City Desk Intern
About Chicago Public Media
Chicago Public Media is one of the nation’s largest local nonprofit news organizations. Home to WBEZ 91.5FM, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo. Chicago Public Media reaches more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to be the most trusted news source Chicagoans turn to for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping our community.
Chicago Public Media is a 100% community-funded newsroom powered by nearly 97,000 members whose support makes our journalism possible. This sustained community investment helped drive nationally recognized work in 2025, including 29 awards from esteemed organizations, including the Public Media Journalists Association, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the National Association of Black Journalists.
We believe independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and that access to objective, fact-based news is a right for every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse content that informs and enriches our community, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals.
For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.
The Opportunity
The Chicago Sun-Times is looking for journalism or communications majors who are juniors and seniors and have worked for their college publications. Prior internships at news outlets is a plus but not a requirement. What is most important is a commitment to -- and a passion for -- journalism as a profession. Internship dates are June 9, 2026 - September 10, 2026.
Applicants should demonstrate:
We seek reporters to join our teams focusing on breaking news and enterprise. These jobs offer the ability to cover anything newsworthy, be it criminal justice, policy and governance, identity and gender issues, immigration and gentrification, transportation and development. We look for alternative story forms and the ability to cover and update ongoing issues throughout the day.
Who We’re Looking For:
- Must be attending an accredited college or university
- The ideal candidate is a junior or senior studying journalism who has worked for their school news outlet, has had prior internships in a professional news setting, and has knowledge of the many platforms available in today's media landscape
- Applicants must be attentive to detail and accuracy and journalistic ethics
- Applicants must be able to work efficiently and coolly in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment and be able to quickly master new tools and techniques as they arise
- They must have a finely-honed sense of journalistic ethics and a desire to understand the audience and community
Other Things To Know:
- To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume that includes relevant experience.
- Applicants for reporting jobs must also submit or link to four to five (at minimum) clips
We are located at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. All interns must be able to work from our office and studios at Navy Pier in Chicago a minimum of 2x a week.
The Chicago Sun-Times interns gain hands-on experience while working alongside some of the best talent in the business. Our hope is that — after receiving a solid foundation at Chicago Sun-Times — our interns continue to contribute to public media.
A bit about our internship programs:
- Many, but not all, of our interns have completed college or some other form of education and/or certification in the journalism or media field(s).
- Many go on to careers in public media or other outlets. Many have found their way back to CST, too.
- We pay $20/hour, non-negotiable
Interns work full time 40 hrs./week Program term is 12 weeks (June 9, 2026 - September 10, 2026)
- Positions are daytime work hours and on a Monday through Friday schedule, though some flexibility may be possible.
What we are looking for our candidates to display in their resumes, cover letters and interview conversations:
- Knowledge about CST and our mission of serving the community
- Strong interest in learning and contributing to our mission
- Curiosity and the willingness to learn
- Understanding of the value of bringing together diverse perspectives
- Why CST is part of your career planning in journalism and media
- Specific skills you want to learn during the internship
- If applicable, any links to a portfolio of writing samples; audio, video, or multimedia packages; or other completed work that may be relevant to this opening
The application deadline is Friday, March 20, 2026. Managers plan to select candidates by early May.
Accepted applicants will be required to start training in Chicago on June 9, 2026. Internship ends September 10, 2026.
Working at Chicago Public Media
At Chicago Public Media, we care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact.
Our culture is one where collaboration, diversity of ideas, and innovation are encouraged. We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, divergent experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.
At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for employees at hire and in the years to come.
Our benefits include a competitive salary and benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, vacation, holidays, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement savings, and a commuter benefits plan.
Chicago Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we actively seek and welcome people from all backgrounds, orientations, and life experiences to join our team.
The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and are not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change the content or format of this job at any time in its sole and exclusive discretion without notice.