Get real-world experience as a newsroom intern

Victoria Cumbow writes a breaking news update for al.com, the online home of The Huntsville Times. Cumbow, an Auburn University graduate, interned at The Times in the summer of 2008. She is now a full-time employee working as a crime and public safety reporter.

Don’t get stuck fetching coffee this summer. Apply for an internship at The Huntsville Times and cover everything from breaking crime news to political events. Learn how to shoot video, break news online and become a more well-rounded journalist.

The Times welcomes applications each spring for 10- to 12-week internships in the summer. While we prefer college juniors or seniors, we encourage all students to apply.

We generally offer internships in reporting and/or design and copy editing. Internship offers are based on availability each year.

Interns have the opportunity to cover breaking news, general assignment stories and special projects. Deadline experience is a must. Familiarity with the web and an ability to quickly post news to our website, al.com, is a plus.

Reporters

Students interested in working as reporting interns should send a resume and writing samples to City Editor Shelly Haskins at shelly.haskins@htimes.com.

You are also welcome to submit a link to your website, if you have one, and samples of multimedia projects. Please do not attempt to e-mail video files; a link is preferred.

Designers and copy editors

The Times is the perfect training ground for students interested in becoming designers. Interns are given the chance to work up the ladder and possibly design an A1 page. To apply, send your resume and samples of your best design work to Design Director Paul Wallen at paul.wallen@htimes.com.

Sports writers

The Times occasionally recruits students to work on a freelance basis. If you are interested in assisting The Times with prep sports coverage, please contact Sports Editor John Turner at john.turner@htimes.com. Sports writers must be able to work on tight deadlines and be familiar with rules and terminology for most sports.

Opportunities for high school students

You don’t have to be in college to gain valuable newspaper experience. Contact Education Editor Pat Ammons to become a writer for the HT page, a weekly page written by local high school students. Applications are due each June for the following school year. Students in grades 9 through 12  at any public, private or home school in Madison County are eligible to become HT writers.

Each student writes about one story every two months so as not to interfere with school and extracurricular activities. Eager students may contact Pat at pat.ammons@htimes.com for information about more opportunities.

Questions

Please direct specific questions about internships to the appropriate editor.