Journalism is a rapidly changing and evolving field of study, the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association’s (MIPA) summer workshop puts students in the classroom with seasoned professionals. This allows young journalists just entering the field to receive advanced training.
Jeremy Steele, a director of the MIPA workshop, professor and Associate Director of Michigan State’s School of Journalism shares that he gets the unique experience of seeing a mix of students who found their way to journalism in college and who had the opportunity to discover journalism in high school.
“[They] are ahead of the game,” he said. “They have more experience. They’ve learned many of the fundamental core concepts, so they’re starting from a more advanced point than the other students.”
Since its founding in 1921, MIPA has taught thousands of students from across the country and world. Many of these students have continued to pursue journalism-related fields in college and beyond.
“I want our participants to find the place that’s right for them and getting some kinds of college experiences through camps like ours and others is a way for them to sort of figure out what’s best for them,” Steele said.
2025 MIPA Ambassador Dominic Pasella is currently attending Arizona State University’s Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication as a sports journalism major. While at MIPA camp Dominic was about to tour Michigan State’s PBS studio WKAR, Spartan Stadium, Munn Ice Arena and the Breslin Center.
The Summer Workshop also allows students whose school publications are just kicking off or non-existent to get the journalism education they need.
“MIPA was the first time I actually was given, like, formal journalistic training and that changed everything for me,” said 2025 MIPA Ambassador Ria Gupta who is currently studying at MSU’s school of journalism and working for The State News.
The General Manager of The State News, Chris Richert shared that the MIPA students who join the MSU campus newspaper usually have the same five characteristics.
“[They’re] responsible, innovative, willing to take risks, try new things, and excellent learners,” Richert said.
His colleague Kim Margolis, a professor at the School of Journalism and Advisor of The State News agrees that the information and experience students get at MIPA camp is invaluable.
“I went from finding out that a lot of my good students were MIPA students to literally intentionally looking for MIPA students and they’ve never let me down,” Margolis said.
From the fast paced classes and quick turnover, the late nights and early mornings, the dining hall hits and misses, MIPA camp is here to prepare students for the ups and downs of collegiate journalism and equip them with the tools they’ll need.
“You’re going to find that you are more advanced, but if you don’t stay on top of it and continue to build on your skills, [other students] are going to catch up with you. You can’t just stop,” Steele said.
Story by Abby Hosler and Layniee Nixon