Summer intern, NEWSWELL Chicago

NEWSWELL at Arizona State University

38d

About The Position

NEWSWELL Chicago — the new home of four iconic West Side Chicago publications — is looking for bold, curious student journalists to join our summer internship program. The network includes the Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, Forest Park Review and the Riverside–Brookfield Landmark. These four publications have deep roots and big energy, covering some of the most creative, culturally rich, future‑shaping neighborhoods on Chicago’s West Side and near‑west suburbs. This paid internship puts you right in the middle of real, community‑driven reporting. You’ll get hands‑on experience with stories that matter: neighborhood issues, politics, arts and culture, sports, features and enterprise reporting. You’ll work with veteran editors who provide one‑on‑one coaching, smart edits and thoughtful mentorship. You’ll attend workshops conducted by award-winning editors. In February 2026, NEWSWELL acquired the assets of Growing Community Media, the former publisher of the four Chicago-area titles, to ensure these historic community outlets have long‑term stability and the resources they need to thrive. If you’re ready to learn, hustle, create and make a real impact in communities full of personality, complexity and possibility, this internship is for you. 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 12-week, 20-hour per week internship that begins in May and ends in August.

Requirements

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proper grammar, spelling and punctuation
Strong news writing and editing skills, with familiarity in Associated Press style
Understanding of basic journalism concepts, including libel law and news judgment
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Proven professionalism, dependability and punctuality
Knowledge of journalism tools such as WordPress, Photoshop and popular social media platforms
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle responsibility
Strong attention to detail and accuracy
Candidates must meet one of the following conditions: A degree-seeking student currently enrolled in a journalism or communications-related program at a college or university who has completed at least one year of study A degree-seeking graduate student enrolled in a journalism or communications-related program A recent graduate from a journalism or communications-related program at a college or university

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 residents 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