What are the responsibilities and job description for the News Intern - Merced Sun-Star position at McClatchy?
The Merced Sun-Star is hiring a reporting intern for 2026.
We are seeking smart, curious self-starters who are interested in a professional career in journalism. Internships are generally for 10 weeks, and the start date can vary according to applicants’ schedules.
While these are student positions with an opportunity to learn and continue preparation for a news career, we expect an understanding of basic news standards and ethics, and a skill set in being able to produce content. Previous experience reporting for a student or professional news publication is a plus.
We are looking for student journalists who can meet deadlines, be accurate and adhere to ethical standards. Reporters need to report thoroughly, write clearly and grasp the elements of storytelling, recognizing visual components and social connections. They must have a sense of urgency, coupled with an understanding of the wide range of audience interests.
This is a staff position in the newsroom, where we expect interns to produce while learning. The anticipated base pay range for this position is $16.90 per hour, up to 40 hours per week. Individual base pay may vary within that range depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, department equity and relevant education.
The program/supervision/support: Our interns are vital, and we value them.
The program works this way:
Schedule could include weekend hours.
Interns learn how to cover local news, features and business – and more.
Each intern has an editor who oversees them, guides them and helps solve problems.
Interns can work in multimedia as well, creating content and crafting social promotion for digital platforms.
Qualifications include:
The ability to write quickly, accurately and well.
The ability to monitor and mine various sources for breaking news.
Solid news judgment.
An instinctive grasp of what will engage your audience.
A deep understanding of what drives interest on Facebook, X and other social media platforms.
A strong entrepreneurial spirit, good curiosity and high energy.
A collaborative style that allows you to work comfortably across teams spread throughout the office and company.
A familiarity shooting photos and video, including the use of entry-level video editing software, is preferred.
For full consideration, please submit a persuasive cover letter, resume up to four samples of your strongest work to the link.
Deadline: Dec. 31, 2025
About McClatchy:
The McClatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee, have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month,The McClatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.
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