Held in conjunction with the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, the Academy for Alternative Journalism is a residential summer program designed to train and recruit minority journalists to work at AAN papers. Through classroom instruction by Medill faculty and guest lectures by professionals from the alternative press, Academy students focus on long-form journalism and literary techniques that are the signature of most alternative weeklies.
The 2009 Academy for Alternative Journalism ran from June 21 to Aug. 16.
The Academy was launched in 2000 by the Chicago Reader, and is now underwritten by the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation, which receives funding from AAN and several of its member papers.
The following archive of AAN News articles provides an historical overview of the Academy since its inception.
2008
2008 Academy for Alternative Journalism Fellows Named
2006
2006 Academy for Alternative Journalism Fellows Named
2005
AAJ Grads Grab 2005 AltWeekly Awards
Academy for Alternative Journalism 2005 Fellows Selected
2004
2004 Academy Fellows Gain an Alternative Outlook
Academy for Alternative Journalism 2004 Fellows Chosen
2003
AAJ Fellows Named
2002
Academy Grad's Real Trial Begins
AAJ Fellows Named
Huge Increase in Academy for Alternative Journalism Applications
Whitaker Named Director of Academy for Alternative Journalism
2001
Academy Recruits Minority Journalists
2000
Reader, Medill Form Altie J-School For Minorities
