Winter/2023 Spring Internships - Reporting

Winter/2023 Spring Internships - Reporting

The Des Moines Register/desmoinesregister.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking top-notch journalism students to participate in our Winter/Spring Internship Program.

This paid internship program gives college students an opportunity to work in the newsroom during the winter break/spring semester. We’re seeking students who are looking for a professional-level experience and have the initiative, skills, and judgment to excel at it.

The program will include extensive one-on-one coaching and mentoring, but students are expected to handle stories independently and effectively in a 24/7 deadline-driven environment.

The internships are 20 hours, intended for students attending college classes in Iowa. Interns work weekend shifts as well as some weekday hours. The schedule generally mirrors the college semester and runs from late January through May.

These are hands-on internships. You’ll do reporting every day, learning how to write clear, accurate copy on deadline, plus getting the opportunity to work on in-depth enterprise reports.

The Register is a 17-time Pulitzer Prize winner and recognized nationally for the quality of its political reporting. We reach readers across the state with our daily Des Moines Register editions, our award-winning DesMoinesRegister.com mobile and desktop sites and various nondaily publications.

Responsibilities:

• Report and write about general assignment topics in central Iowa, with a focus on public safety and trending news.
• Produce photos and videos about general news topics.
• Participate in the Register’s curation team efforts, identifying social media trends and bringing local context to the discussion. 

Requirements:

• Candidates must be juniors, seniors or graduate students attending a four-year college or university or have a journalism degree but haven’t yet landed a job.
• Prior experience working for a college publication is required; a previous journalism internship is a plus.
• Knowledge of Iowa and Spanish are a plus.
• Strong command of AP writing, spelling, grammar, and style.
• Solid fact checking and reporting skills.
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and flexible.
• Open to new ideas, new experiences and learning on the job.
• Critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience performing a wide variety of tasks under the pressure of deadlines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills required.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• If you are selected for a driving role, these positions require a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
• Employment is contingent on passing a post-offer pre-employment background check and drug screen (for driving roles only). 

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

1. Your resume – one to two pages.

2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.

3. Links to 5 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

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