Summer 2023 Tennessee Reporting Internship
Are you a motivated undergraduate or graduate student interested in telling stories about education in America? Come join us at Chalkbeat, where you’ll spend 10 paid weeks covering the effort to improve U.S. schools for all children, especially for students who have historically lacked access to a quality education.
As a reporting intern in the Tennessee bureau, you will:
- Join our dynamic Memphis newsroom, working alongside some of the nation’s best education journalists.
- Write daily stories on deadline, with editing from top-notch story editors.
- Incorporate data journalism, polls, and social engagement.
- Attend skills-building sessions on data journalism, FOIA, outlining, engagement, and more.
FAQ:
What does it pay?
The TN intern will work a 40-hour week at $19 an hour. They also receive a one-time $100 cell phone reimbursement, two paid vacation days, and financial assistance for housing and relocation if needed.
What skills do I need to have?
- Journalism is your calling. You love tracking down information and sharing it with readers.
- You’re interested in social issues, public policy, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
- You’re eager for feedback and enjoy collaborating.
- You’re flexible, creative, energetic, thoughtful, and tenacious.
- You know how to report accurately, convey information clearly and concisely, and meet your deadlines.
What education and prior experience do I need to have?
- The internship is open to current college undergraduate and grad students or students who have just graduated. Successful candidates are usually juniors, seniors, or graduate students, but we encourage students of all years to apply. You do not have to be a journalism major.
- Chalkbeat is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and we pride ourselves on our diverse newsroom. We especially welcome applicants from underrepresented communities and bilingual applicants.
- We do require high school, college, or freelance journalism experience. You need to submit three clips that demonstrate your skills.
- A demonstrable interest in public education and DEIB.
What kind of stories will I tell?
You’ll mostly work on daily news. Here are some stories from our 2022 reporting interns:
- Marcela Rodrigues-Sherley, New York bureau:
- NYC teachers get little to no training on lockdown drills
- How NYC programs fight ‘summer melt’ one student at a time
- Jessica Blake, national bureau:
- Overturn of Roe v. Wade could add to child poverty
- Schools need teachers and mentors. Can a new federal initiative find 250,000?
- Eileen Pomeroy, Chicago bureau:
- Mixed messages over program for Deaf students in Chicago causes concern
- Legal settlement requires Chicago to offer translation services to parents of students with disabilities
- Grace Tucker, Detroit bureau:
- Detroit district struggles to solve its problem with math learning loss
- Detroit launches attendance initiatives as rising absenteeism threatens pandemic recovery
- Helen Rummel, Indiana bureau:
- Indiana’s post-Roe world is what these high school students have prepared for
- Crispus Attucks high schoolers jumpstart health care careers
Will the internship be onsite or remote?
The internship is onsite in our Memphis bureau.
I’m not a U.S. citizen. Can I still apply?
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and must complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
Do I need to have a car? What about a laptop?
- You will need transportation to cover stories and get to the office.
- If you do not have a laptop, we will provide one.
- You will need to use your personal cell phone for work.
How do I apply? What’s the deadline?
To complete our 2023 Internship application, please complete the questions below. The deadline is Dec. 9, 2022.
When will I know if I got it?
We will begin interviewing finalists in January 2022 and will let everyone know by February 10, 2023.
I have more questions. Whom do I ask?
Happy to answer them! Email Emiliana Sandoval at esandoval@chalkbeat.org.
About Chalkbeat:
Chalkbeat is the nonprofit news organization committed to covering one of America’s most important stories: the effort to improve schools for all children, especially those who have historically lacked access to quality education. We are mission-driven journalists who believe that an independent local press is vital to ensuring that education improves. Currently in eight locations and growing, we seek to provide deep local coverage of education policy and practice that informs decisions and actions, leading to better schools. Read more about our mission and values. We are committed to a diverse newsroom. Read our antiracism statement.
Chalkbeat is dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. Chalkbeat encourages people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses to apply.