Internships at NPR

A learning experience like no other. The NPR internship program has a rich history, helping us discover nearly 10% of our current staff including Ari Shapiro, Audie Cornish, Guy Raz and many more.

From Day 1, interns at NPR are given real-world, hands-on responsibilities. Working alongside top professionals in the field, interns do meaningful work across a variety of departments at NPR. Find out how you can contribute your diverse talents to gain invaluable experience at the heart of a thriving multimedia organization.

Internship Opportunities

Interns at NPR play a vital role in NPR's daily operations in almost every division of the organization - from NPR News and Music, to Communications and Engineering.

Descriptions of all NPR's internships can be found on the Intern and Fellowship Career Portal.

Application Process

Who We Want:

We are looking for students and recent graduates who are smart and creative, good researchers and excellent writers. Interns need to both work well on diverse teams and thrive with individual assignments.

Candidates don't need to know everything about NPR or public radio, but it helps to be at least a little familiar. And it doesn't hurt to love NPR.

For more details on unique requirements for individual internship positions (cover letter, writing sample, design portfolio for example), see the internship descriptions for more details.

Who Should Apply:

Any student (undergraduate or graduate) or person who has graduated no more than 12 months prior to the start of the internship period to which he/she is applying. Interns must be authorized to work in the United States.

How to Apply:

Visit the Intern and Fellowship Career Portal. Select from the internships listed to read a complete description and requirements of the position. Through the portal you'll be able to complete profile information, upload resume, cover letter, and writing samples.

To apply for multiple positions at once, submit all application materials to up to three internships each semester. If you are loading multiple cover letters, name the file with the specific internship title.

When to Apply and Important Dates

Winter/Spring:

October 24, 2014 - All internship descriptions posted and the application window opens.

Application Deadline: November 21, 2014

December 12, 2014 – Selection deadline
December 17, 2014 - Selection process completed; notifications emailed to all applicants
January 12, 2015 – Internship begins
May 1, 2015 – Internship ends

Summer 2015: Application Deadline: March 2015 (Exact dates will be posted in the Winter.)

Fall 2015: Application Deadline: July 2015 (Exact dates will be posted in the Spring.)

Note: Office of the General Counsel internships have different application dates and requirements. See the internship description for more details.

Internship Details

Internship Semesters:

Internships are offered three semesters throughout the year: winter/spring, summer and fall.

Winter/Spring: early January through late April
Summer: early June through mid-August
Fall: mid-September through mid-December

Pay and Academic Credit:

Interns are expected to work full time (40 hours per week). However, during winter/spring and fall semesters, part-time interns (at least 20 hours per week) will also be accommodated.

All interns receive a stipend, prorated based on the hours per week and the length of the internship period.

Winter/Spring (40 hrs/wk for 16 weeks): a max of $5,600
Summer (40 hrs/wk for 10 weeks): a max of $3,500
Fall (40 hrs/wk for 16 weeks): a max of $5,600

Interns may also receive academic credit. NPR doesn't offer transportation or housing assistance.

Locations:

Internship positions are offered at our national headquarters in Washington, D.C.; NPR West in Culver City, CA; at the New York and Chicago Bureaus; and in Boston, MA. The location is listed in each of the internship descriptions.

Many Member Stations offer internships of their own: check your local station's website for details.

Questions?

If you have more questions about the NPR internships program, email: internship@npr.org

NPR is firmly committed to seeking qualified candidates for all job openings, to offer equal employment opportunity to all persons, and to take affirmative action to ensure that such opportunities are provided. It is the policy of NPR to be fair and impartial in all of its relations with its employees and applicants for employment, and to make all employment-related decisions without regard to race, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, or disability.