Spring Intern, Stocktonia

Newswell•Stockton, CA

54d•Onsite

About The Position

Stocktonia, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to providing rigorous, ethical and factual coverage of Greater Stockton, California, is seeking candidates to participate in its spring internship program. This paid internship, based in Stockton, will give students the opportunity to cover local news, strengthen multi-media capabilities and strengthen writing skills. The internships can be tailored to the specific student’s skills and interests, and it could include experiences covering breaking news, politics, sports and writing features and enterprise stories. Seasoned editors will mentor and coach interns and provide one-on-one editing. Stocktonia launched in 2021 in response to the critical lack of reporting on current events in Stockton and San Joaquin County. It joined NEWSWELL in 2024. NEWSWELL helps newsrooms become nonprofit and for-community. It provides strategic guidance, innovative solutions and wrap-around operations so local journalists can focus on local news, and newsrooms can best serve their communities. NEWSWELL partners with Arizona State University, the nation’s most innovative 11 years in a row, to offer game-changing ideas, tools and research. NEWSWELL transforms local news to help communities and democracy thrive. This is a 14-week, 16-hour per week internship that begins in January and ends in May. The hourly rate for this role is $20.

Requirements

Candidates must meet one of the following conditions: 1) a degree-seeking student currently enrolled in a journalism or communications-related program at a college or university who has completed the equivalent of at least one year of college. 2) a degree-seeking graduate student enrolled in a journalism or communications-related program at a college or university. 3) a recent graduate from a journalism or communications-related program at a college or university. Preference will be given to more advanced students.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including knowledge and ability to apply proper grammar, spelling and punctuation
Strong news writing and editing skills, including familiarity with Associated Press style
Understanding of basic journalism concepts, including libel law and news judgment
Ability to work independently and also within a team environment
Proven track record of professionalism, dependability and punctuality
Knowledge of basic journalism tools, such as familiarity with WordPress, Photoshop, popular social media platforms, etc.
Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility
Attention to detail and thoroughness in completing assigned duties

Nice To Haves

Spanish fluency is a plus

Responsibilities

Cover community news and events that matter to local audiences
Seek out unique, audience-driven story ideas and build a beat on a relevant topic
Aggregate breaking news from multiple sources and verify accuracy
Edit, crop and size photos for online publication
Create compelling, SEO-friendly headlines
Produce and share engaging multimedia content, including video, audio and social media posts
Meet with local public officials, community leaders and neighbors to build sources and strengthen reader engagement
Analyze public data and contribute to data-driven reporting
Collaborate with editors and reporters to support newsroom operations and editorial planning