Attention Media Outlets: Here’s $2,500 toward a St. Paul-focused intern this summer

On behalf of the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists and ThreeSixty Journalism, we invite you to submit your interest in hosting a college intern this summer who would focus primarily (51%+) on producing non-crime news about St. Paul. The St. Paul Jaycees Charitable Foundation has already committed $2,500 toward this internship. Interested news outlets should respond by April 17.

The board of the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists, together with ThreeSixty Journalism, a nonprofit housed at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, have been awarded $2,500 toward a college student internship this summer at a Twin Cities news media outlet. The St. Paul Jaycees Charitable Foundation is funding this opportunity, with the expectation MNSPJ will help recruit and select a potential employer to host a full- or part-time summer internship.

MNSPJ, ThreeSixty Journalism and the St. Paul Jaycees Charitable Foundation are proud to have selected Gwynnevere Vang, an undergraduate at the University of St. Thomas, as our summer 2024 news intern.

Media outlets interested in hosting Vang this summer are invited to complete this application by April 17.

Among the expectations: 

— A majority of the student’s summer reporting (51%+) must be devoted to non-crime news specific to St. Paul.

— Matching funds are strongly encouraged but not required.

— The internship may be full- or part-time.

About Gwynnevere Vang:

Vang, a member of the (Oakdale) Tartan Senior High School class of 2022, was named the 2022 ThreeSIxty Journalism Scholar. She received a full-tuition, four-year scholarship to study journalism in the Department of Emerging Media at the University of St. Thomas College of Arts and Sciences.

In fall 2022, Vang was selected as an inaugural member of The New York Times Corps, a talent-pipeline program for college students to receive career guidance from Times journalists over a multiyear period. She is currently an editor of TommieMedia on campus.

Willingness to provide some level of matching funds and a commitment toward producing a certain amount of news coverage in step with the general values of ThreeSixty Journalism and the St. Paul Jaycees – such as fostering civic involvement and promoting diversity – will be key for us in matching the selected student to the appropriate media outlet by late April or early May.

The news outlet in question must agree to devote a majority of the student’s time (51%+) this summer toward coverage of non-crime news specific to St. Paul. In particular, the Jaycees’ intent is to generate a better understanding of youth, civics and service in St. Paul, and ThreeSixty Journalism has a strong commitment toward promoting diversity in newsrooms and news coverage. 

The ideal employer would provide ample opportunity to produce content in step with those values. Providing some level of matching funds to elevate this internship closer to full-time employment could be decisive as we determine the best match between employer and student.

The timeline for the intern and internship selection process is as follows:

MARCH 22: MNSPJ issues a call for proposals to news outlets.

APRIL 17: Deadline for news outlets to respond to proposals.

LATE APRIL: ThreeSixty Journalism will confirm a news outlet and student match by April 28.

EARLY MAY: Student finalizes commitment to a news outlet.

JUNE 1 (ON OR ABOUT): Student internship starts.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS:

If this opportunity interests your news organization, please respond to the following seven questions by April 17 using the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/7uz2ZLXJ1r.

Thank you for your consideration by April 17.

Respectfully Yours,

Catharine Richert, President

Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists

Minnesota.SPJ@gmail.com

Frederick Melo, Internship Coordinator

Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists

fmelo@pioneerpress.com, 651-398-5534 cell

Denise Huang, Engagement Manager

ThreeSixty Journalism

denise.huang@stthomas.edu, 651-962-5225 (o)

About MNSPJ:

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), the oldest, largest and broadest-based organization of journalists in the U.S., was founded as Sigma Delta Chi in 1909. The Minnesota Chapter was founded in 1956. We offer tools to make the business of journalism easier. Since its founding, the Minnesota Pro chapter has received various honors, including outstanding large chapter of the year (more than 75 members), and recognition for its work promoting the Freedom of Information Act, campus relations, member communication and programming. MNSPJ.org.

About ThreeSixty Journalism:

ThreeSixty Journalism, a nonprofit program of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Thomas, uses the principles of strong writing and reporting to help diverse Minnesota youth tell the stories of their lives and communities. We work primarily with high school students of color and first-generation immigrants from the Twin Cities metro area. threesixty.stthomas.edu

About the Saint Paul Jaycees Charitable Foundation:

The Saint Paul Jaycees Foundation has a long history of supporting programs and projects in the St. Paul metropolitan area for various organizations. The Foundation exists to raise and receive funds that will benefit the community. The Foundation’s goal is to advance the general welfare of the residents of St. Paul by providing funding for organizations, individuals, committees, projects or programs who are providing beneficial experiences for religious, charitable, scientific, public safety or educational purposes. https://saintpauljaycees.org/.