The Urban Journalism Workshop (UJW) is an annual program that teaches D.C. area high school students the fundamentals of journalism through interactive lectures, hands-on training, and field trips.
Professional journalists, educators, and senior journalism college students provide mentorship and supervision to program participants, who meet for at least eight consecutive Saturdays each spring.
UJW aims to identify and rectify the under-representation of Black people and other minority groups in newsrooms across the country by building a diverse pipeline of future journalists and media leaders that’s critical for equitable representation in news coverage and decision-making.
The late George E. Curry, a journalist and a longtime champion of the Black press who died in August 2016 at the age of 69, started the UJW program in 1986 after he moved from St. Louis to the nation’s capital to become the editor of the now defunct Emerge magazine.
Since then, the Washington Association of Black Journalists has been sustaining the program and Curry’s legacy. In June 2021, the WABJ Executive Board established in Curry’s honor an academic scholarship to support to a graduating high school senior who has completed all program requirements and will enroll in an accredited college or university.
UJW is WABJ’s premier community service initiative, and it runs every Saturday from early March to early May at American University, a longtime supporter of the program. Some UJW alumni now work or have previously worked for companies including The Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press, NBC Owned Television Stations, ESPN, Sirius/XM, Spectrum News, and local TV network affiliates across the country.
The Urban Journalism Workshop (UJW) is an annual program that teaches D.C. area high school students the fundamentals of journalism through interactive lectures, hands-on training, and field trips.
Professional journalists, educators, and senior journalism college students provide mentorship and supervision to program participants, who meet for at least eight consecutive Saturdays each spring.
UJW aims to identify and rectify the under-representation of Black people and other minority groups in newsrooms across the country by building a diverse pipeline of future journalists and media leaders that’s critical for equitable representation in news coverage and decision-making.
The late George E. Curry, a journalist and a longtime champion of the Black press who died in August 2016 at the age of 69, started the UJW program in 1986 after he moved from St. Louis to the nation’s capital to become the editor of the now defunct Emerge magazine.
Since then, the Washington Association of Black Journalists has been sustaining the program and Curry’s legacy. In June 2021, the WABJ Executive Board established in Curry’s honor an academic scholarship to support to a graduating high school senior who has completed all program requirements and will enroll in an accredited college or university.
UJW is WABJ’s premier community service initiative, and it runs every Saturday from early March to early May at American University, a longtime supporter of the program.
The Urban Journalism Workshop has been teaching local high school students the fundamentals of journalism through interactive lectures, hands-on training, and field trips since 1986.
UJW is led by professional journalists and educators who provide mentorship and supervision to program participants. Students must attend in-person sessions from early March to late April at American University’s School of Communications, a longtime WABJ partner.
At the end of the program, students use the skills they learned to report and produce their own multimedia stories.
The program is free. We encourage all students in the DMV area interested in pursuing careers in media and appreciate our mission to consider applying regardless of their identity or background. Be on the lookout for the 2027 application.
UJW aims to address the under-representation of Black people and other minority groups in newsrooms across the country by building a diverse pipeline of future journalists and leaders that’s critical for equitable representation in news coverage and decision-making.
The late George E. Curry, a journalist and a longtime champion of the Black press who died in August 2016 at the age of 69, started the UJW program in 1986 after he moved from St. Louis to the nation’s capital to become the editor of the now defunct Emerge magazine.
Since then, WABJ has been sustaining the program and Curry’s legacy. In June 2021, the WABJ Executive Board established in Curry’s honor an annual academic scholarship that is presented to at least one graduating high school senior student who has completed all program requirements and will enroll in an accredited college or university.
Recent stories produced by students.
By Solomon Goins By Solomon Goins (UJW) Nicholas Humphrey got news that the National Guard had been deployed in Washington, D.C., while he was flying in from his home state
By Simone Olatubosun The school day was nearly over when Ruth España Ramirez’s phone buzzed during science class. The principal of her Virginia high school had just sent an email
By Gavin Leonard Students in the 2026 Urban Journalism Workshop (UJW) cohort took a trip down to Ashburn, Virginia, on April 18th to tour The Washington Commanders’ broadcast studio and
Alumni of the program now work or have previously worked for major news outlets including The Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press, NBC Owned Television Stations, ESPN, Sirius/XM, Spectrum News, and local TV network affiliates across the country.
Assistant Managing Editor for Culture and Talent, Los Angeles Times
Environment & Health Inequality Reporter, Verite News New Orleans
News Anchor, WUSA9
Recent stories that feature UJW.
The Washington Association of Black Journalists is celebrating a major milestone after teaching generations of students the fundamentals of journalism, News4’s Molette Green reports. Watch the full video here on
By Brian Farrell ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) — As a member of the U.S. Air Force, Terace Garnier served people here in the United States and around the world,
By Quintessa Williams For over a century, the Black press has been a force for change: Ida B. Wells investigated lynching for the Chicago Defender when no one else would, reporters at
For partnership, funding or general inquiries, please email WABJ President Phil Lewis at president@wabjdc.org. Your support ensures our mission is successfully delivered.
