How to Land a Journalism Internship

Reporter's notebook

You've scooped stories, interviewed bigwigs and know the AP Stylebook inside out. Now what? There's a good chance if you hope to make a career out of journalism that you'll need a killer internship with an impressive media organization. Here are some tips to help get your foot in the door.

Things You'll Need

• Clips
• Resume
• Cover letter

Instructions

1. Gather clips. If you're in college, write for your college newspaper and college magazine. Do research in your city to find if see if any of the local papers are looking for freelance writers. Even if they're not, pitch a story and see if they bite. One of the best ways to show you're a great reporter is to submit clips that are well-researched, well-reported and well-written. Chances are a sampling of clips from more than one organization will help make your portfolio stand out.

2. Create an impressive resume. Sell yourself on paper--really make your resume stand out. Make sure it's error-free, well-written and states your experience and purpose clearly. Same goes for your cover letter. Be creative and figure out a way to make your resume fun, but serious.

3. Apply early! Most papers ask for applicants for summer internships to apply almost a year in advance. Know the deadlines of internships and get your application materials in on time and in an orderly manner.

4. Apply to at least three places. The more choices you have and the more you get your name out there, the better chances you have of getting an interview. Don't limit yourself to newspapers and magazines; many companies have websites that need maintained or writers for corporate communications.

5. Network with journalists. Chances are you have an adviser who has connections--see if he can introduce you to others in the field. Also, many professional societies for journalists have student membership rates. Consider joining one as a way to interact with other journalists.

6. Write well, but learn more than just that craft. As newspaper and magazine subscriptions continue to dwindle, many media organizations are looking to reporters to become more than just professional writers. They expect you to be able to write, produce a website, film video, take photos and edit those images and video. Make sure you take classes that teach you those skills in addition to your regular journalism classes.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get frustrated--getting a journalism internship can be difficult. Try to keep a positive outlook.

• Some journalism internships are unpaid. If you need the money, you might have a harder time finding a paid internship.