The Columbia Journalism School Internship and Grants Program will fund internships for up to 29 M.S. and M.A. level graduates from the class of 2021 at INN member news organizations. INN members and CJS interns shared great professional growth experiences and produced strong reporting in 2020, and we are happy to work with CJS to offer the program again this year.
Information for Members
Applicants must be INN member news organizations in good standing with a current paid internship program, and commit to paying the intern according to their organization’s internship pay scale. Applications are reviewed and organizations are selected to participate by a committee of CJS representatives in consultation with INN.
Internships should be 10 to 12 weeks long and full-time positions. Internships must begin between May and October of 2021, and complete no later than Dec. 2021.
CJS interns are graduates with advanced degrees who want to work with members on reporting projects including investigative, data, public service and accountability journalism.
All or part of the internship may be completed remotely if the organization has the capacity to supervise a productive remote internship experience, and at the discretion of the news outlet and the intern.
If your organization has committed to hosting an Emma Bowen Foundation intern in 2021, please continue to honor that important commitment.
Applications from Newsrooms
Applications for INN member news organizations wishing to participate in the Columbia internship program open April 14 and close April 26 at 11:59 PM (PST). As part of the application, news organizations must include a description of the internship position. One application per organization, please.
A committee from the Columbia Journalism School and INN will review applications and select news organizations to participate in the program.
Those organizations will be notified of their selection by May 10.
Intern Hiring Process
Once selected, news organizations’ internship position descriptions will be distributed to eligible graduating M.S. and M.A. students at the Columbia Journalism School.
News organizations receive applications from students through Columbia Journalism School’s application platform if students choose to apply to the position. News organizations will review applications, conduct interviews, check references and make an offer in accordance with their organization’s procedures.
Organizations must notify any selected interns by June 19 for summer internships, and July 15 for fall internships.
News organizations cover all payroll taxes, workers compensation and other employment benefits offered to temporary staffers of 40 hours/week, and are responsible for all local, state and federal employment tax, payroll filings and compliance with HR requirements.
Payment Process
Host organizations will be reimbursed up to $8,000 at the end of the internship period after invoicing INN, providing payroll documentation supporting the invoiced amount and a completed W-9 or the appropriate federal form.
Please contact Sara Shahriari, INN’s director of leadership and talent development, with any questions at sara.s@inn.org.