects — NAHJ’s premiere training program for student journalists. Many journalists, leaders and educators got their start through the project. NAHJ was the first diverse journalism organization to create a convention newsroom training opportunity for students.
Here’s what to expect:
College students will work on improving their skills in a newsroom setting during the national convention. Under the guidance of professional mentors, students will write, report, shoot and edit video, shoot photos and cover events on social media to help prepare them to compete in a challenging media market. NAHJ students will produce stories on the national convention and on the Latinx community for the Latino Reporter Digital, the website dedicated to the Student Project. NAHJ covers the students’ travel, convention registration, hotel and meals for the convention.
The week-long newsroom will be held at the NAHJ Conference & Expo in Chicago, IL., July 9-12, 2025. Accepted students are expected to attend the full week, so they will need to request the week off if they have full time jobs or internships.
The Student Project experience has helped students obtain internships and many alumni have gone on to work in some of the top media outlets in the country.
To complete the application, you’ll need the following:
- Resume
- Letter of Recommendation
- Essay (300-400 words) Choose ONE topic: a) How do you think you would benefit from being part of the Student Project OR b) What can you bring to the Student Project that no one else can?
- 3 Work Samples (Broadcast/Multimedia/Audio Work Samples should be no longer than 3 minutes. Submit samples by uploading a document with links to the work).Â
- Unofficial Transcript
You must be an NAHJ student member to apply. Become a member.
Interested in serving as a Mentor?
NAHJ is seeking professionals to serve as mentors for our Student Projects. We are looking for mentors across all mediums of communication, to include editors, writers, producers, reporters, photographers, and academic professors.
Student Projects mentors play a crucial role by supervising team reporting projects, leading training sessions, and preparing students for both the NAHJ Convention and their transition from the classroom to the workplace. Serving as a “Latino Reporter” editor provides a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills, build meaningful relationships, and participate in the NAHJ National Convention.
The Student Project Mentors is a week-long commitment, and if selected, NAHJ will cover all travel and accommodation expenses for the duration of the conference.
Student Project Alumni
Watch former NAHJ Student Project alumnus Christian Galeno’s testimonial sharing the impact it has had on his career.