2026 Grant Funded Fall Sports Internship, The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA

USA Today•Palm Springs, CA

14d•Onsite

About The Position

The Desert Sun in California’s Coachella Valley is seeking candidates for a fall sports internship position that is focused on writing, video and social media. This internship program seeks to provide valuable experience to students and recent graduates looking to land jobs as journalists. The internship will run from late August into November and is open to college juniors, seniors, recent graduates and graduate students. Over the course of this internship, our intern will work closely with our sports, visuals and features teams to build proficiency in covering prep and professional sports from a video-first perspective that seeks to deepen engagement with younger audiences on social media.

Requirements

Degree-seeking student currently enrolled in a communications or journalism program at a college or university.
Knowledge of sports including football, basketball, tennis and hockey.
Students must have completed one year of college.
Preference given to more advanced students.
Those who have completed undergraduate work, are in graduate programs or recent graduates also are accepted.
Must be able to develop and maintain relationships with public figures within the communities/school districts of coverage.
Solid fact checking and reporting skills.
Well-organized, detail-oriented and flexible.
Open to new ideas, new experiences and learning on the job.
Critical thinking and analytical skills.
Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
Experience performing a wide variety of tasks under the pressure of deadlines.
Ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills required.
This position requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

Nice To Haves

Preference given to more advanced students.

Responsibilities

Produce high-quality multimedia stories through photography, videography, and clear, engaging text that informs, entertains, and inspires our audience.
Shoot, edit, and publish vertical videos designed for platforms such as Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Stories, with a focus on driving audience growth and engagement.
Collaborate with newsroom colleagues on story development, visual strategy, and innovative approaches to audience engagement.
Produce a minimum of five packages a week that are a mix of mediums.
Travel quickly to wherever the news occurs or is being disseminated (must have access to a car or person who can give them a ride when necessary).
Research written materials, graphics and photographic materials, as well as audio and video recordings.