Employment and Internships

Approx. 8 hours per week

The core of this internship is reporting on municipal government in Northampton, Massachusetts. This means attending each twice-monthly meeting of the City Council and working with your editor before and after to identify stories of interest and follow up on them. Co-op participants will build relationships with sources on the council, attend meetings of other governing bodies as needed, and work to identify parties among the community who are impacted by the happenings at City Hall.

We will also accept applications for project-based semester internships. Examples of this type of internship could include working towards a single piece of enterprise journalism, or supporting a data-intensive investigation led by The Shoestring staff or freelancers. A proposal for this type of internship should be developed with some guidance from The Shoestring editors. Applicants should be able to demonstrate experience relevant to their proposal. Compensation may be available at freelance rates.

Approx. 32 hours per week

The Shoestring will host one summer intern for 10 weeks in 2026. This internship is funded by the Scripps Howard Fund and will include weekly one-hour remote trainings hosted by Scripps for all interns in the program. Apply via Submittable til Jan 31.

Summer internships at The Shoestring can be focused on one of three types of reporting: a topic-based beat, a location-based beat or a single piece of enterprise journalism. Examples could include: an environment beat, an immigration beat, a Northampton municipal government beat or a long-term investigation on impacts of a specific piece of legislation. We encourage prospective interns to choose a path that interests them or one that is relevant to their own professional, academic or lived experience. If time allows, interns can also work on other stories over the course of the summer. Expected output will vary based on the assignment, but beat-based interns should expect to turn in at least one story every other week. Interns are expected to work 32 hours per week and will be paid the equivalent of $22 per hour. Most work will be remote, but interns should plan to live in western Massachusetts for the duration of the internship to report and meet with staff in person occasionally throughout the summer. Applicants may propose a beat or project of interest in their cover letters and should note any relevant experience, which we can discuss during interviews. In addition, The Shoestring asks that prospective interns provide a resume, writing samples (ideally published), and at least one professional or academic reference.

32 hours per week

Jan-June or July-Dec

The core of this co-op is reporting on municipal government in Northampton, Massachusetts. This means attending each twice-monthly meeting of the City Council and working with your editor before and after to identify stories of interest and follow up on them. Coop participants will build relationships with sources on the council, attend meetings of other governing bodies as needed, and work to identify parties among the community who are impacted by the happenings at City Hall. 

Participants will also work on assignment to attend events in Northampton and other towns as needed and as possible. These assignments will include protests and rallies, press conferences, and some arts and culture events, and there will be some flexibility to tailor these to the reporter’s interest. 

Remaining hours may be spent on non-editorial projects, such as events, fundraising, or web design, if the participant is interested. Participants should plan on securing funding from their college or university.