Join us! Western Citizen accepts applications for telecommuting internships in our virtual newsroom throughout the year. Interns must have immediate family or be enrolled in a post-secondary school located in one of the Rocky Mountain states — Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah or Wyoming. Positions are unpaid but class credit may be arranged.
Western Citizen offers a variety of opportunities for students majoring in journalism, political science, communications/marketing, computer science, art/design and liberal arts. Each 10 hours per week position demands a high level of self-direction, personal responsibility, entrepreneurial spirit and slavish devotion to deadlines.
Editorial internship responsibilities
• Two bylined blog posts per week on mutually agreed upon news beat
• Monitor regional news sources on beat
• Research, fact checking and editorial support
• Respond to reader inquiries
Photojournalism internship responsibilities
• Four bylined still photographs with AP-style cut lines – or – two 1-min. news videos produced on assignment per week
• Monitor regional news sources on beat
• Technical support for WesternCitizenTV and Flickr accounts
• Respond to reader inquiries
Marketing/communication internship responsibilities
• Promote daily news content via online social media sites and offline media, advocacy and academic partners
• Monitor and analyze weekly traditional and social media performance statistics
• Collaborate on brand and promotional strategies
• Respond to reader inquiries
Technology internships
• Build PHP/JSON/XML open-source plugins, widgets and interactive features to enhance news content (CS majors)
• Produce one per week interactive Flash module or static infographic to enhance news content (design majors)
• Research leading edge Web/mobile apps and analyze for news applicability
• Respond to reader inquiries
Advocacy internships
• Promote user-community engagement activities
• Collaborate with Journalist, Mar/Comm and Tech interns on reader involvement strategies
• Support distributed reporting projects
• Respond to reader inquiries
Intern candidates should submit the following material in an email to intern@westerncitizen.com:
Cover letter
• Indicate experience with reporting/blogging, social media, content management systems and/or online advocacy activities.
Resume
• Please note your current contact information, major course of study and expected graduation date.
Work samples and innovation statement
• Writing candidates: Two writing samples in MS-Word or PDF format: one edited and/or published and one unedited piece. School assignments may be submitted. Innovation statement: How can you get readers to care about your news beat?
• Photojournalism candidates: Two still photographs with embedded cut lines in compressed JPG format or two video clips with the URLs of the hosting site(s). Innovation statement: How would you visualize the public radio show “This American Life” in still or video format?
• Marketing candidates: One writing sample in MS-Word or PDF format and a brief 1-2 page summary of a social media marketing plan. School assignments may be submitted. Innovation statement: What’s the next big thing in social media and how can we measure its success?
• Technology candidates: A brief 1-2 page description and URL of a Web site, application, Flash or online infographic project with which you had significant responsibility. School assignments may be submitted. Innovation statement: How would you go about building an app around a news story that interests you that you want others to act on?
• Advocacy candidates: One writing sample in MS-Word or PDF format and a brief 1-2 page summary of an advocacy project you directed. School assignments may be submitted. Innovation statement: How do you inspire people to be effective activists rather than just make a lot of noise?
Requirements for all internships
• Reliable Internet access
• Computer, digital camera or mini-DV and software, as needed for assignment
• Strong desire to learn something new
• Creative thinking capacity balanced by strong critical thinking skills
• Commitment to our mission of public service journalism
• Residency in Rocky Mountain West — either during school year or at home
Bonus points awarded for candidates with familiarity with
• WordPress, Google Wave, RSS, Facebook, Twitter and Skype.
Have questions about the internship, your eligibility or other details, contact us at intern@westerncitizen.com.
