Staff Writer Intern

Remote / Editorial / Internship, Part-Time (One Semester) / Eligible for Academic Credit

Overview

Are you the friend who reads past the headline, then texts three people to explain what the story actually means? Do you get a small thrill from cold-emailing an expert and landing the interview? Then let’s talk.

We’re looking for a Staff Writer Intern to report and write original, well-sourced stories across our five beats—Access, Business, Tech, Policy and Culture in Motion—and to interview the subject-matter experts who help our readers make sense of it all.

Every SSC story is built on sourcing: primary documents, real data and people on the record. Our voice is clear, conversational and grounded in the culture, but it never comes at the expense of getting it right. The purpose of this role is to grow SSC’s original reporting, so more of what readers find from us is something they can’t get anywhere else.

What You’ll Do

Pitch and write original news stories, explainers and features across Access, Business, Tech, Policy and Culture in Motion
Find, contact and interview subject-matter experts, from executives and researchers to policymakers, founders and community leaders
Source every story with primary documents, data and on-the-record interviews, and attribute clearly
Fact-check your own work and turn around edits quickly
Contribute reporting that feeds the End of Day Closing Note and Five Things That Matter
Write headlines, summaries and social copy that help your stories travel on LinkedIn and Facebook
Build and maintain a source list for your beat

What You’ll Bring

Current enrollment in, or recent graduation from, a program in journalism, communications, English, political science, business or a related field (or equivalent writing experience)
Strong reporting and writing skills, clean copy and a voice people want to keep reading
Comfort reaching out to people you don’t know and running professional interviews by phone, video or email
A firm grasp of sourcing, attribution and journalistic ethics, plus working familiarity with AP style
Two to three writing samples, ideally including at least one reported piece with interviews

The Non-Negotiables

Your own reliable computer and a dependable high-speed internet connection
Responsiveness during agreed working hours, with timely replies to messages and requests
Comfort working in Slack, Basecamp and Airtable, which run our day-to-day communication, projects and production pipeline
A track record of meeting deadlines without reminders
Reliability: you show up when scheduled, follow through on commitments and flag problems early

Bonus Points

A beat you already follow closely
Experience with WordPress or another content management system
Comfort working with data, public records or earnings reports

What’s in It for You

Bylined, published clips across SSC’s website, newsletters and social platforms
Experience building a source network and interviewing experts
Direct mentorship from SSC’s editorial leadership
Academic credit, subject to approval by your college or university; SSC will complete the supervisor agreements, hours logs and evaluations your program requires
A professional reference and recommendation upon successful completion

How to Apply

Send a short note telling us which role you’re applying for and why SSC, along with your resume and work samples: a portfolio or reel for the Digital Media Producer role; two to three writing samples for the Staff Writer role. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Email hello@socialstorytellerscollective.com with the subject Internship Application — [Role Name].

Social Storytellers Collective welcomes applicants of every background and is committed to building a newsroom that reflects the audiences we serve. Learn more on our About SSC page.