Department or Unit Title

Create, Connect, Credibility: Your Social Media Workshop

Find your voice and lay the groundwork for an impactful digital presence.

Gain marketable skills in the ever-growing world of social media.

Do you spend hours scrolling on social media? This one-week summer workshop transforms that screen time into a career-building enterprise. Led by experienced broadcast journalists and creators, this intensive program teaches high school students how to present themselves effectively and build credibility through social media and vertical video.

You will discover your authentic voice while learning professional communication techniques that apply to any future career—from STEM fields to business to the arts. Through hands-on video projects for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, you'll master essential skills including research, interviewing, and fact-checking that college admissions officers and future employers value. The course focuses on creating engaging, trustworthy content that establishes participants as knowledgeable voices in their areas of interest.

Located on Long Island less than two hours from New York City, Stony Brook University offers access to professional facilities, instruction from expert faculty, and the opportunity to experience campus life at a top-tier research institution. By week's end, you'll have the beginnings of a portfolio to publish professional-grade social media content showcasing your ability to communicate complex ideas in compelling, accessible ways.

SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP

2026 Session Dates

  • Session One: June 28 – July 3, 2026

Registration is Closed

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**Alt text:** Person in a yellow sweater recording a video on a smartphone mounted on a tripod in a park.

Experiential Learning

While participating in this workshop, you will:

  • Produce and publish at least five polished vertical videos (15-90 seconds each) for platforms like Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, demonstrating proper framing, lighting, audio quality, and editing techniques.
  • Conduct and film at least two on-camera interviews, applying professional journalism techniques including pre-interview research, open-ended questioning, active listening, and ethical sourcing practices.
  • Develop and pitch your personal brand strategy, including your unique voice/perspective, target audience, and three topic areas you want to cover.
  • Fact-check and cite sources for 100% of the video content you create, demonstrating the ability to verify information, identify credible sources, and build audience trust through transparent, accurate storytelling.

J.D. Allen

Principal Instructor

J.D. Allen

J.D. Allen is a lecturer at the School of Communication and Journalism with a joint appointment in Stony Brook's Office of Marketing and Communications. He helps the University develop and share climate research and science stories, including on social media, podcasting, broadcast and more.

Julia Heming

Teaching Assistant

Julia Heming

Julia Heming is a School of Communication and Journalism alum who now works as a marketing coordinator focused on amplifying the voices of Long Island business. She graduated with her MS in Communications from Syracuse University in June of 2025, researching social media education and curriculum.