Creative Journalism

What creative possibilities do true stories hold? How can truth telling and storytelling work together? This class helps students build interviewing and reporting skills while learning about journalistic ethics and exploring forms such as feature writing, profiles, op-eds, and audio pieces. Participants read a wide variety of articles and compose a new story draft every night. Through in-class workshops, students develop their skills in ways that allow them to serve as editors and peer readers for each other and for classmates and publications at their home schools.

Courses in creative writing are offered in conjunction with the Writing Program at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Overseen by Chair of Creative Writing Lis Harris, Professor Alan Ziegler, and Director of Creative Writing for Pre-College Programs Christina Rumpf, the creative writing courses are designed to challenge and engage students interested in literary creation, providing them with a substantial foundation for further exploration of their creative work.