Sunday, November 1, 2009

Apply now for summer 2010 journalism internships

Journalism majors seeking internships at major news organization need to put their search into high gear, since some of the best programs have deadlines in the next two to six weeks.  Here's a sampling, but also check the Web sites of journalism professional organizations (see list in the left-hand column of this blog) and major media companies for more opportunities.

  • The Associated Press offers a paid summer internship for photographers and photo editors.  The application deadline is Nov. 13.  This annual program runs 12 weeks and is open to juniors and seniors.  The AP will select at least photo interns for next summer.  For more information, visit www.ap.org and look in the "careers" tab. 
  • The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Association (Texas APME) is seeking applicants for its annual Buster Haas Minority Internship Program.  The winning student will receive a 10-week internship at a Texas newspaper of 30,000 or less circulation, plus a $3,000 stipend and $1,000 for living expenses.  For more information, visit http://www.txapme.com/scholarships/.
  • The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) offers an annual, 10-week internship program each summer for students interested in careers with magazines.  The internships are at magazines in either New York City or Washington, D.C.  Since starting this program 44 years ago, 1,766 students and more than 200 magazines have participated.  Applicants must have completed their junior year, be returning to school full time next fall and have at least a 3.0 GPA.  The deadline to apply is Dec. 1.  For an application, visit http://asme.magazine.org.
  • Minority students interested in a career in broadcast television will want to check into the LIN Minority Scholarship and Training Program.  LIN Television selects one student per year, who receives a four-year contract that includes two years of summer internships followed by two years of full-time employment with LIN.  The company will pay for the winning student's tuition, books, room and board for the junior and senior years of college.  The deadline to enter is March 15, 2010.  For more information, visit http://www.lintv.com/contact/careers.html.
  • The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com plan to hire seven full-time and four stipend interns for the summer of 2010.  Interns can work in a variety of departments, including news, sports, business, features, photography, video, online communities and niche publications.  Full-time interns are paid $450 per week, while stipend interns will receive a $500 allowance and may qualify to earn college credit.  Other perks include free access to the newspaper's fitness center.  For more information, visit http://www.newsok.com/interns. The deadline to apply is Dec. 4.   
  • The Detroit News is seeking applicants for its 2010 summer internship program.  This 12-week program is open to juniors, seniors and recent graduates.  Opportunities are available for reporters, copy editors, photographers, graphic artists/page designers and within the newspaper's online news operations.  Preference is given to students who have completed at least one prior newspaper internship and have worked on a campus publication.  Interns are paid $524.93 per week.  The deadline to enter is Nov. 20.  For information, visit www.detnews.com and e-mail me for an application.  The deadline to apply is Nov. 20.
  • The Institute for Human Studies at George Mason University is seeking spring semester journalism interns for newspapers, major media networks and state policy organizations.  The deadline to apply is Nov. 15.  For more information, visit www.TheIHS.org/journalism
  • Not every internship counts for JMC credit, but the experience is still valuable and looks great on your resume.  For instance, the Christian Chronicle, a nationally circulated newspaper serving members of the Churches of Christ, is looking for "virtual" interns willing to report and write from home.  This would require a student who is a self-starter and has a dual interest in journalism and religion.  We don't count virtual internships toward your JMC internship requirement, but the clips you could receive from this assignment would be worthwhile.  
Please note that there are many more internship opportunities at newspapers, TV stations and magazines, so don't stop your search with this list.  Check the organizations in the left-hand column of this blog or see me for more recommendations.