How to Find a Summer Job at a Newspaper
A summer job at a newspaper is a great way to start a career in journalism. You may find a paid job as a "cub," but many summer positions are either unpaid internships or freelance positions. Here's how to find one.
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Instructions
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Pick up a copy of a local newspaper, or visit the paper's Web site. Newspapers don't have to pay for their own advertising space, so job opportunities at a paper are often the biggest ads in the classified section. If you don't see any internships or temp positions listed, call the newspaper's human resources department.
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Consider an "alternative" paper. Many media markets have small daily and weekly papers and alternative publishers are often more willing to hire temporary writers or interns.
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Learn what areas a paper covers. A newsroom is split into a number of departments, such as national news, metro, sports or entertainment. Decide which department best fits your skills and interests; having outside knowledge of a particular subject can help make up for a lack of newspaper experience.
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Write a flawless resume and cover letter--they're going to be read by a professional editor. Double-check the spelling and grammar.
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Read through several editions of the newspaper prior to an interview. Apart from knowing what's happening in the news, you should be prepared to discuss the paper's coverage of events.
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Tips & Warnings
Every editor will want to see your "clips." Prepare a folder with examples of your best work and make copies of each story that you can leave after an interview or include with mailed applications.
