The Forward delivers incisive coverage of the issues, ideas and institutions that matter to American Jews. Its rigorous reporting and balanced commentary on politics, arts and culture have won numerous awards year after year, including repeated recognition by the Society of Professional Journalists.
Founded in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily, the Forward soon became the most widely read Jewish newspaper anywhere, with a larger circulation in the 1920s than the New York Times. It chronicled the events that affected a population of immigrants eager to take their place in American life, and published regional editions around the country before any other newspaper.
The English Forward was launched as a weekly in 1990. Its perspective on world and national news, and its unparalleled coverage of Jewish arts and culture, have made it the most influential nationwide Jewish media outlet today. Millions of readers visit forward.com each month for award-winning news, thoughtful commentary, and captivating videos. And close to 100,000 Facebook friends and subscribers receive e-newsletters that highlight the latest stories in news and culture, food and feminism, as well as the best in Jewish opinion.
The Forward has always been a not-for-profit association and is supported by the contributions of its readers.
The Forward is seeking one or more beginning journalists passionate about digital and audience — and the Jewish world — for paid internships reporting and writing news items. This position is supported by the Sy Syms Endowment for Journalistic Excellence, an exclusive gift from the Sy Syms Foundation that supports the recruitment, training, and development of early career journalists to benefit both the Forward and the broader field of journalism.
The interns will work up to 29 hours a week for $17 an hour. The initial term is 10 weeks but the internship may be extended for up to a year. We accept rolling applications for this position.
This is a fast-paced, reader-facing job in which interns will report, write and publish frequently on a broad range of subjects. We need people with experience at campus or other publications who know how to navigate the Internet and social media; have great story instincts and editorial judgment; move quickly and write clearly, with solid grasp of style and grammar rules; can juggle (projects, not projectiles); and work well in groups.
The intern will:
- Report and write stories across sections, including breaking news on politics, culture and more
- Scour the Jewish internet for news, conversation, opportunities and ideas
- Support colleagues reporting and writing stories
- Quickly source appropriate photos or other art
- Use social-media and other platforms to develop a robust readership for items
- Use audience tools and analyze traffic patterns to help optimize story selection and framing to meet reader needs
The ideal candidates will be equally interested in news from Israel and Hollywood; about politics and antisemitism. They will have a keen eye for what makes a story resonate for Jewish readers and know how to apply a sophisticated — or sometimes sassy — Jewish lens to the world. The interns should have sufficient Jewish background to be able to give stories proper context, but curiosity and commitment can go a long way to fill any gaps. They must work well under pressure and in collaboration with colleagues, and be eager to grow and be responsive to editors’ feedback. The goals are to file consistently clean copy; to be creative and flexible about format, medium and approach; to channel the Forward’s brand while developing individual voice; and to use audience tools like SEO to maximize impact of each piece.
Successful interns frequently graduate into yearlong fellowships and staff positions; we seek people who are pro-active, committed equally to our mission and to their own development.
To apply, please send a resume, five clips, a one-pager explaining why you want the gig, plus contact information for at least two references to [email protected]. Subject line: Digital reporting and writing internship.
