Virginian-Pilot accepting January 2023 newsroom internship applications

The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press are now seeking students or recent graduates for a paid newsroom internship to begin in January 2023.

Our internships are for 12 weeks and we are looking for reporters, audience editors and photographers/videographers.

Interns are expected to be located in the Norfolk, Virginia, region during the duration of the internship and must be able to drive to assignments. Our newsroom works in a hybrid environment, so staff can either work from home or in our office space.

The deadline to apply is October 14. See below for details about how to apply.

If you have questions about our internship program, contact Sean Kennedy, internship director, at sean.kennedy@pilotonline.com. No question is stupid.

More information about our internship program can be found at pilotonline.com/internships.

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About the internship roles

Reporting: Produce a regular and compelling mix of stories, including news and features. Applicants should be adept at reporting, use of social media and video reporting. Must be able to write accurately and meet deadlines. Must be able to travel for news coverage as required. Applicants must have a car. We reimburse mileage. Interns will collaborate with editors and other team members on stories and brainstorming.

Photography/videography: Photojournalism interns will cover one or more assignments a day and should be able to capture compelling images that tell a story with accuracy and authenticity, including complete and accurate captions. Interns will need a basic knowledge of Photoshop and must be able to travel for news coverage as required. Applicants must have a car. We reimburse mileage.

Audience engagement: Connect with our audiences using social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Work with reporters and editors to break down complex stories and create engagement plans. Use news judgment to manage our homepages and send alerts. Write newsletters. Use analytics platforms to create benchmarks of success. Experiment with new ways of reaching audiences.

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What we pay and other details

•Interns are paid $15 an hour and will work 38 hours a week.

•The internship is 12 weeks; the start and end dates can be flexible.

•Interns must be based in Hampton Roads, or be able to move to the region for the internship.

•Interns cannot freelance or work at other publications during the internship, unless given clearance by a supervisor.

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Education/experience

Required qualifications: Must be enrolled at time of application in a degree-granting program at an accredited college or university, or be a recent graduate within the past year.

Preferred qualifications:

•Students enrolled in a journalism concentration.

•Experience working at a college publication, either print or online.

•A previous internship or freelance experience at a daily newspaper or professional news website.

•If you’re wondering whether you have enough experience to apply, you should apply. The internship is generally aimed at juniors, seniors and graduate students. But our selection committee is open to considering anyone who meets the minimum qualifications.

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How to apply

Apply by emailing internships@pilotonline.com. When applying, please indicate in the subject line which position(s) you’re interested in, and that you’re interested in the January 2023 internship.

Submit a cover letter, resume and the names of three references.

Reporting candidates: Please include PDF copies of 5 published work samples. You may also add links to your application if you have online-only samples.

Photographer/videographers: Include in your application a link to your website or samples of your work. You may upload videos or include public links in your application. Zip files with images and captions are acceptable.

Audience candidates may also attach work samples in applications.

Feel free to include any good work you’ve done, even if it doesn’t fit the “traditional mold.”

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About the newsroom

We’re the largest newspaper in Virginia, and our newsroom features award-winning journalists eager to help you learn. Our coverage area includes many cities, miles of beaches, the world’s largest Navy base and more.

Our interns are paid, and treated as regular newsroom staff members, learning on the job and helping to produce Virginia’s best news coverage.

You will be assigned an editor and will participate in team meetings and may join training sessions on topical subjects. Sessions in 2022 included a narrative writing workshop, SEO training, data reporting and more.