OVERVIEW
Interested in working with some of the best journalists around? We offer 10 weeks of intensive, hands-on experience in a region where big stories are the norm. We place interns throughout the Los Angeles Times: Metro/Local, Entertainment and Arts, Sports, Politics, Business, Features/Lifestyle (Fashion, Food, Travel, Home Design, Plants), Foreign/National, Editorial Pages/Op-Ed, De Los, Fast Break, Multiplatform Editing, Photography, Video, Data and Graphics, Design, Audience Engagement and in our Washington, D.C., and Sacramento bureaus. (One of our multiplatform editing interns comes through the Dow Jones News Fund’s national selection process, and that deadline is Nov. 16.) These are paid internships and placements usually run from June to late August. We are also again offering spring internships for Southern California students. We do not have a fall internship program.
The application for the 2024 Spring or Summer Internship Programs is now open. The deadline to apply is Nov. 15.
Click here to apply or scroll down for links to the individual applications.
Applicants for Spring 2024 will receive an email notification of the committee’s decision by Jan. 1, 2024. Applicants for Summer 2024 will receive a decision by April 1, 2024.
2023 Class of Summer Interns
Meet our Class of 2023 summer interns
Previous cohorts:
FAQs
Who is eligible to apply for summer internships?
Applicants must be actively working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree and must be eligible to work in the United States. Graduates may qualify if you’ve finished school within six months of the start of the internship. Internships are for students who have not worked professionally as staff journalists.
Do I need a car?
Applicants for the visual journalism and reporting internships must have a valid driver’s license and access to a car in good working condition.
When will the internship start?
Summer interns start from June to late August. Spring interns begin between January and March. We have rolling start dates to accommodate students’ schedules. We do not offer a fall internship program.
How long is the internship?
The summer internship is 10 weeks. The spring internship is more flexible to accommodate students’ schedules. The entire internship is a total of 400 hours, which is equal to a 10-week internship at 40 hours a week or a 20-week internship at 20 hours a week.
Is the internship paid?
Yes. In 2023, the rate was $17.50 an hour or $700 a week for the full-time summer internship. Spring internships are at the same hourly rate but the weekly hours may vary.
When will The Times open applications for summer interns?
Applications is now open and are due by Nov. 15, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PST. This is a hard cut-off.
How many interns are selected each year?
The Times typically selects 14 interns each summer. The spring class typically has five interns.
Where do the interns work?
Most of our interns work out of the El Segundo, Calif., headquarters. We also welcome an intern in our Washington, D.C., bureau and, on occasion, in Sacramento.
Does the internship cover moving costs?
No, students are paid $17.50 an hour or $700 a week to help defray costs.
What kind of experience should summer interns expect?
Summer interns will have the opportunity to perform the work of full-time journalists. A basic understanding of the work is required as interns are expected to hit the ground running. With training from our staff, we will help develop, polish and elevate your work and add to your journalistic toolbox. Previous internship experience is recommended.
Reporting interns will work with their editors to come up with story ideas, map out a plan to execute them and receive regular feedback. Interns with our Data and Graphics department will work on projects with that team and other newsroom staffers. Photo and video interns will have assignments in the field on their own and alongside our visual journalists. The multiplatform editing intern works on either our news or features copy desks. Our design intern also is assigned to either news or features. Our digital/engagement intern works with either our News Desk team, which manages the home page, or with our audience engagement team.
How will the pandemic affect the internship program?
The staff of the Los Angeles Times is currently working remotely. For the Summer Class of 2023, interns in the following departments were required to work in L.A.: Metro, Sports, Fast Break Desk, Photo and Video. The Washington, D.C., and Sacramento interns also moved to their respective cities. Class of 2023 interns were able to work out of the El Segundo newsroom and our bureaus.
What’s the difference between a cover letter and personal statement?
The cover letter is traditionally the place for applicants to make their case about why they are the best person for this internship. This is also an opportunity to show your knowledge of and enthusiasm for the Los Angeles Times.
The personal essay is an exercise that shows off the applicant’s writing chops. The best personal essays tend to circle back to the journalism, but not always. Some include challenges, personal moments that showed why the applicant is committed to journalism or even a deep dive into the applicant’s background. Others have taken a creative approach and even wrote poetry. There is no prompt.
How do I make my application stand out?
There is no one thing that makes an application stand out. In general, The Times looks at experience, skill set and the work samples themselves when selecting interns.
The more successful reporting applicants had clips that show their range in breaking news, feature writing, enterprise, game stories, explanatory reporting, narrative, etc. Experience is valued. If you have a particular interest or niche such as sports, please make that clear in your cover letter.
For visual journalism and design interns, The Times is also looking for variety in your portfolio. We don’t expect our Data and Graphics interns to walk in the door with knowledge of every programming language, but strong applicants will demonstrate having used computers to be creative and get things done on deadline. And our digital/engagement interns should have an understanding of metrics, various social media and other platforms, online publishing and an eagerness to learn more.
Can I apply for more than one department?
Yes, you can submit your applications to whichever departments fit your skill set.
Do you offer spring internship in the departments outside of reporting?
No, at this time we are only offering spring internships for reporters.
Can I freelance or work at another professional publication during my internship?
No, The Times has strict guidelines on outside work and interns are held to the same standards. For the short time that interns are with The Times, they are expected to be focused on building connections and getting the most out of their internship.
Can foreign students apply?
These are paid internships, so applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. Many studying here are eligible through their student visas or secure an OPT visa upon graduation. It is up to the selected intern to supply this documentation.
When will applicants be notified of a decision?
All applicants will receive an email notification of the committee’s decision by April 1, 2024.
For further information, contact Assistant Managing Editor Angel Jennings at careers@latimes.com.
SPRING REPORTING INTERNSHIPS
2024 L.A. Times Spring Reporting Internships
In 2021, the Los Angeles Times welcomed its inaugural class of spring interns. We are excited to continue this program aimed at training and preparing local students for fruitful careers in journalism.
This spring internship is structured to allow students the flexibility to gain experience while continuing their education. The internship can be either part-time or full-time depending on the student’s schedule. Interns can start between January and March. Last spring, interns were paid $17.50 an hour. The entire internship is a total of 400 hours, which is equal to a 10-week internship at 40 hours a week or a 20-week internship at 20 hours a week.
QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be students who attend or recently graduated from a Southern California college or university and live locally. They must be actively working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree and must be eligible to work in the U.S. Graduates may qualify if you’ve finished school within six months of the start of the internship. Applicants for the reporting positions must have a valid driver’s license and access to a car in good working condition. (A car is not required for the Editorial Pages.) Internships are for students who have not worked professionally as staff journalists.
The deadline is Nov. 15. All applicants will be notified of a decision by Jan. 1, 2023. Read more about our Class of 2022 Spring Interns.
Summer Reporting Internships (Los Angeles/Sacramento, Washington, D.C.)
2024 L.A. Times Summer Reporting Internships (Los Angeles/Sacramento)
2024 L.A. Times Summer Political Reporting Internship (Washington, D.C.)
We place reporting interns throughout the L.A. Times: Metro/Local, Arts and Entertainment, Sports, Business, Editorial Pages/Op-Ed, Foreign/National, Features (Fashion, Food, Travel, Home Design, Plants), De Los, Fast Break and in our Washington, D.C., and Sacramento bureaus. A vehicle is not required for the Editorial Pages/Op-Ed or D.C. internships.
Submit a brief cover letter; resume with three references; one-page personal essay; and up to six work samples.
Deadline
The application is now open and the deadline to apply is Nov. 15. All applicants will receive an email notification of the committee’s decision by April 1, 2024.
Summer Visual Journalism Internships (Photo and Video)
2024 L.A. Times Summer Visual Journalism Internships
Submit a brief cover letter; resume with three references; one-page personal essay; and links to a portfolio with three complete photo stories or multimedia stories and a selection of single images. Applicants should have their own camera equipment; a limited amount of pool gear is available.
A deep understanding of the work is required as interns are expected to hit the ground running when they arrive. This is an advanced program, and one or two previous internships are strongly recommended. With training from our staff, we will help develop, polish and elevate your work and add to your journalistic toolbox.
Deadline
The deadline to apply for is Nov. 15. All applicants will receive an email notification of the committee’s decision by April 1, 2024.
Summer Digital/Engagement Internship
2024 L.A. Times Summer Digital/Engagement Internship
Submissions will be accepted for paid internships in audience engagement, digital editing and production. These are not reporting positions. Web internships do not require a car. Submit a brief cover letter; resume with three references; one-page personal essay; and links to any online work.
Deadline
The application opens on Sept. 1 and the deadline to apply for the Summer 2024 Internship Program is Nov. 15. All applicants will receive an email notification of the committee’s decision by April 1, 2024.
Summer Design Internship
2024 L.A. Times Summer Design Internship
Submissions will be accepted for internships working alongside some of the best designers and art directors in the business. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong visual sense for design outside the classroom and have newsroom deadline experience. We’re looking for interns to work in multiple areas of our expansive editorial operation, including News, Features, Sports and Business. Design internships do not require a car.
Submit a brief cover letter; resume with three references; one-page personal essay; and links to a portfolio or up to 10 work samples.
Deadline
The application opens on Sept. 1 and the deadline to apply for the Summer 2024 Internship Program is Nov. 15. All applicants will receive an email notification of the committee’s decision by April 1, 2024.
Summer Data and Graphics Department Internship
2024 Summer Data and Graphics Department Internship
The Los Angeles Times is seeking a summer intern to join its Data and Graphics Department. The intern will partner with reporters and editors across the newsroom to inform and engage our readers.
This paid job will provide experience working with professional reporters and computer programmers as they report the news. The intern will join a newsroom team that works to collect, organize, analyze and present structured data. Its journalism has attracted millions of readers, sparked sweeping government reforms and helped win some of our industry’s highest awards.
Past interns have built searchable databases, invented newsroom tools, released open-source libraries, visualized data and developed maps. They have gone on to jobs at the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Associated Press, ProPublica, Vox Media and Politico.
We don’t expect our interns to walk in the door with knowledge of every programming language. But strong applicants will demonstrate having used computers to be creative and get things done on deadline.
Interested in applying? Send us your resume and three references, along with links to the things you’ve made that you’re most proud of. Include a cover letter explaining how you helped make them.
Deadline
The application opens on Sept. 1 ande the deadline to apply for the Summer 2024 Internship Program is Nov. 15. All applicants will receive an email notification of the committee’s decision by April 1, 2024.
Community Engagement Internship
2024 Community Engagement Internship
The Los Angeles Times is looking for an intern to help the community engagement editor communicate and interact with our audience. The community engagement intern will help bring the journalism and the journalists of The Times from the pages of the newspaper into the communities we serve by helping to organize virtual discussions, host events, curate experiences and engage in outreach with community stakeholders, readers and critics.
This intern’s focus will not be on reporting or writing for a section but instead to be part of an exciting effort to find innovative ways of connecting with readers. At the end of the internship, this intern will have a portfolio of creative events and tested initiatives to bring journalism to underserved communities. If you’re interested in being considered for the community engagement internship, please apply.
The community engagement internship is for college students and recent graduates living in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Graduates may qualify if you’ve finished school within six months of the start of the internship. The intern must have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle in good working condition, with suitable auto insurance coverage. Occasional night and weekend work is expected.
The deadline to apply for the community engagement internship is Nov. 15. All applicants will receive an email notification of the committee’s decision by April 1, 2024.
2024 Henry Fuhrmann Multiplatform Editing Summer Internship
2024 Henry Fuhrmann Multiplatform Editing Summer Internship
Submissions will be accepted for the copy editing internship created in honor of Henry Fuhrmann, a former assistant managing editor at the Los Angeles Times and a longtime volunteer for the Asian American Journalists Assn. The internship is jointly funded by The Times and the Los Angeles chapter of AAJA. The copy editing internship does not require a car. Submit a brief cover letter; resume with three references; a school transcript (unofficial is acceptable); one-page personal essay; and links to any online work.
Applicants must be actively working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree and must be eligible to work in the United States. Graduates may qualify if you’ve finished school within six months of the start of the internship. Internships are for students who have not worked professionally as staff journalists.
The deadline to apply for the multi-platform editing internship is Nov. 15. All applicants will receive an email notification of the committee’s decision by April 1, 2024.
OTHER PROGRAMS
Since 1984, the Los Angeles Times has helped budding journalists launch careers and boost diversity in newsrooms through its innovative Metpro training program. We are proud to continue the tradition, now for the 40th year.
The Los Angeles Times Fellowship is carrying on that spirit and doing the important work of finding, training and cultivating tomorrow’s diverse news journalists.
Criteria
The Los Angeles Times is seeking high-potential, highly motivated aspiring journalists from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. The program’s main thrust is to provide participants – recent college graduates or journalists with limited professional experience – the training and support necessary to put them on a fast track to success.
This is not an internship but a formal fellowship customized to help fellows realize their career goals. The paid, full-time position lasts a year and its members are part of the Los Angeles Times Guild. We accept applications from those with up to three years of experience in a professional newsroom or up to five years in media settings such as weeklies and community newsrooms, websites, fellowships or freelance work. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.
The application opens Nov. 1, 2023. The deadline to apply for the Class of 2024-25 is Feb. 1, 2024.