Police accountability summer intern

USA TODAY Co. • Rochester, NY

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The full-time intern will work with USA TODAY Network-New York reporters and independently to examine police accountability issues, including related to the USA TODAY Network's New York state police disciplinary database and the records contained therein. This intern will help update the database, including tagging documents received from local police departments. The intern will identify stories from these records to report and write this summer, highlighting challenges police departments face in ensuring front-line officers follow policies and the law. The intern will conduct interviews with community members, law enforcement personnel and experts, review data and create social media posts, written stories and occasionally photos or video. Internship supervisors offer mentoring, networking and real-world experience. As part of our news team, you will work on meaningful and impactful coverage, as part of a larger team of USA TODAY Network New York State Team colleagues.

Requirements

• Degree-seeking student currently enrolled at a college or university.
• Familiarity with and/or willingness to learn how to file FOIL requests.
• Well organized, detail oriented, adaptable and flexible
• Ability to multi-task and work well in a team environment
• Excellent organizational, analytical and oral and written communication skills
• Technical skills required for multiple aspects of the role
• Strong Office and PC skills.

Nice To Haves

• Previous internship experience is a plus
• Strong writing skills and a command of grammar and style.
• Experience with social media and video platforms, like Instagram Stories, Reels, and TikTok, as tools to build audience and as a source for beat development.
• A self-starter who works collaboratively with others locally and regionally to meet common goals.
• A journalist committed to values of fairness, diversity, inclusion and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Research, report, write and help create compelling text and multimedia journalism related to police disciplinary records and the issues these document highlight
• Help update the New York state police disciplinary database, including reviewing and tagging newly received records from local police departments
• Filing Freedom of Information Law requests, and proactively following up with agencies about them
• Make it a mission to inform and engage readers through immediacy, insightful reporting and riveting storytelling.
• Work with coach, content creators, visual journalist and producers to shape storytelling to meet audience needs and interests on every platform.
• Connect with the audience through social media.
• Shadow reporters and learn digital and video skills.
• Learn how headlines, SEO, social posts and effective mobile writing techniques help extend the reach of content.
• Collaborate with visual journalists and producers to provide all the appropriate elements for stories (i.e. photos, videos and graphics).
• Capture basic photos and video as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed