In today’s competitive media job market, it is more important than ever that applicants have real on-the-job experience. More and more, internships are becoming the deciding factor in hiring choices for many organizations, particularly in the field of journalism. The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism offers a unique paid summer internship program that is designed to meet this need.
All students participate in a three-credit internship at a real-world media outlet during the summer between the second and third semesters. The program is run by the Director of Career Services under the supervision of the Dean.
Students intern for 8 to 10 weeks at a variety of media outlets around New York City, or elsewhere if they desire. Possibilities include online media, community newspapers, major dailies, consumer magazines, trade publications, newsletters, cable TV stations (including CUNY-TV), radio and TV broadcast stations, and broadcast networks. Some of these organizations pay interns; others do not. We provide a stipend to participating students with unpaid internships, to keep everyone on an even footing. Either way, students can expect to receive a minimum of $3,000 for their summer internship.
The news outlets supervise the interns under guidelines established by the graduate program. The interns also meet for regular evening group discussions with the Director of Career Services and journalism guest speakers. Progress is monitored, and the interns must submit two reports on their experiences — one midway through the summer, the other at the end. We also ask employers for an evaluation. The goal is to provide an appropriate educational/work experience for all students.
