Rural Reporter Internship (Journalism)

Job Title:  Summer Intern / Rural Reporter 

Internship Overview

We are looking for a passionate student with an interest in becoming an effective reporter to provide rural reporting in the Hardwick area and ten other towns covered by The Hardwick Gazette in Vermont.

The successful candidate will provide coverage of government, school and community meetings, along with some arts and educational activities as well as in-depth reporting on areas in the Gazette’s primary coverage area as appropriate and as time permits.

Requirements

We understand candidates are unlikely to possess all of the skills identified below. We encourage those looking to further develop their journalistic skills to apply. 

Work will involve developing relationships with key government and civic officials, community and business leaders and area residents.

The work will require: 

• Attending select board, school board and other meetings.
• Conducting research to uncover interesting and significant news.
• Gathering, corroborating and interpreting data.
• Interviewing key persons (witnesses, sources etc.) to obtain more information.
• Writing on a deadline.
• Working with the editor, reporters and production staff to refine and improve draft copy.
• Working collaboratively as part of a team to produce the weekly newspaper.

Optional activities depending on the particular candidate selected may include:

• Taking photographs to add another dimension to articles.
• Assisting with the Gazette’s internet and social media presence.
• Assisting with production activities.
• Covering special events.

Learning Objectives

• Learn and apply concepts of the Associated Press Stylebook (AP Style).
• Learn how to define and use the common business terminology used at the worksite.
• Apply academic concepts to problems and issues within the industry.
• Understand the reporting process and create value for the organization and stakeholders.
• Produce high quality documents with word processing software and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Demonstrate multi-channel communication skills including oral, written, audio/visual and digital.

Company Overview

The Hardwick Gazette is a 136 year old weekly newspaper that stopped printing during the pandemic and became an all-digital publication. 

In late December 2023 the paper was given to a newly formed nonprofit organization, Northeast Kingdom Public Journalism, formed to continue the legacy of the Gazette.

We now provide content free online and accept donations while we pursue grant funding from corporate and institutional sources to fund our mission of providing fair and accurate local journalism, shining a light on all aspects of life in our communities and creating a forum for deeper engagement.

Now based in Greensboro, we center our coverage on Hardwick and cover 10 other area towns. Our work offers local news, community events, entertainment and opinion directly relating to those towns.

We produce a weekly digital publication of between 16 and 30 pages as a PDF as well as posting all content on our website: hardwickgazette.org.

We maintain and curate a Facebook presence and are exploring other social media outlets.

Position Details

This position reports to and will work closely with the editor. It interfaces with reporters, contract photographers, writers and production staff.

The Gazette publishes Tuesday in the late afternoon or early evening with a reporting deadline of Monday at noon, though exceptions can be made with appropriate advance notice. 

Successful candidates will be expected to produce drafts of most work by the beginning of the day Friday and work collaboratively with the editor and production staff before the Monday deadline.

At the beginning of the internship we will develop a plan with the successful candidate to work and be mentored by the editor, other staff, contract writers and our photographer. The plan will identify goals and activities that will be helpful in acquiring  skills that the Gazette and the candidate identify as important to the candidate’s progress and the Gazette’s mission. Each week the intern will meet with the editor to evaluate progress toward the identified goals and adjust the plan as necessary

Additional areas may be identified that align with the successful candidate’s interest.

Location

The Hardwick Gazette is located at 82 Craftsbury Road, Greensboro, VT 05842.

Further Requirements

• Minimum High School Graduate or GED. (Must be a current undergraduate student.)
• Preferred majors: Journalism, English, Communications. (Any major will be considered.)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience working with the UVM Community News Service is preferred.
• Knowledge of web and social media.
• Preferred experience with Word, Open Office, or Libre Office and InDesign.
• Access to a vehicle will be essential.

How to Apply

Notify the editor and complete online application via Handshake.

This position is part of a cohort of 12 interns working with organizations that support Northeast Kingdom community  Funded by the UVM Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, free housing for interns will be provided at Sterling College in Craftsbury, VT.  Interns will participate in a week-long community orientation, weekly intern cohort workshops for professional development, networking, and reflection and a final sharing event.  

Kitchen facilities are available. Interns can contribute a few hours to participate in a Sterling Collage workshare in exchange for fresh vegetables.