10 Tips for Getting a Newspaper Internship

Applying for a summer newspaper internship can be a daunting task. But with some planning and these 10 tips, you can secure a great news internship experience for the summer.

1. Start early. The journalism market is tough these days, and that means you need to start as early as you can in your search. The end of the summer is a good time to start getting prepared to hunt for an internship for the next summer. At the beginning of the school year, start researching newspaper internships and deadlines.

2. Stay organized. With so much going on in the life of a student, it’s easy to get disorganized. Stay on track with your newspaper internship applications by creating a calendar with all the deadlines.

3. Keep track of dates. Some deadlines are postmark and some are receive by. Don’t get them confused! Make notes on the calendar two weeks before a deadline, so you make sure to send your application in on time. If you need references or transcripts, make sure you make those arrangements well enough in advance that they’ll reach the newspaper on time.

4. Invest in an AP Style Guide and dictionary. Newspaper editors receive a slew of applications, so any with glaring style errors or spelling mistakes go straight to the trash. Make sure your cover letter and resume are in AP style, and double check anything when in doubt.

5. Get a copy editor. We all make typos, but your application should be error-free. Get a professor or professional mentor to help you edit your cover letter and resume.

6. Keep the resume down to one page. It’s tempting to go longer, but editors value brevity. A one-page resume is the standard.

7. Follow directions. If it says paperclip, not staple, then by all means use a paperclip. If the newspaper requests seven clips, don’t send nine. Follow all directions to the letter.

8. Tailor your cover letter to the newspaper. It’s clear when you copy and pasted the same cover letter 50 times for different applications. And it shows you aren’t really passionate about any of them. Take the time to custom-tailor your application to each newspaper, and it will go a long way.

9. Learn about the newspaper before you interview. If you get called in for an interview, learn as much about the newspaper as you possibly can beforehand. If you are trying to convince them that you ought to work there, you’d better be familiar with the structure and content of the paper.

10. Be persistent. Editors have a lot on their plate, and internship candidates aren’t always at the top of their list. It’s easy for your application to get lost in the shuffle. So, if you really want the internship, make sure to keep the editor updated on any new achievements and remind them you’re still interested!

Those are 10 tips for getting the newspaper internship you want. Hopefully, come next summer, you’ll have a great internship at a newspaper.