Summer Current Reporter (Student)

American University•Washington, DC

1d•$18 - $25•Remote

About The Position

The Current seeks an advanced undergraduate or graduate student in journalism to research and report on issues affecting public media in the United States. Successful candidates will have strong writing skills; an interest in thinking analytically about media and how it is funded, created, and distributed; and the ability to collaborate on various aspects of news reporting and publishing. The Current is an independent news service covering public media, including NPR, PBS, and stations. We operate a website and publish a quarterly print publication. Our student reporters research, report, and write their own stories with support from Current’s editors and staff reporters. Many have gone on to successful internships and professional jobs at other news organizations.

Requirements

As of fall 2025, a junior, senior, or graduate student with a major in American University's School of Communications and a minimum overall 3.25 GPA.
Graduate students must have completed their first semester of study to be considered for this position.
Analytical, quantitative, and writing skills.
Interest in journalism, public media, the media business, and/or public policy.
Experience reporting for advanced SOC journalism courses.

Nice To Haves

Web publishing skills and familiarity with WordPress are preferred; however, we provide training for these skills as needed.
Experience reporting in-depth stories or analyses for student journalism organizations or for previous editorial internships.
Familiarity with the WordPress content management system.

Responsibilities

Research, report, and write original coverage.
Gather information and multiple perspectives for news reporting through interviews, analysis, reading, observation, and events.
Check facts, spellings, numbers, and assumptions to confirm details of news events.
Produce timely and valuable material for digital coverage and report on developing stories.
Revise work in progress and collaborate with editors in preparing coverage for online publication.
Advise editors on art direction by collecting photos, artwork, and graphics and identifying opportunities for presenting data and multimedia elements.
Work with Current staff on production, planning and discussion.
Develop and pitch story ideas.
Produce social media posts sharing links to Current’s news articles, adhering to Current’s editorial practices.
Collaborate with digital editor and managing editor in responding to reader reactions.