St. Louis SPJ Student Journalist Boot Camp 2026

Journalism school in a day! Student journalists get the chance to learn practical skills from working journalists in St. Louis media.
About this Event

SPJ Student Journalist Boot Camp offers student journalists the chance to learn new skills and supplement what they're learning in the classroom with practical workshops taught by working journalists currently employed in the St. Louis region. From the basics of reporting and writing to the most current technical tools, plus breakout sessions on investigative journalism, ethics, features, freelancing and more!

Attendees will be part of a mock press conference, where a police officer will present information about a case. Students will be able to ask questions, and will have a short period of time to write a story. A panel of journalists will judge the stories, and the best examples win Amazon gift cards!

A continental breakfast and pizza lunch will be provided free of charge. Advisors are welcome! If you're an advisor and would like to help out with judging the contest, please contact us at [email protected].

Presenters will be announced here and at stlspj.com as they are confirmed. Among our speakers already confirmed are Danny Wicentowski of St. Louis Public Radio and Elizabeth Donald of Donald Media/St. Louis Labor Tribune, with others pending!

Note: a $10 registration fee is charged upon signing up. At check-in, the student will have the option of having half their fee refunded, or donating it to the program. If you need to cancel, please contact us via this site or at [email protected] for a refund. No-call no-show forfeits the fee.