INTERNSHIPS AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Newsroom Internship Program

Project

Newsroom Internships

The PNA Foundation’s Newsroom Internship Program, a key initiative of the Center for Journalism Excellence, is strengthening the future of local journalism by connecting student journalists with paid, hands-on reporting opportunities in newsrooms across Pennsylvania. Made possible through the support of philanthropic partners and donors, the program builds a strong pipeline of emerging talent while helping news organizations expand their capacity to serve their communities.

Details

Partnering with the Temple University, Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh with funding from The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Calkins Foundation, Allegheny Foundation and private donations, an internship pipeline program matches student journalists in Pennsylvania with newsrooms across the commonwealth for a fully paid summer internship program.

Outcomes

2025

  • The program funded eleven paid internships at a rate of   $20 per hour for up to 12 weeks.
  • Nine newsrooms across the commonwealth participated and paid half of the hourly rate.
  • Post internship surveys and final Newsroom Internship Impact Report has been completed in September of 2025

2026

  • The program has increased the following metrics:
  • 77% in student applications
  • 63% in program funding
  • 44% in newsroom participation
  • 45% in student interns