Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement

The Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement is a three-week summer intensive academy where high school students work on writing, critical thought, public speech and debate, multimedia production, interviewing, and ethnography. The program introduces students to USC Annenberg’s undergraduate programs and services and possible careers in media and journalism, and includes activities such as viewing AYA 2025 student communication projects and a student newscast from the Journalism course.

• Ages: 14–18 years old
• Schedule: Three-week summer intensive academy; application deadline is Sunday, April 19, 2026 by 11:59 pm PT

The Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement serves 26 talented high school students from the communities surrounding the USC University Park and Health Science Campuses, including Boyle Heights, Compton, Crenshaw, East Los Angeles, Historic South Central, Huntington Park, Hyde Park, Jefferson, Korea Town, Lincoln Heights, Lynwood, Mid City, Monterey Park, Pico Union, South Gate, Vernon, Watts, and Westlake. The mission of the program is to expose students to the equivalent of first-year college-level courses and to develop a conceptual understanding and practice of the role that media communications and journalism play in fashioning civic-minded thought leaders and innovators. The program is led by Rogelio Alejandro Lopez, Ph.D., Director of the Annenberg Youth Academy.

Last updated March 15, 2026.