News & Visual Journalism Internships

What you need to know about qualifying for JMC news/visual internships and what is expected of you once you secure an internship can be found on the pages of this site. To learn more explore the links, then make an appointment with the Internship Coordinator to get answers to questions you may have. We will register you for the course once you have secured an approved internship and submitted an online application.

Requirements

The following contains some basic information about and a list of prerequisites for the News and Visual Journalism Internships for students majoring in Multimedia News (formerly Newspaper), Magazine, Photojournalism and Information Design.

Every student majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication completes an internship (JMC 40092) as a requirement for a degree. In News & Visual Journalism, the internship is at least 300 hours of professional work under professional supervision at an off-campus news organization. These may be digital-only news sites, magazines or newspapers. On many internships, students work for both digital and print versions of a publication.

The internship can be taken in the fall, spring or summer semester. If you intern in the fall or spring semester, the School recommends you take a maximum of 12 credit hours in addition to the internship. You will be able to fulfill your internship requirement in 40 hours a week for eight weeks or 20 hours a week for 15 weeks.

Internships must be approved in advance by your sequence coordinator. Fill out an Internship Application Form on this web site. After approval, you must be enrolled in JMC 40092 before beginning the internship to receive credit. All summer internship sections are listed in the Summer III session.

Internships are for one credit and will be graded "S" or "U." Failure to report on a timely basis or to complete the 300 hours can result in a U grade, and the internship will have to be repeated. This is also true, of course, of unsatisfactory work.

If you intern in the fall or spring semester, check with your sequence coordinator for the name of the faculty member who will be your internship coordinator. If you intern in the summer, check with the JMC office for the name of the summer intern coordinator. Be sure to talk with your internship coordinator about procedures before the internship begins.

A student in the internship course will be required to complete periodic reports on the work experience and to submit work samples to the faculty member who is intern coordinator. At the end of the internship, a confidential work evaluation is required from the employer. All reports must be completed before credit can be given.

If you have questions or problems during your internship, call or e-mail your internship coordinator.

Prerequisites:

Newspaper:

Magazine:

Photojournalism:

Information Design

FAQ

The FAQ about News and Visual Journalism sequence internships should answer many of your preliminary questions about internships. If they don't, check with your academic adviser or sequence coordinator.

1. Why do I need an internship?
2. How do I find one?
3. How much does an internship pay?
4. What do most media companies want in an intern?
5. Do I have to intern in northeast Ohio?
6. When do I apply?

1. Why do I need an internship?
It's an opportunity to work in a professional setting to enhance what you've already learned. Internships may provide mentoring or future employment opportunities and personal references.

2. How do I find one?
Start with the Internet (see Internship Resources). Check listings sent directly to the School. They are posted on the Jobs and Internships bulletin board in Franklin Hall 212. Call up publications and ask if they have internship programs. Sign up for interviews with the recruiters who come to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication each year.

Keep in mind that the employer may not use the "internship" label for a part-time job. With approval, you may use 300 hours of a part-time job as your internship.

3. How much does an internship pay?
From nothing to about $500 a week (at a major metropolitan newspaper). In general, the larger the circulation, the higher the pay. Many newspaper internships are paid. This is less true of magazines. In a weak economy or if you have extreme geographic limitations, you may end up working for experience but not pay.

4. What do most media companies want in an intern?
The same thing all companies want. Employees who are competent, honest, reliable, intelligent workers who also show initiative. Take the internship seriously. Look upon your internship as an audition for a potential job. Work hard. You'll get out of the internship what you put into it.

5. Do I have to intern in northeast Ohio?
Not at all. Students have worked in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and points in between.

6. When do I apply?
The deadlines are usually included with the internship listing. Generally, the larger the news organization, the earlier the deadline. Major metropolitan newspapers and magazine companies have deadlines in November or December. Smaller newspapers range from January to March. At the latest, start sending letters by the end of winter break. Keep sending them. Apply at least 15 places.