Weekend Edition & Science Desk Internship - Fall 2026

NPR • Washington, DC

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide. Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

This internship will be divided into two phases: first at Weekend Edition, NPR’s weekend morning newsmagazine, and then at the Science Desk.

From October through January, the intern will be at Weekend Edition, where they will learn how to pitch and produce news stories for a weekend audience, dive into feature interview production, and take the lead in producing the signature Sunday Puzzle segment with Will Shortz. The intern will work directly with hosts Scott Simon and Ayesha Rascoe, alongside our talented and collegial staff of producers and editors.

From January through April, the intern will join the Science Desk, where they will report and produce digital stories for the desk’s three sections: domestic health, global health and development and general science. The intern would be expected to pitch ideas jumping off of news developments, take assignments from desk editors, and assist NPR correspondents in reporting stories. They’d be expected to assess scientific papers to determine newsworthiness. The intern would then produce those stories for NPR’s website in a timely fashion.

All work performed by the intern is to be done under the close supervision of NPR producers, editors, reporters and hosts.

This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff is defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR's content, including events.

Requirements

• Journalism/news reporting or editing experience
• Excellent research skills and an eye for a new angle/perspective on major news stories
• The ability to find the right expert or first-person voice to illustrate a complicated news topic
• Ability to own a task from concept to completion
• Must be a current student in an accredited degree program or a recent graduate of no more than 12 months from the month of the start of the internship.

Nice To Haves

• audio production experience

Responsibilities

• Pitch ideas for host interviews on news and feature topics
• Pre-interview and book guests
• Write host copy and interview questions
• Produce live and pre-recorded host interviews, including managing recordings and editing audio
• Write digital interview highlights and stories
• Pitch story ideas
• Report and produce stories on general science, domestic health and global health
• Assess science papers and other research developments for newsworthiness
• Collaborate with NPR Science desk reporters and editors
• Work on a “capstone” project consisting of an originally reported feature

Benefits

• 403(b) retirement plan
• Transit Commuter benefits
• Membership with Signal Financial Federal Credit Union
• Free access to on-site Wellness Center (at DC Headquarters)
• Free fitness center membership (at DC Headquarters)
• Secure bike facilities (at DC Headquarters)
• Garage parking (at DC Headquarters)
• Onsite cafeteria (at DC Headquarters)
• Employee Assistance Program with up to six face-to-face counseling sessions per issue
• Global Guardian worldwide assistance
• Business Travel Accident coverage
• Holiday pay for 10 observed holidays plus one floating holiday per year (for interns working 30+ hours/week)
• Accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave each pay period with no waiting period (for interns working 30+ hours/week)
• Professional development opportunities
• Flexible work hours
• Telecommuting options

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Associate degree