Journalism Intern Resume examples & templates

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Copyable resume examples

Copyable Journalism Intern Resume examples

The clock reads 9:30 AM as Mia gulps down her second cup of coffee. She's already transcribed two interviews, pitched three story ideas at the morning huddle, and is now racing to fact-check a breaking news piece before the 11 AM digital update. Her phone buzzes—the reporter she's shadowing needs help gathering man-on-the-street reactions for a local zoning dispute. As a journalism intern at The Metro Observer, Mia's days are unpredictable, exhausting, and exactly what she signed up for. In a field where 71% of news organizations now require multimedia skills from their entry-level hires, she's building a portfolio that spans traditional reporting, social media content creation, and basic data visualization.

The journalism landscape is shifting dramatically, with newsrooms becoming increasingly digital-first and nimble. Gone are the days when interns simply fetched coffee and proofread copy (though you'll still do plenty of the latter!). Today's journalism interns are expected to contribute meaningful content from day one, often publishing bylined articles within their first few weeks. As traditional media outlets partner with platforms like Substack and experiment with AI-assisted research tools, journalism interns stand at the intersection of time-honored reporting principles and emerging storytelling technologies—perfectly positioned to shape how news reaches audiences in the years ahead.

Junior Journalism Intern Resume Example

Jordan Rivera

Chicago, IL | jordan.rivera27@gmail.com | (312) 555-8921 | linkedin.com/in/jordanrivera27

Journalism graduate with internship experience at a local newspaper and campus radio station. Quick learner with strong writing skills and natural curiosity. Looking to build on my foundation in news gathering, interviewing, and story development while contributing meaningful content in a professional newsroom environment.

Experience

News Intern – The Chicago Current, Chicago, IL (Jan 2023 – Present)

  • Assist reporters with research and fact-checking for 3-5 local news stories weekly
  • Conduct person-on-the-street interviews to gather public opinion on current events
  • Draft social media posts that increased engagement by 17% across platforms
  • Pitched and wrote 4 published articles on community events under editor supervision

Campus Radio Reporter – WCAM Student Radio, Camden University (Sept 2021 – Dec 2022)

  • Produced weekly 5-minute segments covering campus events and student achievements
  • Interviewed faculty, administration and students for on-air content
  • Collaborated with a team of 6 students to create engaging programming
  • Managed station’s Instagram account, growing followers from 430 to 752

Contributing Writer – Camden University Gazette (Sept 2020 – May 2021)

  • Wrote 2-3 articles monthly for the Arts & Culture section
  • Covered student performances, art exhibitions, and visiting lecturers
  • Learned AP style guidelines and basic editorial processes

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism – Camden University, Chicago, IL (2019-2023)

  • Minor in Political Science
  • GPA: 3.7/4.0
  • Relevant Coursework: Media Ethics, Investigative Reporting, Broadcast Journalism, Digital Storytelling
  • Senior Project: Multimedia package examining food insecurity among college students

Skills

  • News writing & AP Style
  • Content Management Systems (WordPress)
  • Audio recording & editing (Audacity)
  • Social media management
  • Basic video production
  • Interview techniques
  • Fact-checking & research
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Photography (basic)
  • Adobe Premiere (beginner)

Activities & Certifications

  • Member, Society of Professional Journalists (Student Chapter)
  • Google News Initiative Training Certificate (2022)
  • Volunteer, Community Media Workshop (2021-present)

Mid-level Journalism Intern Resume Example

Jessica Martinez

jmartinez292@gmail.com | (317) 555-8921 | Chicago, IL 60614
linkedin.com/in/jessicamartinez | twitter.com/jessicamwrites

Dedicated journalism professional with 5+ years of experience spanning investigative reporting, content creation, and multimedia storytelling. Former intern turned staff writer with a knack for uncovering untold stories and producing engaging content on tight deadlines. Skilled in both traditional reporting and digital journalism techniques with published work in regional and national outlets.

EXPERIENCE

Staff Writer, Chicago Tribune | Chicago, IL | May 2021 – Present

  • Write 4-6 articles weekly for the Metro section, covering local politics, community issues, and human interest stories
  • Collaborated with photojournalists to produce a 7-part series on changing neighborhoods that increased web traffic by 31% over similar content
  • Manage social media distribution of articles, growing engagement by 27% through targeted posting strategies
  • Mentor 2 journalism interns each semester, developing their reporting skills and editing their drafts

Editorial Intern, The Atlantic | Remote | January 2021 – April 2021

  • Researched and fact-checked 20+ articles monthly for both print and digital platforms
  • Pitched and wrote 3 published articles on emerging climate policy initiatives
  • Transcribed interviews and organized source materials for senior writers
  • Helped maintain the publication’s style guide and contributed to weekly editorial meetings

Journalism Intern, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Milwaukee, WI | June 2019 – August 2020

  • Initially hired as 3-month intern but extended twice due to strong performance
  • Produced 40+ published articles covering local events, business profiles, and breaking news
  • Developed and maintained a database of 75+ local sources and contacts
  • Created supplementary video content for digital platforms that averaged 3,400 views per piece

Student Reporter, Indiana Daily Student | Bloomington, IN | September 2017 – May 2019

  • Started as contributor, promoted to staff reporter after first semester
  • Covered campus events, student government, and university administration
  • Won 2nd place in statewide collegiate journalism competition for investigative piece on campus housing conditions
  • Produced weekly podcast “Campus Conversations” with avg. 850 downloads per episode

EDUCATION

Indiana University | Bloomington, IN
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Minor in Political Science | May 2019
GPA: 3.78/4.0

Data Journalism Certificate | Knight Center for Journalism | February 2022
Completed 6-week intensive program on data analysis and visualization for journalists

SKILLS

  • News Writing & AP Style
  • Investigative Reporting
  • Social Media Management
  • Content Management Systems (WordPress, Ghost)
  • Data Visualization (Tableau, Flourish)
  • Audio Production (Audacity, Hindenburg)
  • Video Editing (Adobe Premiere)
  • FOIA Requests
  • SEO Writing
  • Spanish (Conversational)

PUBLICATIONS & PROJECTS

  • “Inside Chicago’s Housing Crisis” – 7-part investigative series, Chicago Tribune (2022)
  • “The New Face of Midwestern Manufacturing” – Feature article, The Atlantic (March 2021)
  • Guest contributor, Nieman Lab’s “Predictions for Journalism” annual feature (2021)

Senior / Experienced Journalism Intern Resume Example

MARIA JIMENEZ

Boston, MA | (617) 555-4987 | mjimenez.writer@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/mariajimenez

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Seasoned journalism professional with 8+ years of experience across print, digital, and broadcast media. Proven track record of developing compelling narratives that drive reader engagement, with expertise in investigative reporting and feature writing. Known for uncovering the Adams County corruption scandal that led to policy reform, resulting in a 31% increase in government transparency ratings. Seeking to leverage extensive journalism background into a specialized internship role to pivot into environmental journalism.

EXPERIENCE

Staff Reporter – The Boston Chronicle (2018-Present)

  • Lead a team of 4 junior reporters covering local politics and community issues, publishing 12-15 stories weekly
  • Spearheaded the paper’s transition to digital-first strategy, helping increase online readership by 42% over 3 years
  • Developed the “Voices of Boston” series highlighting underrepresented communities, which won regional SPJ award
  • Created and maintained relationships with 75+ sources across government, nonprofit, and private sectors
  • Pitched and produced 6 investigative pieces annually, with 3 stories leading to concrete policy changes

Correspondent – Midwest News Network (2015-2018)

  • Covered breaking news across 4 states for syndicated publication reaching 178,000 readers
  • Produced 8-10 stories weekly on tight deadlines while maintaining fact-checking standards
  • Collaborated with photographers and designers to create multimedia packages that increased page views by 27%
  • Developed expertise in agricultural policy reporting, becoming the go-to writer for farm bill coverage

Junior Reporter – The Daily Tribune (2012-2015)

  • Started as general assignment reporter covering city council meetings, police blotter, and community events
  • Promoted to education beat after 9 months, covering 6 school districts and community college system
  • Created the paper’s first education newsletter, growing subscriber base to 3,400+ within first year
  • Won New Journalist of the Year award from state press association in 2014

EDUCATION

Master of Arts in Journalism – Columbia University (2012)
Focus: Investigative Reporting | GPA: 3.8

Bachelor of Arts in English – University of Wisconsin-Madison (2010)
Minor: Political Science | Cum Laude

CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas – Data Journalism Bootcamp (2019)
Poynter Institute – Leadership Academy for Women in Media (2017)
Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) – Computer-Assisted Reporting (2016)

SKILLS

  • Investigative reporting
  • Source development
  • Data journalism (SQL basics)
  • Audio/video production
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Content Management Systems (WordPress, Drupal)
  • AP Style
  • FOIA requests
  • Social media management
  • Spanish (conversational)

MEMBERSHIPS

Society of Professional Journalists (since 2011)
Investigative Reporters & Editors (since 2014)
National Association of Hispanic Journalists (since 2013)

How to Write a Journalism Intern Resume

Introduction

Landing that first journalism internship can feel like catching lightning in a bottle. With dozens (sometimes hundreds) of applicants competing for limited spots, your resume needs to stand out without looking like you're trying too hard. As someone who's reviewed countless intern applications at various publications, I've seen what works and what gets tossed.

Most news organizations spend about 7-8 seconds scanning each resume initially. That's barely enough time to get through your name and education before deciding if you're worth a closer look. Let's make those seconds count.

Resume Structure and Format

Keep your resume clean and skimmable. Editors and hiring managers are drowning in content all day—they'll appreciate a resume that doesn't add to their visual fatigue.

  • Stick to one page (seriously, no exceptions for interns)
  • Use a classic font like Times New Roman, Garamond, or Arial at 11-12pt
  • Include clear section headers with minimal formatting fuss
  • Maintain consistent spacing (1" margins work well)
  • Save as a PDF to preserve formatting across devices
Skip the objective statement. Nobody needs to read that you're "seeking a challenging position to utilize your skills." Instead, use that valuable space for a profile summary or jump straight into your experience.

Profile/Summary Section

A brief, punchy summary can set the tone. Think of it as your lede paragraph—make it grab attention and communicate your value proposition in 2-3 sentences.

Example: "Third-year journalism student with bylines in The Daily Cardinal and experience producing weekly campus podcasts. Skilled in AP style writing, basic audio editing, and social media analytics. Seeking to bring strong research skills and multimedia storytelling abilities to XYZ Publication."

Professional Experience

Even if you haven't had a formal journalism job yet, you can showcase relevant experience:

  • Campus newspaper roles (even if unpaid)
  • Personal blogs or Medium articles (if they're well-written)
  • School projects that involved reporting or media creation
  • Relevant coursework that produced published work
  • Volunteer writing for community organizations

For each experience, include 2-3 bullet points focusing on what you produced, skills you used, and any measurable results. For example: "Pitched and wrote 4 front-page articles for The Campus Chronicle, including an investigative piece on dining hall food waste that led to policy changes."

Education and Certifications

As an intern applicant, your education likely takes center stage. Include:

  • University name, expected graduation date, degree program
  • Relevant coursework (Media Law, Feature Writing, Data Journalism, etc.)
  • GPA if it's above 3.5
  • Academic awards or scholarships
  • Relevant campus activities (debate club, student radio, etc.)

Keywords and ATS Tips

Many news organizations use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes before human eyes see them. Include industry-specific keywords from the job posting:

  • AP Style
  • Content Management Systems (WordPress, etc.)
  • Social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X)
  • SEO fundamentals
  • Multimedia skills (photography, audio recording, video editing)
  • Research methods

Industry-specific Terms

Demonstrate that you speak the language of journalism by naturally incorporating terms like:

  • Bylines, clips, portfolio
  • Beat reporting
  • Copyediting
  • Fact-checking
  • Lede writing
  • Source development

Common Mistakes

I've seen these blunders tank otherwise promising applications:

  • Typos or grammar errors (deadly in journalism applications!)
  • Missing contact info (I once couldn't call back a great candidate because they forgot their phone number)
  • Unprofessional email addresses (no newspaper wants to hire partygirl99@email.com)
  • Inflated titles (calling yourself "Editor-in-Chief" of your personal blog)
  • Including high school achievements (unless you're in your first year of college)

Before/After Example

Before:
"Responsible for writing articles for school newspaper. Helped with editing. Good at interviews."

After:
"Wrote 12 articles for The Daily Beacon, specializing in campus event coverage and student profiles. Conducted interviews with faculty and administration, including exclusive sit-down with university president following budget controversy."

Remember—your resume is your first clip in the eyes of editors. Make it tight, accurate, and reflective of your best work. Good luck!

Soft skills for your Journalism Intern resume

  • Conversational interviewing – able to make sources comfortable while asking tough questions when needed
  • Fact-checking tenacity – won’t stop until information is verified through multiple channels
  • Quick adaptation to shifting news priorities (turned around 3 stories in one day during city council scandal)
  • Cross-functional collaboration with photographers, editors and social media team
  • Active listening that catches subtle nuances others might miss
  • Deadline management – consistently file clean copy ahead of schedule

Hard skills for your Journalism Intern resume

  • AP Style proficiency with 5+ years practical application
  • Audio editing in Adobe Audition and Hindenburg
  • WordPress CMS management (including basic HTML/CSS troubleshooting)
  • FOIA request filing and documentation tracking
  • Social media analytics using Sprout Social and native platforms
  • SEO headline writing and keyword research via SEMrush
  • Video production with Final Cut Pro X (B-roll capture and basic editing)
  • Data visualization using Tableau Public (3 years experience)
  • Fact-checking methodology and source verification