2025 MNSPJ Intern Night is a success

For a third consecutive year, MNSPJ Intern Night was hosted by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) in its UBS Forum. MPR senior producer and MNSPJ president-elect Aleesa Kuznetsov moderated a panel of eight media professionals as they described their intern opportunities and responded to questions about what they look for in an intern. 

Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal editor and panelist Dirk DeYoung said internships provide an opportunity for both interns and their employers to ‘test-drive’ each other and see if the relationship is a good fit. Most panelists agreed that interns who were curious and motivated self-starters tended to make the best of an interning opportunity. Short and to the point resumes were recommended when applying for an intern position, and an emphasis was placed on writing good cover letters. “I already have your resume – tell me what you’re passionate about!,” advised DeYoung.

“Saying what you want to get better at implies you’re not good or lack skills,” added Minnesota Star Tribune investigations editor Tom Scheck. “Tell me what you CAN do and what you’d like to do.”

Panelists also tended to agree that a NO to an application might just mean ‘not at this time’ and encouraged applicants not to give up, but to build on connections.

With applications closed on November 1st for the summer of 2026, the Star Tribune will host internships in science and water quality research, Minnesota public agencies research, digital audience producing, food and culture reporting, news and politics reporting, sports reporting, business reporting, photo/video journalism, visual producing, opinion/editorial producing, and data reporting.

Students should be aware of the following application deadlines for other upcoming intern opportunities:

Positiion: Editorial Intern—Mpls.St.Paul Magazine

Deadline: Nov. 17

Link: https://mspmag.com/company-info/about-us/about-us_internships

+++

Position: Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal

Deadline: Nov. 28

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/editorial-intern-spring-semester-at-minneapolis-st-paul-business-journal-mspbj-4312393279/

+++

Position: 2-Year Reporting Fellow— Report for America

Deadline: Feb. 16

Link: https://www.reportforamerica.org/

+++