Summer 2024 Indianapolis Reporting Internship

Summer 2024 Indianapolis Reporting Internship
 

Are you a motivated undergraduate or graduate student interested in telling stories about education in America? Come join us at Chalkbeat, where you’ll spend 10 paid weeks covering the effort to improve U.S. schools for all children, especially for students who have historically lacked access to a quality education. The Indiana internship is funded by the Indianapolis Press Club Foundation as part of its commitment to support journalism students attending Indiana colleges and universities.

As a reporting intern in the Indianapolis bureau, you will:

• Join a diverse and dynamic newsroom, working alongside some of the nation’s best education journalists. 
• Write daily stories on deadline, with editing from top-notch story editors. 
• Incorporate data journalism, polls, and social engagement.
• Attend skills-building sessions on data journalism, FOIA, outlining, engagement, and more.

FAQ:

What does it pay? 

The Indiana intern will work a 40-hour week at $19 an hour. You’ll also receive a onetime $100 cell phone reimbursement and two paid vacation days. We are closed June 19 and July 4 for the holidays.

What skills do I need to have?

• Journalism is your calling. You love tracking down information and sharing it with readers.
• You’re interested in social issues, public policy, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• You’re eager for feedback and enjoy collaborating. 
• You’re flexible, creative, energetic, thoughtful, and tenacious. 
• You know how to report accurately, convey information clearly and concisely, and meet your deadlines.  

What education and prior experience do I need to have?

• The internship is open to current college undergraduate and grad students attending Indiana universities or colleges or students who have just graduated from one. Successful candidates are usually juniors, seniors, or graduate students, but we encourage students of all years to apply. You do not have to be a journalism major. We encourage students of all years to apply. You do not have to be a journalism major.
• Chalkbeat is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and we pride ourselves on our diverse newsroom. We especially welcome applicants from underrepresented communities and bilingual applicants.
• We do require high school, college, or freelance journalism experience. You need to submit three clips that demonstrate your skills. 
• A demonstrable interest in public education and DEIB.

What kind of stories will I tell?

You’ll mostly work on daily news. Here are some stories from our 2023 reporting interns: 

• Jade Thomas, Indiana bureau:
  • Indianapolis college students share career goals, doubts, and advice
  • ‘Master teachers’ develop strong English language instruction at Perry Township school
• Max Lubbers, Chicago bureau:
  • Illinois becomes magnet for transgender students seeking protections in school, health care
• Eliana Perozo, New York bureau:
  • How a Bronx summer jobs program prioritizes undocumented youth
• Samantha Lauten, Newark bureau: 
  • Philip’s Academy Charter receives award for teacher diversity. Here’s how the Newark school did it.
• Sara Martin, Colorado bureau:
  • Denver partnership aims to expand mental health services, address youth violence

Will the internship be onsite or remote?

The internship is a mix of one or two days a week onsite at our Indianapolis office, one or two days out reporting, and one or two days working remotely.

I’m not a U.S. citizen. Can I still apply?

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and must complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Do I need to have a car? What about a laptop?

•   You will need transportation to cover stories and get to the office. 
•   If you do not have a laptop, we will provide one.
•   You will need to use your personal cell phone for work.

When will I know if I got it?

We will begin interviewing finalists in January 2024 and will let everyone know by February 19, 2024. 

About Chalkbeat:

Chalkbeat is the nonprofit news organization committed to covering one of America’s most important stories: the effort to improve schools for all children, especially those who have historically lacked access to quality education. We are mission-driven journalists who believe that an independent local press is vital to ensuring that education improves. Currently in eight locations and growing, we seek to provide deep local coverage of education policy and practice that informs decisions and actions, leading to better schools. Read more about our mission and values. We are committed to a diverse newsroom. Read our antiracism statement.

Chalkbeat is dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. Chalkbeat encourages people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses to apply.