What are the responsibilities and job description for the Summer Intern position at Santa Barbara News-Press?
Summer Intern, Santa Barbara News-Press
The Santa Barbara News-Press is looking for bold, curious, innovative early-career and student journalists to join our summer cohort. You will be a core member of a growing team working to transform the 157-year-old Santa Barbara News-Press into an innovative local news outlet.
This paid internship will put you on the ground across Santa Barbara County to provide real community-driven reporting. As a general assignment reporter, you will cover topics spanning breaking news, government, business, culture, community and enterprise. You will work directly with a team of editors and journalists to report stories on deadline while honing your original reporting chops, writing style, producing skills and on-camera personality.
You will have the freedom to pitch stories while also covering assigned stories, all the while receiving mentorship, thoughtful editing and opportunity to work directly with reporting staff on larger projects. Emphasis will be placed on developing cross-platform storytelling skills, including diverse written styles and shortform vertical video.
This is a 12-week, 20-hour per week internship that begins in May and ends in August.
Submission Requirements
- Please submit a single document file (PDF) that includes the following in this order:
- Your resume (one page is preferred; two pages maximum)
- A cover letter that highlights your strengths and explains why you are a strong candidate for the position (one page maximum)
- Links to three to five online samples of your work, each with a one- to two-sentence description detailing what you did and how you did it. Diverse storytelling formats (writing, photography, audio, video, etc.) are encouraged.
Please assemble these materials into one PDF.
The pay rate for this role is $20 per hour.
What you’ll do:
- Cover community news and events that matter to local audiences
- Write, shoot and produce engaging video and photograph content
- Produce at least one story a day, on deadline
- Commit to accurate fact-based reporting, free of agenda and bias
- Willingness to collaborate with others, and take direction from editors
- Analyze public data and contribute to data-driven reporting
What you'll need:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proper grammar, spelling and punctuation
- Strong news writing and editing skills, with familiarity in Associated Press style
- Understanding of basic journalism concepts including news judgment
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Proven professionalism, dependability and punctuality
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy
Relevant qualifications:
Ideal candidates are in college, recent college graduates, or early career individuals of any kind, looking for experience.
- Preference will be given to more advanced students and those with greater work experience.
Preferred qualifications:
- Spanish fluency is a plus
Benefits:
- $30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement
- Hands-on experience in a professional environment
- Professional development plans
- Opportunity to network with ASUEP leaders and other ASU students
- Access to LinkedIn Learning and their 8,000 courses
- Professional skills workshops
Salary : $20