Job Description

Come join us! We’re looking for education journalism interns for our Chicago, New York City, Indianapolis, Detroit, and National bureaus and our data desk. 

Are you a motivated undergraduate or graduate student interested in telling stories about education in America? Come intern with us at Chalkbeat, where you’ll spend 10 paid weeks covering the effort to improve U.S. schools for all children, especially for students who have historically lacked access to a quality education. 

As a reporting intern, you will:

• Work a hands-on 40-hour week alongside some of the nation’s top education journalists. You’ll choose which 10 weeks you’ll work based on your college schedule.
• Reporting interns write daily stories on deadline, with editing from top-notch story editors. 
• Hone your writing and interview skills.
• Incorporate data journalism, polls, and social engagement.

As a data intern, you will:

• Build out custom graphics for reporters in D3 and Datawrapper.
• Perform reporting and analysis tasks for stories, such as geospatial merges, joining tables, and producing aggregate numbers.
• Contribute to at least one large-format enterprise storytelling project.
• Learn to think about data in an empathetic, community-first team environment.

All interns will:

• Attend weekly skills-building sessions.
• Become an integral part of a dynamic, diverse newsroom. 
• Receive a cell phone stipend, two vacation days, and financial assistance for housing and relocation if needed.

 

What kind of stories will I tell?

You’ll mostly work on daily news. Here are some of the stories and data visualization our 2021 interns produced. 

• Pooja Salhotra, NYC bureau: 
  • She got into one of NYC’s top high schools. Four years later, she wishes she hadn’t.
  • More than 10,000 NYC students are classified as ‘emotionally disturbed.’ Some are out to change that label.
• Carson TerBush, Indiana bureau:
  • Tutoring, tech support, therapy: How parents want IPS to spend millions in COVID aid
  • One Indianapolis district’s bilingual classrooms attempt to address learning gaps for Hispanic students
• Maia Spoto, Chicago bureau:
  • ‘It’s finally here’: Are colleges prepared to receive a first-year cohort shaped by COVID-19?
  • Citing student trauma from violence and pandemic, Chicago educators call for school budget redo
• Neena Hagen, Philadelphia bureau: 
  • Asbestos troubles at Masterman raise safety concerns about some other Philadelphia schools as first day looms 
  • Damaged asbestos, peeling lead paint, and mold still in some Philadelphia schools, says  teachers union
• Annie Fu, data intern:
  • Adequate ventilation can curb the spread of COVID. Here’s what we know about ventilation inside NYC schools.
  • Colorado schools are getting more money. Bigger changes could be on the way.

FAQ:

What skills do I need to have?

• Journalism is your calling. You love tracking down information, synthesizing it, and sharing it with readers.
• You’re interested in social issues, public policy, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• You’re eager for feedback and enjoy collaborating. 
• You’re flexible, creative, energetic, thoughtful, and tenacious. 
• You know how to report accurately, convey information clearly and concisely, and meet your deadlines.  

What education and prior experience do I need to have?

• The internship is open to current college undergraduate and grad students or students who have just graduated from either.
• We do require some high school, college, freelance, or professional journalism experience. You need to submit three clips or data work that demonstrates your skills. 
• You do not have to be a journalism major.
• A demonstrable interest in public education and DEI.

Will the internship be onsite or remote?

As of now we are planning in-person internships except for the data intern, who can be based anywhere. If COVID spikes, we will pivot to remote. We will make that decision in April, keeping safety top of mind. 

I’m not a U.S. citizen. Can I still apply?

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and must complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Do I need to have a car? What about a laptop?

    The NYC and National interns (National is based in our NYC office) will use public transportation. For the other bureaus, having a car is helpful but not required.

    If you do not have a laptop we will provide one.

What does it pay? 

Our pay rates are based on the cost of living in each city. The hourly rates are:

• National: $20 
• NYC: $20 
• Chicago: $19
• Detroit: $15
• Indiana: $15
• Data: $15-20 dependent upon location

Interns  also receive a onetime $100 cell phone reimbursement. 

When will I know if I got it?

We will begin interviewing finalists in January 2022 and will let everyone know by February 4, 2022. 

I have more questions. Whom do I ask?

Happy to answer them! Email Emiliana Sandoval at esandoval@chalkbeat.org.

About Chalkbeat:

Chalkbeat is the nonprofit news organization committed to covering one of America’s most important stories: the effort to improve schools for all children, especially those who have historically lacked access to quality education. We are mission-driven journalists who believe that an independent local press is vital to ensuring that education improves. Currently in eight locations and growing, we seek to provide deep local coverage of education policy and practice that informs decisions and actions, leading to better schools. Read more about our mission and values. We are committed to a diverse newsroom. Read our antiracism statement.

 

Chalkbeat is dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. Chalkbeat encourages people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses to apply.

 

How to Apply

How do I apply? What’s the deadline?

To complete our 2022 Internship application, please click here.   The deadline is Dec. 6, 2021.

Bureaus: Chicago, Detroit, Indiana, and New York. Job Categories: Internship. Job Types: Reporter or Editor.