Student experiences director, NEWSWELL Intern
NEWSWELL Chicago - the new home of four iconic West Side Chicago publications - is looking for bold, curious student journalists to join our internship program.
The network includes Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, Forest Park Review and Riverside-Brookfield Landmark. These four publications have deep roots and big energy, covering some of the most creative, culturally rich, future-shaping neighborhoods on Chicago's West Side and near-west suburbs.
This paid internship puts you right in the middle of real, community-driven reporting. You'll get hands-on experience with stories that matter: neighborhood issues, politics, arts and culture, sports, features and enterprise reporting.
You'll work with veteran editors who provide one-on-one coaching, smart edits and thoughtful mentorship. You'll attend workshops conducted by award-winning editors.
In February 2026, NEWSWELL acquired the assets of Growing Community Media, the former publisher of the four Chicago-area titles, to ensure these historic community outlets have long-term stability and the resources they need to thrive.
If you're ready to learn, hustle, create and make a real impact in communities full of personality, complexity and possibility, this internship is for you.
NEWSWELL helps newsrooms become nonprofit and for-community. It provides strategic guidance, innovative solutions and wrap-around operations so local journalists can focus on local news, and newsrooms can best serve their communities.
NEWSWELL partners with Arizona State University, the nation's most innovative 11 years in a row, to offer game-changing ideas, tools and research. NEWSWELL transforms local news to help communities and democracy thrive.
This is a 13-week, part-time internship (up to 16 hours per week) that begins Sept. 8 and ends in early December.
The pay rate for this role is $20 per hour.
Submission Requirements
Please submit a single document file (PDF) that includes the following in this order:
- Your resume (one to two pages)
- A cover letter that highlights your strengths and explains why you are a strong candidate for the position
- Links to three to five online samples of your work, each with a one- to two-sentence description detailing what you did and how you did it
Please assemble these materials into one PDF and upload as instructed.
What you'll do:
- Cover community news and events that matter to local audiences
- Seek out unique, audience-driven story ideas and build a beat on a relevant topic
- Aggregate breaking news from multiple sources and verify accuracy
- Edit, crop and size photos for online publication
- Create compelling, SEO-friendly headlines
- Produce and share engaging multimedia content, including video, audio and social media posts
- Meet with local public officials, community leaders and residents to build sources and strengthen reader engagement
- Analyze public data and contribute to data-driven reporting
- Collaborate with editors and reporters to support newsroom operations and editorial planning
What you'll need:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proper grammar, spelling and punctuation
- Strong news writing and editing skills, with familiarity in Associated Press style
- Understanding of basic journalism concepts, including libel law and news judgment
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Proven professionalism, dependability and punctuality
- Knowledge of journalism tools such as WordPress, Photoshop and popular social media platforms
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle responsibility
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy
Relevant qualifications:
Candidates must meet one of the following conditions:
- A degree-seeking student currently enrolled in a journalism or communications-related program at a college or university who has completed the equivalent of at least one year of college.
- A degree-seeking graduate student enrolled in a journalism or communications-related program at a college or university.
- A recent graduate from a journalism or communications-related program at a college or university.
Preference will be given to more advanced students.
Preferred qualifications:
- Spanish fluency is a plus
Benefits:
- $30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement
- Hands-on experience in a professional environment
- Professional development plans
- Opportunity to network with ASUEP leaders and other ASU students
- Access to LinkedIn Learning and their 8,000+ courses
- Professional skills workshops
NEWSWELL is an Equal Opportunity Employer