Michigan State University students are eligible for six paid internships this summer at major multi-media Michigan news organizations.
These internships through MSU’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism meet the MSU J-School’s internship requirement. Environmental expertise or particular interest is not required. But you’ll gain both.
The application deadline is Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Four internships are with members of the Great Lakes News Collaborative, a group of independent multi-media news organizations. These are for students with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Please review the job descriptions for each newsroom. When applying, please rank which newsroom(s) interest you from the most to the least, based on the job descriptions and your ability to fulfill the location requirements. Circle of Blue, for example, is entirely remote, while Bridge Michigan, Detroit PBS and Michigan Public are hybrid or in-person.
Job descriptions:
- Bridge Michigan seeks a summer intern to execute a mix of breaking news and enterprise reporting on environmental topics, including both assigned and self-generated ideas. The ideal candidate is considering a career in print journalism, has some related training through college coursework and/or publications and is excited about the prospect of working in a fast-paced daily newsroom. Scope of work will include in-person and telephone interviews, reporting and writing stories independently and in collaboration with Bridge journalists. The intern must be based in Michigan. Ideally, the intern will split time between remote work and in-person work in Bridge’s Lansing office. Bridge will consider standout applicants who lack the ability to commute, but prefers applicants able to come to the office at least once a week.
- The Great Lakes Now intern at Detroit PBS will support GLN’s digital video operation, assisting in the production of vertical videos created from original GLN reporting and existing television segments. Opportunities may also exist for the intern to assist in production of original television segments and show assembly, as well as online reporting for the GLN website. Essential Functions: Edit vertical videos adapted from full length TV segments, write and edit new vertical videos based on original GLN reporting, As needed, assist with research, fact checking and asset collection for the Great Lakes Now monthly television series. Skills: Basic video editing experience in Adobe Premiere; excellent oral, written and organizational skills; familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, Google Drive and other software; excellent online research skills; general sense of administrative management; photo and graphics creation in Canva is a plus. Additional responsibilities as needed. Qualifications: Must be currently enrolled at MSU, sophomore or higher status preferred. Pursuing writing, English, communications/journalism or business/marketing degree preferred. Able to work 12-20 hours per week for 16 weeks, minimum 3 days a week. What you’ll get: Opportunities to participate in personal and professional development programs. Opportunities to serve our mission and community. Great work environment.
- Circle of Blue is seeking a full-time, remote summer journalism intern. The intern will contribute through original reporting and/or visual storytelling. The intern may pitch, report and write stories aligned with Circle of Blue’s editorial mission, and/or create graphic design and social media assets—“snackable” short-form content that translates longform reporting into engaging posts for social platforms. Ideal candidates are strong, self-directed storytellers with excellent communication skills, comfort working independently and a passion for water, food, energy and environmental issues.
- Michigan Public. This internship involves assisting with reporting and production on environmental issues for Michigan Public’s daily news content on all platforms. The internship is writing-intensive and will include other duties such as collecting and editing audio, conducting interviews, writing news copy, attending press conferences, producing material for social media and potentially appearing on air, depending on abilities. This internship is based at our Ann Arbor station and is not a hybrid position. The internship will provide instruction in the everyday operation of how a public radio station newsroom operates. Applicants should have an interest in environmental journalism, good writing skills and ability to work under pressure.
- Planet Detroit is seeking a paid summer reporting intern from the MSU Knight Center to support our nonprofit newsroom covering environmental health, climate and civic decision-making in Metro Detroit and across Michigan. Responsibilities will include: Assist with breaking news coverage, including quick-turn reporting, fact-checking and aggregation; produce short social video content to support reporting and audience engagement; help monitor news developments, public meetings and press releases; support reporters and editors with research, interviews and story prep; contribute to Planet Detroit’s digital and social platforms. Qualifications include: Current MSU student or recent graduate affiliated with the Knight Center; strong interest in journalism, public-interest reporting and local issues; basic reporting, writing and video skills (or strong interest in learning); comfortable working on deadline in a fast-paced newsroom
- WKAR News is seeking a paid summer environmental reporting intern through the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. This internship is designed for an emerging journalist who is passionate about environmental and climate storytelling and wants hands-on experience producing real-world journalism for both radio broadcast and digital platforms. The intern will work closely with WKAR News editors to develop and report original environmental stories connected to Mid-Michigan, with broader regional and statewide impact. This is an opportunity for someone who wants to learn how to break stories, build sources and report with urgency and purpose. Interns at WKAR News are treated as full members of the newsroom. The selected candidate will participate in daily editorial meetings, pitch original story ideas and produce enterprise reporting across platforms, including: radio scripts and on-air reporting, digital stories fororg and social and audience-focused environmental coverage.
By the end of the summer, the intern will leave with a strong portfolio of published work, broadcast clips and a professional presence on WKAR.org.
Ideal Candidate – We are looking for a candidate who has a strong interest in environmental journalism and public service reporting; brings curiosity, initiative and a drive to uncover new stories; wants to learn how to report with impact and connect stories to real people; has completed coursework in journalism fundamentals and news writing; is eager to grow in a professional newsroom environment.
Internship location is WKAR Public Media, East Lansing (Michigan State University campus)
FAQ
Q: Who is eligible?
A: Michigan State University students. That includes students graduating at the end of spring semester 2025 or later. It includes students who major in journalism, digital storytelling and other relevant majors.
Q: How do I show my diverse background and life experiences for the Mott internships?
A: It could be through your racial, ethnic or cultural identity. It could be through your lived experience. It could be that you have a special interest, expertise or knowledge of diversity issues.
Q: Do I need to be a hunter, hiker, camper, ecologist, environmental activist or someone else who is real outdoorsy?
A: No. Environmental issues encompass urban issues, health issues, economic issues, policy issues, educational issues and social issues. You’ll quickly develop an interest in what the Knight Center calls the world’s most important beat – one that cuts across all issues. You’ll gain journalism experience applicable to any beat.
Q: What will I do?
A: These internship providers are multi-media news providers. They work across multiple platforms. They have diverse needs. You may write, produce audio, shoot video, create graphics – whatever your employer needs.
Q: Do I get paid?
A: These are full-time summer internships with a general timeframe of 14 weeks long. The pay is $15/hour.
Q: How are these internships funded?
A: They are supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, by GLISA – one of 12 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Adaptation Partnerships – and by the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.
Q: What if I have other questions?
A: Contact Knight Center Director Eric Freedman, freedma5@msu.edu
To apply:
Before Saturday, February 28, send a message with the subject line “Knight internships” to MSU Knight Center Director Eric Freedman, freedma5@msu.edu.
NOT in the body of the email, but as attachments submit:
- no more than 300 words on how your background, lived experience or other characteristics help you bring diversity to reporting (for the Mott internships) For all internships, what makes you right for the position?
- a resume
- copies of or links to up to any three stories you’ve produced for publication or class.
- contact information for one reference and how you know that person.
Five environmental journalism students and Knight Center director Eric Freedman attended the recent annual conference of the National Association of Science Writers in Chicago.
Also attending the conference from MSU were Knight Center master’s alum Ruth Thornton, university science public relations manager Emilie Lorditch, outreach specialist and MSU alum Ana Becerril of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams and Angela Prete, a graduate student in microbial & molecular genetics.
