The Iowa Summer Journalism Workshop (ISJW) has been around since 1952, though it is unknown who started the workshop or why it continues to welcome students every summer. Students interested in pursuing a journalistic path can sign up to attend a specified workshop focusing on different styles of journalism on workshops.journalism.uiowa.edu. ISJW takes place every July with students staying in a dorm for four nights, attending classes in the Adler Journalism Building, and going on field trips with their class.
Michelle Sillman is the Recruitment, Internship, and Placement Coordinator at the University of Iowa. Sillman has taken ISJW under her wing and oversees what goes on for the five days campers are on campus.
“The reason we host this experience for high school students is so they can enjoy a dynamic journalism experience, (hopefully) fall in love with storytelling, gain skills in a specific area, and build community while having fun with other students who share their interests and talents,” said Sillman.
Erin Jordan has been an instructor at ISJW for more than ten years; she was asked to participate when she was working for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, where she worked for 17 years. Jordan now works at the University of Iowa teaching journalism and continues to be an instructor at ISJW for the Investigative Journalism course.
Many students have gone through the Investigative Journalism course at ISJW. River Phillips is a senior at Ankeny High School and an editor on Ankeny High School’s newspaper, The Talon. Before Phillips attended ISJW she had experience writing news and social justice pieces while a staff reporter on The Talon’s news team. This experience motivated her to continue her journalism career and better her skills by attending the ISJW Investigative Journalism course.
“I enjoyed the investigative course due to its ability to push me outside of my comfort zone. I had never done ‘on the street’ interviews before and it made me more comfortable to be a journalist outside of the building of my high school,” said Phillips.
The goal of ISJW was exactly what Phillips experienced. ISJW has a goal of allowing students to experience what college at The University of Iowa would be like within the journalism field. Students for decades have participated in ISJW, learning about different journalism roles and teaching students how to efficiently interview, research, and reach out of comfort zones. Registration is open through June 23, 2026 and student scholarships are open for applications until funds have been given out.
