Broadcast Boot Camp

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Weeklong media, journalism summer camp - June 29-July 3!

A partnership of Mississippi media and education organizations are putting together the Fourth Annual MSPA-MAB-USM Broadcast Boot Camp. The coalition is seeking to identify state high school students who have an interest in and would benefit from a program that aims to expose students to the skills needed for potential career options in the media and broadcasting fields.

Cost to attend the five-day camp (June 29 through July 3) is $225. We are limiting the number of slots this year in order to preserve the experience for students and to contain rising costs. A number of scholarships covering the cost to attend are available. Scholarships will be awarded based on need and desire as expressed through recommendations from the students’ media adviser or guidance counselor. Please include on the application form the desire for a scholarship and the recommendation from the school media adviser or guidance counselor.

Media and communication industries face a growing expertise shortage even as the explosion of social media and other digital platforms demand ever more sophisticated content. We are working to help bridge this divide by inviting underserved high school students to a weeklong summer workshop at USM’s beautiful Hattiesburg campus. The five-day workshop, offered  without charge to a limited number of rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, provides hands-on experience in the creation of digital and television news and information, as well as introductions to the various career options in all aspects of broadcasting and media production. Students attending the workshop stay in USM's residence housing, well as eat in the university's cafeterias.

The School of Media and Communication at USM is partnering with the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters and the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association to offer the workshop for high school students from around the state. USM will host the students, providing state-of-the-art digital production equipment and labs as well as supervision and coaching. Schools sending students will receive a year’s membership in the MSPA, which allows entry to the statewide association’s yearly contests, access to advice and training on scholastic media as well as a variety of other benefits.

The MAB is asking members to provide expertise and seminar leaders for the workshop. The goal is to provide working knowledge of the various opportunities available in the field. 

The workshop will:

• Expose students to the skills needed for the expanding careers across media, including news, sales, social media, and a variety of digital production methods.
• Provide home schools with a year’s membership to the MSPA, which includes free entry into all "Best of Mississippi" statewide high school broadcast competitions.
• Put the students to work during the workshop creating digital packages, primarily geared for television and web presentation.
• Provide attendees with ongoing relationships with faculty and administrators to help smooth their transition to university environments and options.

How to take part:

Students must be recommended by their media advisers, teachers, or guidance counselors. All information must be submitted to the school by filling out the application found here.

Please contact Ed Simpson, director of the USM School of Media and Communication (edgar.simpsonFREEMississippi), if you have any questions about the program or arrangements on campus. More information will be posted to this site as time draws near.

You can see what prior workshops have produced here: Boot Camp website and broadcasts 2024, Boot Camp website 2023 and Boot Camp Newscast 2022.