Summer Paid Intern - LAist

This is a Part Time Paid Internship

Southern California Public Radio (SCPR) is a member-supported public media network whose mission is to strengthen the civic and cultural bonds that unite Southern California's diverse communities by providing the highest quality news and information service on air at LAist 89.3, online at LAist.com and through LAist Live Programming & Events. Since our founding in 1999, SCPR has been a fast growing, innovative, multi-platform public service newsroom. Every day, our staff helps audiences catch up on the latest headlines, solve the complexities of life in Southern California, and connect curious communities to one another.

Position Summary:

Our internships are opportunities for college students or recent graduates to learn the real-world demands of working in an award-winning public media newsroom. We aim to provide a meaningful experience for the intern and LAist and are seeking interns interested in digital news, radio news production, audience engagement, community engagement, podcasting, live events and data journalism.

We’ll be hiring for a 12-week stint, with an anticipated June 2025 start date. This position will be based in our LAist headquarter in Pasadena, CA.

Your internship could be in one of these key areas, but not limited to:
• Newscast or Shows – Interns in these areas would assist with reporting, research, and production of these programs. They may also contribute to websites. Applicants for the news category should have experience in radio production and include samples of their on-air work.
• Digital – interns in this area can expect to write articles and learn about online audiences via production, headline writing and metrics analytics.
• Community Engagement– interns in this area would support LAist’s engaged journalism approach.
• Podcasts– interns in this area would assist LAist Studios with research and production on podcasts.
• Audience Engagement – interns in this area would support the audience team and create assets for social media such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn and write newsletters.
• Live Programing & Events – interns in this area would support the coordination, implementation, and execution of pan-organizational events and activities at SCPR HQ and off-site in the communities of Southern California.

Application Deadline: March 14, 2025 (5:00pm PT)

Compensation: The pay rate for this opportunity will be $18.66 per hour.

Position Responsibility, depending on role:
• Learn and perform various tasks, including production, reporting, interviewing, writing, recording and cutting tape.
• Assist with research of story ideas/segment concepts.
• Find and pitch ideas for stories/segments.
• Write content for web.
• Conduct pre-interviews for on-air guests and book interviews.
• Assist reporters or producers in deep-dive projects, including data analysis and document review.
• Report and produce stories for newscasts.
• Produce multimedia assets to publish to social media platforms and optimize for platforms.
• Write and produce newsletters for email distribution lists.
• Engage with residents across SoCal while tabling, providing resources, and signing up for newsletters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience
• Current college student or recent graduate (within 12 months).
• Experience in a journalism environment.
• Must be available to work 12 weeks starting in June 2025.

Required Skills
, Knowledge and Abilities, depending on role:
• Strong writing, editing, research and communication skills.
• Ability to manage several different projects at once.
• Ability to manage daily workload efficiently (good time management skills).
• Ability to meet deadlines as assigned.
• Ability to pitch original story ideas.
• Knowledge of AP Style.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and a CMS.
• Familiarity with the fundamentals of broadcasting.

Preferred Skills
and Experience:
• Interest in a journalism career
• Ability to conceive of, pitch, and execute compelling radio and web stories
• Familiarity with the values, sound of public radio
• Some experience working in a broadcast or newsroom environment
• Knowledge of digital editing technologies

Reporting to This Position: N/A

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:
• Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Physical Demands:
• Required to move about in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time
• Required to move about in the community
• Frequent use of hands for data entry/keystrokes and simple grasping
• Working Conditions:
• Moderate noise level

Southern California Public Radio (LAist 89.3/LAist.com/LAist Studios) is diverse in race, ethnicity, language, culture, social class, national origin, religious and political belief, age, ability, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation in addition to other markers protected by law.

At SCPR, we strive to create an inclusive environment where we all feel pride in who we are and what we do. We are encouraged to show up as we are – always embracing and recognizing that our diversity is what brings us together. Our fundamental commitment to diversity:
• Enriches SCPR and provides an atmosphere in which all human potential is valued
• Promotes learning through interactions among people of different backgrounds and many perspectives, and
• Enables the organization to prepare all employees to promote social responsibility, equity, freedom, and productive citizenship in a global society

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage you to apply.