The Premier Internship Program recruits, mentors, and places the top Journalism and Public Interest Communication students from the University of Washington in internships at select outlets around Puget Sound.
These internships are hands-on positions for students who are reliable, can work independently, and have some experience in journalistic coursework. One of the largest benefits for students in the Premier Internship Program is that once you are vetted by UW faculty, you are placed at the outlet, without the pressure and time of applying in a general pool of interns. Students are interviewed before placement, and mentored throughout the experience. Most internships are 20 hours per week, one-quarter, paid positions that allow students to earn course credits if they’d like. Available internships vary each year depending on the needs of employers.
Applications to the Premier Internship Program are accepted on a rolling basis. Most placements occur midway through the preceding quarter. Available positions will be posted here as they are secured during the year.
Currently available internships
Crosscut/Cascade Media Premier Internship:
Crosscut and Cascade Public Media will staff one UW Premier Intern in Spring 2024 and one in Autumn 2024. These interns will be responsible for reporting and writing at least four stories over the quarter and writing content for the 2024 Crosscut Voter Guide, as well as additional peripheral duties as needed. Crosscut is a non-profit, reader-supported news site that focuses on public affairs reporting. The interns chosen for these positions will be advanced JPIC students who have strong writing and reporting skills, can work independently, take edits openly, and have the ability to hit deadlines in a fast-paced news atmosphere. The intern in this position will likely already have some experience writing for publication and have completed either or both of COM 362 or COM 364. The interns will work about 10 to 20 hours per week in this position and will be guided by Crosscut’s editorial team. The intern will be required to work at least one day per week in-person at the Crosscut offices on First Hill and will attend editorial meetings on Tuesday afternoons. Other work will be done from home. The intern will receive a $4,000 stipend for the 10-week quarter. Applications for the Spring Crosscut position should be submitted before Feb. 5, 2024 to ensure consideration. Applications for the Autumn Crosscut position should be submitted before Aug. 1, 2024 to ensure consideration.
Premier Media Group Internship:
The Premier Media Group intern will take on an active role in the production of our lifestyle and business print magazines — 425, 425 Business, South Sound, and South Sound Business — and gain real-world experience in a remote magazine newsroom. Typically, an intern works 15–20 hours per week with a flexible schedule for one quarter. The right intern should have strong writing skills, intellectual curiosity, and possess the ability to tell stories. Successful candidates must understand the importance of deadlines, teamwork, and independent thinking. Duties include writing blog posts and email newsletters, feature and news writing, research, copy editing, and fact-checking. When able, editors endeavor to tailor story assignments to the intern’s areas of interest. While Premier Media Group operates in a work-from-home model, an intern may be tasked with an in-person reporting assignment and will need reliable transportation across our coverage area from Olympia to Woodinville. The intern will receive a $1200 stipend upon completion of the internship and course credit is also available.
Converge Media Internship:
Converge Media is a leading producer of culturally relevant content with a focus on community issues, equitable access to elected officials, and life in the Pacific Northwest. The Converge Media intern will work 10-20 hours per week covering news and features for digital publication. Opportunities for video, broadcast, or podcast work could exist for the right candidate. Interns in this position should be driven to do work in journalism and media, and should have a passion for writing about public officials and public issues in Seattle, including some government meeting coverage. Converge is looking for interns who can commit to working as part of their team, who are self-starters, and people who bring an attitude of innovation to everything they do. Interns in this position will have a flexible work week, and some work will be required in-person at Converge’s production office in Capitol Hill or in their studio downtown. The Converge Media Premier Intern will receive a $2,500 stipend at the end of the 10-week quarter.
To apply to the program, please submit your application here: https://forms.gle/C1KhRnQRaeN224mm8 Questions about the program can be directed to Teaching Professor Caley Cook at ckcook@uw.edu.