To apply, simply fill out our online application form and submit any required materials, including a short unscripted audio sample. Our application is designed to take about 10-15 minutes to complete.

Our application closes annually on April 15.

UnTextbooked is open to students aged 15-21 from all backgrounds and experiences. We welcome applicants who are passionate about storytelling, journalism, history, and/or making a positive impact in their communities. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee based on factors such as passion for storytelling, diversity of experiences, ideas presented, and commitment to making a difference.

We ask that you refrain from applying if you will be unable to commit the time required to fully immerse yourself in the learning experience.

The 2024 Summer Program and production of Season 5 of UnTextbooked will begin on Monday, June 12. The program will commence with a 2-hour kickoff meeting at 5pm EST, during which participants will be fully onboarded to the program.

The 2024 Summer Summit for producers ages 18-21 will be held on Sunday, June 16 - Thursday June 20.

The premiere of UnTextbooked is scheduled for Thursday, October 17.

Prior journalism experience is not required to apply. In fact, we’d be thrilled if this as your first time giving it a shot!

We welcome students from all backgrounds and experiences who are curious about the world around them, passionate about storytelling, and dedicated to making a positive impact.

The program runs for ten weeks during the summer, kicking off in June and running through early August (specific dates vary each year).

Participants are expected to dedicate 5-10 weekly hours to the program; this time may be spent on weekly cohort meetings, research, podcast production, 1:1 check-ins, and podcast promotion. Producers (ages 18-21) are expected to attend our annual Summer Summit, which happens in June to kickstart the summer.

Students are required to complete all steps in the production of their UnTextbooked episode, and are provided ongoing mentorship and support should this process continue beyond the summertime.

No, there is no cost to participate in UnTextbooked. The program is funded through grants, donations, and partnerships, allowing us to offer this opportunity to students free of charge. In fact, we are proud to compensate all of our producers with a stipend of at least $1000, acknowledging their labor and the contributions they bring to our podcast’s catalog.

We try our best to complete production in the ten-week span; however, producers will have a few additional responsibilities in the subsequent months to finalize their episodes, promote the podcast, and other duties that may be assigned. Participants are responsible for these tasks, and must complete requirements to receive the final portion of their stipend.