Landing an NPR Internship: A Comprehensive Guide

National Public Radio (NPR) offers a variety of internships for students and recent graduates interested in exploring careers in public media. These internships provide invaluable real-world, hands-on experience alongside top professionals in the field. NPR internships serve as a learning opportunity for those wishing to enter public media. NPR's mission is carried out with the hard work and creative contributions of more than 900 employees all across the globe. This article will provide an overview of NPR's internship programs and application requirements.

Overview of NPR Internship Programs

NPR's internship program has for many years served as a learning opportunity for those wishing to enter public media. NPR offers internship semesters twice a year. The Summer semester is 12 weeks, and the Fall / Winter Semester is 28 weeks. The NPR internship program has for many years served as a learning opportunity for those wishing to enter public media. Our past interns have played a vital role in NPR's daily operations in almost every part of the organization, contributing and learning alongside our experienced newsroom and other colleagues. Every department at NPR contributes to our stories and we want you to bring your unique perspective and skill sets as you learn and grow as an NPR intern.

Internships are offered in a variety of departments, reflecting the diverse talents and backgrounds of NPR's staff. These departments include:

Newsroom: Assisting with audio production, editing web pages, conducting research for shows, pitching ideas, and engaging with social media channels.
Digital Media: Designing and developing embedded graphics for digital platforms and coding survey data.
Finance: Treasury and Risk Management internships involve projects such as building debt ratio databases, completing investment manager fee projects, conducting credit rating peer analyses, and working with daily cash balances.
Other Departments: Opportunities exist across various departments, encompassing audio, print and visual journalism, development, design, engineering, executive roles, communications, IT, legal, and accounting.

In addition to general internships, NPR offers several fellowship programs:

Kroc Fellowship: An intensive, year-long program for three selected journalists at NPR and its Member Stations, honoring Joan B. Kroc's bequest.
Reflect America Fellowship: A 12-month fellowship for a journalist to join NPR's Climate Desk and report on vulnerable communities, particularly Indigenous communities.
Above the Fray Fellowship: A reporting fellowship in collaboration with the John Alexander Project, designed to cover under-reported international stories.
Ishiyama Transparency in Government Fellowship: A two-year program for recent law school graduates to gain experience in First Amendment and media law, supporting public-service journalism.
Code Switch Fellowship: A fellowship dedicated to training journalists interested in telling nuanced stories about race, embedded with the Code Switch team.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for an NPR internship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

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Be a current student in an accredited degree program or have graduated no more than 12 months prior to the start of the internship. We do not accept high school students.
Be authorized to work in the United States.
For internships with remote flexibility, reside in the United States for the duration of the internship.

The Application Process

The application process for NPR internships typically involves the following steps:

Identifying Available Internships: Internship applications for Fall 2025 will open the week of June 9th, 2025. Visit our Career Portal and read the complete description and requirements for each available position.
Preparing Application Materials: Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and writing samples (where appropriate). You may apply for multiple internships. If you are uploading more than one cover letter, be sure to name each file for the corresponding internship title. The cover letter is always important, but extremely important for a finance position at NPR.
Submitting the Application: Applications are submitted through NPR's online career portal.
Interview Process: After about two months, you might get called for a phone interview with your future supervisor. The main questions you was asked was why I wanted the internship and what skills and qualifications I had that would make me a good fit for the job.

Key Dates and Deadlines

NPR offers internship semesters twice a year:

Summer Semester: 12 weeks
Fall/Winter Semester: 28 weeks

Once the application deadline has passed, NPR will no longer be accepting any applications. Applicants are welcome to apply to the next internship cycle if they are still eligible.

Internship Details

Locations and Hours: NPR's Internship Program is offered onsite, fully remote, or a hybrid of the two as determined by each individual team's structure. See specific internship postings for more details. Internships are typically full-time at 40 hours per week, but there is flexibility on a role to role basis. Any positions that are part-time will be indicated on the job posting.
Pay: All interns are paid $20.00 an hour. NPR does not offer transportation or housing assistance.

Tips for a Successful Application

Based on the experience of a past NPR intern, here are some tips for a successful application:

Craft a Strong Cover Letter: The cover letter is crucial, especially for finance positions. Clearly articulate why you want to work at NPR specifically and highlight the skills and qualities that make you a perfect fit for the job.
Prepare for the Interview: Be prepared to answer questions about your interest in the internship and your relevant skills and qualifications. Speak with confidence and emphasize your ability to learn quickly.
Ask Engaging Questions: During the interview, ask questions about the interviewer's journey to NPR to make the conversation more engaging.
Show Initiative and Involvement: During the internship, ask questions to demonstrate your involvement and seek help to improve your work.
Schedule Regular Meetings: Meet with your supervisor regularly to update them on your progress, ask for input and feedback, and build a stronger relationship.

St. Louis Public Radio Internship Program

St. Louis Public Radio (STLPR), the region’s NPR member station and a service of the University of Missouri - St. Louis, also offers a paid internship program. STLPR’s paid internship program provides immersive learning opportunities for those interested in exploring careers in public media and who want to contribute to STLPR’s public service journalism mission. Interns work alongside staff members and receive instruction, mentorship and support from dedicated supervisors and colleagues.

St. Louis Public Radio internships pay an hourly wage of $15, along with the opportunity for college credit depending on the requirements of interns’ respective degree programs.

Newsroom Internship at STLPR

The newsroom intern will learn every aspect of being a reporter at St. Louis Public Radio. This includes the technical aspects of audio recording and editing; writing for radio; writing for web; taking photographs for web stories; interviewing techniques; and how to pitch and research stories. Interns will also be exposed to data journalism techniques; how to successfully use social engagement to report and tell stories; and how to voice radio stories.

Minimum Requirements: Excellent writing skills, demonstrated interest in journalism and ability to consistently meet deadlines. We expect our interns to be available between 25-30 hours per week.

Evaluation: Evaluation of the intern will occur in accordance with guidelines of their school, if the intern is currently a student. Considerations will include production skills (microphone techniques, sound quality, editing, etc.), writing ability (structure of the story, attribution of facts, objectivity, and liveliness of the writing), willingness to follow direction, efficient use of time, self-motivation and initiative, and accuracy and attention to detail. Please include with your application three (3) writing or audio samples. These samples do not need to be pieces of journalism.

Application Instructions: To apply, please download and complete this application form.

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Statehouse Internship at STLPR

The newsroom’s Statehouse intern will gain experience with every aspect of being a reporter at St. Louis Public Radio. The intern will work from our Jefferson City office in the Capitol under the guidance of Statehouse Reporter Sarah Kellogg and Politics Editor Fred Ehrlich. The newsroom intern will regularly contribute newscast reports and web stories about developments in the Statehouse.

Minimum Requirements: Excellent writing skills, demonstrated interest in journalism and ability to consistently meet deadlines. We expect our interns to work 40 hours per week.

Evaluation: Evaluation of the intern will occur in accordance with guidelines of their school, if the intern is currently a student. Considerations will include production skills (microphone techniques, sound quality, editing, etc.), writing ability (structure of the story, attribution of facts, objectivity, and liveliness of the writing), ability to follow direction, efficient use of time, self-motivation and initiative, and accuracy and attention to detail.

Application Instructions: To apply, please download and complete this application form.

NPR as an Equal Opportunity Employer

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All decisions concerning any employment relationship will be made without regard to age, race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, religious affiliation, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, the presence of any physical or mental disability or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

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