Summer Media Academy 2026
In partnership with the University of Georgia Summer Academy program, Grady College offers weeklong, in-person camps in the following subject areas: Advertising and Public Relations; Broadcast Journalism; News Website Journalism; and Entertainment and Media Studies.
View the Summer Media Academy website here!
Instructors will lead engaging activities and participants will hear from guest speakers. They’ll also work on specialized projects over the course of each week.
Dates: Advertising and Public Relations, June 15-19, 20206; Broadcast Journalism, June 15-19, 2026. Entertainment and Media Studies, June 8 – 12, 2026; Multimedia Journalism, June 8– 12, 2026
Ages: 14-17 (at the start of camp, or 13 if rising freshman)
Format: In-person, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., M-F. Overnight participants arrive Sunday and leave the following Friday evening. The complete schedule will be available to registrants a few weeks before the start of each camp.
Cost: Residential option $1,255; Commuter option $530
Registration: Registration is now available through the UGA Summer Academy website. Participants are accepted on a rolling basis. There is a max of 20 participants for each camp week.
Limited need-based financial aid is available. The application and instructions will be available by mid-January.
Advertising and Public Relations: June 15-19, 2026
Learn how to become a creative problem solver, writer, decision-maker, and persuasive communicator within traditional and new media in this exciting Advertising and Public Relations camp.
Explore ways to reach target audiences and effectively communicate your messages to the public, and even design an integrated campaign for a non-profit organization.
For more details, visit https://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/youth-program/advertising-and-public-relations-6-15-2026/
Broadcast Journalism: June 15-19, 2026
In this course, participants will learn to find and tell stories that matter with a focus on developing storytelling skills in audio and visual forms. They'll consider what makes a story important, how to gather credible information, and how to present it in the most effective way.
Participants will practice and hone technical skills in reporting, videography and video editing as the class works together with the instructors to final project.
For more details, visit https://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/youth-program/broadcast-journalism-6-15-2026/
Entertainment and Media Studies: June 8 – 12, 2026
Are you interested in careers in the film, television, radio, online, mobile and other new media industries? In this course, participants will be introduced to the exciting entertainment field and what it encompasses.
They will gain valuable skills for conceiving what stories are worth telling while also gaining an understanding of the implications of visual storytelling in society. They will learn the basics of content production, from screenwriting to digital editing. Over the course of the week, they will work on a project to showcase in their portfolios.
For more details, visit https://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/youth-program/entertainment-and-media-studies-6-8-2026/
Multimedia Journalism: June 8 – 12, 2026
Do you feel passionate about telling true stories that make the news? Acquire critical tools to become a multi-skilled journalist in this ever-changing digital landscape.
Practice the art of interviewing, multimedia reporting, writing, editing, and producing alongside a professional journalist.
Explore visual journalism and social media storytelling, and work with your instructor to produce a news website.
For more details, visit https://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/youth-program/multimedia-journalism-6-8-2026/
We are grateful for our sponsors:
Summer Media Academy Platinum sponsor
Explore camps from previous years
Students explore future career options through Grady College’s 2025 Summer Media Academy
By Lauren A. Pike
Nearly 70 middle and high school students from around the country explored Grady College majors firsthand during the Summer Media Academy in June. Four programs were hosted at Grady College this year focusing on entertainment and media studies, advertising and public relations, multimedia journalism and broadcast news.
Broadcast summer academy participants rehearse a news show in June 2025.
The broadcast journalism session was instructed by David Lawson, Grady College lecturer in sports media, and Karmen Morrison (MA ’25). Working in small groups, the class of 19 students produced a broadcast show. Students were able to experience trying out roles such as anchors, reporters, producers, camera operators and editors. They also gained experience using a teleprompter, writing scripts and conducting interviews. Finally, they were able to visit the WUGA radio station to learn about the broadcasting industry.
“The most rewarding part of camp was going out and learning how to compile a news broadcast,” said Micah Taylor, a first-year broadcast participant. “It has been something I have always been interested in.”
The multimedia journalism session was instructed by Joe Dennis (MA ’07, PhD ’16), co-chair of the Mass Communications Department and associate professor of mass communications at Piedmont University, and Karmen Morrison (MA ’25). Eighteen students learned the art of writing, editing, interviewing and multimedia reporting. Students were also able to visit the Red and Black, where they were able to see a working newsroom. During the week, students were also able to write their own news pieces.
“I will definitely remember the people I met and my great instructors,” said Caroline Conner, a first-year multimedia journalism participant. “Hopefully, I will be doing something with this skillset, so I will remember the origin story of starting here at UGA and learning how to write.”
The advertising and public relations session was instructed by Isabella Martinez (MA ’25) and River Gracey, Ph.D. student. This was Martinez’s third year teaching AdPR Summer Media Academy. When asked what her biggest takeaway has been, she stated, “Teaching the AdPR camp has been a great experience to build my public speaking skills and my teaching skills, in general.” Martinez also stressed her love for “getting to interact with and know all the students.”
EMST Summer Academy participants listen to a session about shot types led by Prof. Lauren Musgrove in june 2025.
Fifteen students were tasked with selecting a prospective client and creating a mock campaign. Students made social media posts, conducted a SWOT analysis, set goals and objectives and studied a target audience for Extra Special People, an Athens non-profit organization focused on supporting disabled individuals and their families. Additionally, participants heard from guest speakers and visited Jackson Spalding, a marketing and public relations agency.
“I learned a lot about myself, what I am good at, and how I can apply myself to the real world,” said Dakota Nagel, a first-year AdPR participant.
The entertainment and media studies session was instructed by Sara Epps, Ph.D. student, and Luka Briglevich (AB ’24). Eleven students learned the basics of content creation by writing, producing and directing short films to showcase in their portfolios. Additionally, participants were able to visit Athena Studios, a sound stage development for a guided tour with Marty Lang, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences academic professional associate.
In response to his week of camp, Ned Helmboldt, a first-year EMST participant, said, “It has been so cool to see all of your work come together into one amazing short film.”
Additional pictures from the events can be viewed by clicking here. View all of the student work from this year and previous years here.
High school students advance their knowledge and skills during the 2024 Summer Media Academy
Broadcast journalism students produced a newscast and multimedia journalism participants wrote articles for a news website. Participants in the advertising and public relations session crafted a mock campaign for Athens Area Humane Society. Entertainment and media studies participants wrote scripts and made short films. View their final projects here.
Instructors included Joe Dennis (MA ’07, PhD ’16); Isabella Martinez (AB ‘23), Kimberlee Smith (MA ’23); and Denetra Walker, assistant professor of journalism at Grady College. EMST major Luka Briglevich and journalism graduate students Averi Caldwell (AB ‘23), Karmen Morrison and Sam Tupper assisted.
Industry professionals, many of whom are faculty, staff and alumni, visited classrooms to teach on specialty topics. Participants also took field trips related to their area of study. Trips included tours of Athena Studios, The Red and Black, See.Spark.Go agency and WUGA.
The Summer Media Academy is a partnership between the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and UGA’s Georgia Center for Continuing Education’s Summer Academy program. Read more about the partnership in this feature story on UGA’s Public Service and Outreach’s website.
Information about 2025 Summer Media Academy opportunities and need-based scholarships will be available at www.ugagspa.org/camp in early winter.
2023 Summer academies introduce high school students to media careers, college life
Living in the dorm, eating in the dining hall and collaborating with other students to complete class projects are some of the activities that attendees of Grady College Summer Media Academy experienced this summer.
Four different one-week camps were offered: broadcast journalism, entertainment and media studies, multimedia journalism, and public relations and advertising. More than 60 students from 12 states across the country including California, Colorado and Texas attended.
“The Summer Media Academy is one of our most important outreach programs for middle and high school students,” said Stephanie Moreno (ABJ ’06, BA ’06, MA ’20), director of the program. “For more than three decades, Grady College has hosted these enrichment opportunities to help foster curiosity in careers across the media industry.”
Discovering new skills and exploring potential career paths are the biggest advantages of the experience, according to EMST participant Alex Shaw. “Understanding media and how it affects the world and telling different perspectives is something I would be interested in doing in the future,” Shaw said.
After a few days of learning the basic lessons, participants worked in groups to put the skills to use. Broadcast Journalism students produced a show and Multimedia Journalism participants wrote articles for a website. Students in AdPR crafted a campaign for Books for Keeps, a nonprofit organization. EMST participants made short films.
Special guest speakers represented the Georgia Humanities, the National Press Photographers Association and the Student Press Law Center, among other organizations. Featured field trips included visits to Jackson Spalding, an Atlanta and Athens-based public relations agency; The Red & Black, UGA’s independent student newspaper; and Athena Studios, a film production facility where UGA MFA Film and EMST students take classes.
To view more pictures, please visit the 2023 Summer Media Academy album on the UGA Grady Flickr account.
The Summer Media Academy is a partnership between the Grady College and the UGA Georgia Center for Continuing Education’s Summer Academy. Information about 2024 opportunities, including need-based scholarships, will be available in late fall at www.ugagspa.org/camp.
2022 Summer Media Academies attract dozens of students from across US
A total of 52 campers from eight U.S. states and Puerto Rico traveled to Grady College to attend Summer Media Academies in Advertising and Public Relations (AdPR), Journalism and Entertainment and Media Studies (EMST) in summer 2022.
“We were excited to return to hosting in-person camps this year,” said Stephanie Moreno (ABJ ‘06, MA ‘20), scholastic outreach coordinator at Grady College. “Participants explored our majors and learned about the variety of career paths available in the media industry. They also got a glimpse of what life is like on a college campus.”
A showcase of projects is available at summermediaacademy.wordpress.com. Below is a slideshow of images taken during all three of Grady’s summer camps. For more images, visit Grady’s Flickr account.
2021 Virtual Summer Media Academy
Thirty-four high school students from around the country studied media and completed specialized portfolio projects during the virtual 2021 Summer Media Academy at the University of Georgia.
Hands-on learning was a focus of the Academy. Journalism participants wrote articles, made photo essays or produced podcasts for The Post-Covid Post digital publication. Participants in the Advertising and Public Relations Academy collaborated as a group to craft a campaign for a nonprofit organization. Entertainment and Media Studies participants wrote scripts for short films or designed a movie poster. A showcase of all of the student work is available at https://summermediaacademy.wordpress.com/.
2019 Grady Show
Visit The Greatest Gazette, the official student-produced website of the 2019 Media and Leadership Academy at the University of Georgia.
This site is a showcase of the student work produced by the 59 students who attended the camp, held June 16-21, 2019, at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
View photos from the week. Watch a recap video here.
2018 Grady Things
Check out The Upside Down Daily, a publication of all of the work produced by the 2018 Media & Leadership Academy.
Photos from the week are available here. Watch video highlights here.
2017 Media & Leadership Academy
Visit the website, Wolf Web
2016 Grady Games
Visit the official website produced by the Academy: The Grady Gazette.
Check out the photo highlights on the Flickr page.
2014 & 2015 Academy News
Watch "The Grady Bunch"-- the official broadcast production of the Academy
Check out photo highlights on the the Flickr page.
2013 Academy News
Watch "The Grady Games Report," the TV news show produced by the broadcast students of the 2013 Georgia Journalism Academy.
2012 Academy News
View the official Academy broadcast, The Glee Report
View the photojournalism class' slideshow
2011 Academy News
Watch "The Grady Glee Report," the broadcast published by students of the 2011 Academy
2010 Academy News