Internships, News Assistants and Fellowships

At WETA, we have three different pathways into public broadcasting.

Participants in our programs will gain educational and practical experiences in the field of public broadcasting and news journalism. We currently have three programs designed for college students and recent graduates. Each provides a unique perspective into the world of public media.

WETA Logo

Internships

WETA’s internship program is offered year round and designed to provide students and recent graduates with an educational and practical experience in the workforce, specifically the field of public broadcasting. Intern schedules may range from full time to part time. Various departments offer internship opportunities at WETA ranging from Communications to TV Broadcasting, from Corporate Marketing to National Outreach.

Interns may also participate in events outside of their daily tasks, such as tours of other public broadcasting facilities, learning sessions with managers and opportunities to sit in on live broadcasts.

Internship sessions follow the below schedule:

  • Spring Session: January – April
    Application deadline: November 15th
  • Summer Session: May – August
    Application deadline: March 31st
  • Fall Session: September – December
    Application deadline: July 31st

Application deadlines are firm unless otherwise noted. All applications received before the deadline are considered for the upcoming session only.

Applicants are contacted only if selected for an interview.

To be eligible, interns must be currently enrolled in a college or university or have graduated within 12 months from the beginning of the internship. Interns may receive academic credit for their internship if approved and arranged by their educational institution.

All WETA internships are paid at $12/hr. Students are responsible for their own housing arrangements and transportation. WETA offers free parking.

Internships are currently available in the following departments:

  • Intern, Digital Media: Local History

    Local History interns work within WETA’s Digital Media team to develop content for the Boundary Stones local history website (<a href="https://boundarystones.weta.org">https://boundarystones.weta.org</a&gt;). This website includes articles, photos and video related to the history of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia and the notable events, personalities and happenings that have shaped WETA’s local community. Interns will assist in identifying, researching and writing content pieces for the website; social media promotion for the website; and making contacts with local history organizations and professionals. Interns may be required to make research trips to local libraries, archives and historical societies.

  • Intern, Outreach and Community Engagement

    Interns in the Outreach and Community Engagement department provide support that may include writing, event management, marketing, data compilation, web research and educational development. Interns will collaborate with team members, and in some cases, manage outreach projects from conceptualization to implementation. Projects may include WETA PBS Kids virtual and/or in-person children’s events and education camps; virtual and/or in person screening events for WETA and PBS productions; and the WETA PBS Kids Writers Contest.

  • Intern, Student Reporting Labs

    Interns will help Student Reporting Labs produce, edit, and distribute video content through digital platforms and manage sensitive internal documents related to students, teachers, and media partners.Interns will also help Student Reporting Labs write and produce social media content, short videos, photos, or graphics, as needed. Interns will provide production and administrative support on special projects.

  • Intern, Television Broadcasting

    Interns in WETA’s Television Broadcasting department assist producers and associate producers on production of WETA Arts, WETA Around Town, and other local documentary programming. Interns have the opportunity to gain a wide range of hands-on television production experience, and their responsibilities include acquiring b-roll, writing scripts, conducting story research, providing production assistance during shoots, and creating and organizing legal and production deliverables.

PBS NewsHour Logo

News Assistants

The News Assistant position is a paid, entry-level program designed for recent graduates and aimed at providing practical experience in a broadcast and digital news setting at PBS NewsHour. Each position is 1-year and is full time (40+ hours/week). The application period is approximately February - April.

You will have the opportunity to participate in many aspects of producing a nightly television news program in our News Assistant position. You will rotate through some, or all, of the following areas: field shoots, research, logging, newsdesk, online.

Gwen Ifill

Fellowships

Gwen Ifill Washington Week Fellowship

The Gwen Ifill Washington Week Fellowship is named after the late Gwen Ifill who served as Moderator and Managing Editor of Washington Week from 1999 until her death in November 2016.  The Fellowship provides college graduates hands-on, real-world experience working on a news analysis program. The fellowship is a 6 month, full-time position and includes a three thousand dollar ($3,000) per month stipend (less applicable taxes and withholdings). Washington Week is PBS’s longest running news analysis program and is broadcast nationally. Fellowship terms typically run from January-June and July-December. The application period is approximately October for the January session, and May for the June session. 

The Gwen Ifill/PBS NewsHour Journalism Fellowship

The Gwen Ifill/PBS NewsHour Journalism Fellowship was created with funding from the Washington Press Club Foundation in honor of Gwen Ifill, the award-winning former PBS NewsHour co-anchor and managing editor. The fellowship is a 10-week, 40+ hour per week position that pays $15/hr. Current undergraduate and graduate students in good standing with their college/university and enrolled as of January 1 are eligible to apply. Applications will be accepted spring each year.