WUSF News Intern (Administrative Clerk)

University of South Florida•Tampa, FL

43d•Onsite

About The Position

WUSF Public Media is looking for several college students ready to work in a professional newsroom during the Spring 2026 semester. We're looking for people with a passion for the headlines and for bringing news to the public radio audience. Our interns work closely with the WUSF News team of seasoned reporters, learning how to research, write, and produce stories for radio and online platforms. It's a semester where students are treated like real journalists from the start, assigned stories that matter to millions of Tampa Bay area residents. It's where they will discover how public media tries to serve its audience differently from commercial news organizations. And WUSF News interns will get a well-rounded dose of what it takes to succeed as a journalist - from deducing what stories to pursue, to gathering sound and writing stories that sing. WUSF News Internships are considered mentorships, working with the news staff of WUSF Public Media. The scholarship duration is one semester and will begin shortly after the start of the semester. WUSF News interns are paid for their work. During the spring semester, these are one and two-day-a-week day a week opportunities. Every shift is eight hours long. The applicant must be a student who is interested in journalism and in learning more about researching, writing, and producing news for radio and digital platforms. The applicant should be a good writer, able to take constructive criticism during the editing process, and have some knowledge of public media's unique reporting style and programming. WUSF is seeking several interns for the spring semester. Please indicate in your cover letter which semester AND which position(s) you are interested in and why. Spring internships (up to five) include: WUSF Rush Family Radio News Internship (two interns) - The Radio News internship is two days a week. Position will include researching assignments, conducting interviews, writing, producing, and voicing daily and in-depth news radio stories, and writing a digital report. WUSF-USF Zimmerman Rush Family Radio News Internship (two interns) - The Zimmerman internship is one day a week. Position will include researching assignments, conducting interviews, writing, and producing daily audio and digital stories. Students must be enrolled in the USF Zimmerman School. WUSF Stephen Noble Digital News Internship (one intern) - The Digital News internship is one to two days a week (one must be Friday). Position will include producing visual and audio material for WUSF social media sites, as well as reporting radio and digital stories that will drive web audience, and pulling stories from the weekly Florida Roundup live call-in show. All internships may also include pulling stories from the daily Florida Matters Live and Local show. Dates of Internship: January 5, 2026, to May 7, 2026. Orientation will take place at the start of the semester. Average Number of Hours Per Week: 8 - 16 hours per week. Schedule: 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. one or two days a week (Monday-Friday). No partial day shifts are available. Contact Information for Questions about Recruitment: Mark Schreiner at [email protected] Working at USF With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts. About USF The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu. Compliance and Federal Notices This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check. Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process. Equal Employment Opportunity The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract. WUSF public media is a leading source of news, information, and cultural enrichment for West Central Florida. We reach over one million people monthly through our NPR news station WUSF 89.7, Classical WSMR 89.1 & 103.9, and an extensive digital presence including live streaming, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. As a department of the University of South Florida, we have a dedicated team of 80 professionals and an annual budget of $10 million. We are deeply committed to building community through trusted journalism, classical music and culture that reflects the world around us. Our professional staff works closely with talented student interns. Our main studios are on the USF Tampa campus, with additional broadcast and production facilities on the USFSM and USFSP campuses. Minimum: These positions require a high school diploma, or equivalent, with one year of general office experience. Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.

Requirements

The applicant must be a student who is interested in journalism and in learning more about researching, writing, and producing news for radio and digital platforms.
The applicant should be a good writer, able to take constructive criticism during the editing process, and have some knowledge of public media's unique reporting style and programming.
These positions require a high school diploma, or equivalent, with one year of general office experience.
Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.

Nice To Haves

The ideal candidate will be an active consumer of local and national news (including NPR) and should have knowledge of or have taken courses related to journalism, communications, and/or public broadcasting.
Experience reporting and writing for other publications, including student newspapers and stations, is a plus.
The student must have a working vehicle and a current driver's license class E.

Responsibilities

Researching stories
Conducting interviews by phone
Gathering sound for stories remotely and in the field
Writing copy for stories
Assisting reporters as needed
Producing news spots and in-depth pieces as assigned (based on knowledge and skill development)

Benefits

first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts

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