Summer intern, NEWSWELL Stockton

Newswell•Stockton, CA

25d•Onsite

About The Position

Stocktonia, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to providing rigorous, ethical and accurate coverage of Greater Stockton, California, is seeking an intern eager to grow and develop in its newsroom this summer. This paid internship – which is in-person in Stockton – 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 journalists. 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. Stocktonia launched a digital news site in 2021 in response to the critical lack of reporting on current events in Stockton and San Joaquin County. It offers a variety of reporting experiences, including breaking news and accountability journalism. Stockton, the home of agriculture and shipping ports, government institutions and civic groups, is often noted as one of the most diverse communities in the country. Stocktonia 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 12-week, 40-hour per week internship that begins in May and ends in August. The hourly pay rate for this role is $20.00 per hour. Submission Requirements Please submit a single document file (PDF) that includes the following in this order: Your resume (one to two pages) A cover letter that highlights your strengths and explains why you are a strong candidate for the position Links to three to five online samples of your work, each with a one- to two-sentence description detailing what you did and how you did it Assemble these materials into one PDF and upload as instructed.

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