AAJA-LA funds paid internships at Southern California newsrooms to give students a chance to work side by side professionals, develop their skills and prepare them for their future. Here are current and previous internships sponsored by AAJA-LA.
2023 Internships
LAist Fall Internship
Application deadline: Friday, June 16, 2023 by 5 p.m. PT
Our internships are opportunities for broadcasting/journalism students or recent graduates to learn the real-world demands of working in an award-winning NPR affiliate public media newsroom. We aim to provide a meaningful experience for the intern and LAist and are seeking one intern interested in radio news production and shows.
We’ll be hiring for a 20-30 hours per week, 18-week stint, with an anticipated September start date. The pay rate for this opportunity will be $18.66 per hour.
Interns working with newscasts or shows would assist with reporting, research, and production of those programs, including AirTalk with Larry Mantle; this assignment is fast paced. Applicants should have experience in radio production and include samples of their on-air work.
This position is funded in part by a grant from the Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles chapter. Preference will be given to applicants whose interests or background align with AAJA-LA’s mission.
The Orange County Register is seeking a talented, dedicated intern for its local news desk. The intern will work 30 to 32 hours per week, covering general assignment and breaking news as well as Little Saigon and other Asian communities. Preference will be given to applicants invested in or interested in the Vietnamese or other Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and who have ties to Southern California. Applicants should have experience in news or feature writing.
Interns may be required to work remotely at the time of the internship.
This position is funded by a grant from the Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles Chapter. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership.
Send a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and at least two references to Register local editor Heather McRea at hmcrea@scng.com by 5 p.m. Friday, May 5. Use the subject line AAJA-LA/REGISTER REPORTING INTERNSHIP.
Pasadena Star-News Reporting Summer Internship
Application deadline: Friday, May 12, 2023
The Pasadena Star-News is seeking a talented, dedicated intern for its local news desk. The intern will work 30 to 35 hours per week, covering general assignment and breaking news as well as Asian communities in the San Gabriel Valley. Preference will be given to applicants invested in or interested in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and who have ties to Southern California. Applicants should have experience in news or feature writing. The internship will include at least one in-depth project focusing on issues impacting Asian Americans.
Interns will be required to work remotely at the time of the internship, but may be required to attend occasional meetings in our Pasadena or Monrovia office. Intern must have access to a car or other vehicles to travel to assignments across Southern California.
This position is funded by a grant from the Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles Chapter. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership.
Send a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and at least two references to Star-News city editor Ryan Carter at rcarter@scng.com and Senior Editor Tom Bray at tbray@scng.com by end of day Friday, May 12. Use the subject line AAJA-LA/STAR-NEWS REPORTING INTERNSHIP.
Previous internships and interns
Meet AAJA-LA’s 2022 Summer Interns
Each year, AAJA-LA works with local media companies to provide paid summer internships. It’s part of our philosophy that work experience is the best way to land a job. With the industry-wide decline in budgets, AAJA-LA has become one of the biggest providers of paid journalism internships in the area. They’re open to everyone, but we’re particularly interested in students who like to report on Asian American communities and issues.
Each intern is supported with a mentor and a $5,000 grant from AAJA-LA.
Here’s this year’s interns!
AAJA-LA Pasadena Star-News intern
Saumya Gupta is a first-year graduate student at the UC Berkeley School of Journalism. She currently writes for the Oakland North where she covers courts and crime. Saumya previously interned at the Pasadena Star-News, through AAJA-LA and previously attended UCLA where she worked at the school’s student paper, the Daily Bruin. In her free time, she likes going to concerts and exploring the city.
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AAJA-LA KPCC intern
Michael Flores recently graduated from Columbia University’s J-School where he specialized in documentary production. He also served seven years in the Army National Guard as a medic and earned a Combat Medic Badge when he went to Iraq in 2006 with an infantry unit.
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AAJA-LA-Orange County Register intern
Shaanth Kodialam (they/them) is a second-year geography and communication student attending the University of California Los Angeles. Currently, they’re the features and student life news editor at the Daily Bruin. Their interests lie in stories about Asian American and LGBTQ+ communities, and they previously worked as a reporting intern at the Orange County Register in Summer 2022.
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AAJA-LA/Capital & Main Health Disparities Internship
AAJA-LA is proud to offer a fall internship this year at Capital & Main, an award-winning investigative news site with an emphasis on covering inequality and climate change.
The internship is part-time and would cover health disparities in California. The intern, under the guidance of Capital & Main staff, will report and write stories to appear on the Capital & Main site.
Candidates should have experience publishing news stories for a college publication or other news outlet. Though ample guidance will be provided by experienced editors, the ideal candidate will have a strong publishing track record with the ability to independently conceive, report, and write stories. Multimedia, photography, and language skills are helpful but not required.
Awareness of health issues and their intersection with economics, politics, race, and class is highly desirable.
The position may be structured as a part-time position for 15 weeks (20 hours per week) or full-time for eight weeks (40 hours per week). The position is funded by the Asian American Journalists Association – Los Angeles chapter with support from The California Endowment.
Preference will be given to applicants whose interests or background align with AAJA-LA’s mission: http://aaja-la.org/about/. Candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and five clips to Peter Hong, peterhong@capitalandmain.com, by Oct. 14.
AAJA-LA California Reporting Grants
The Los Angeles chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association is accepting applications for our California Reporting Grants program. These grants will provide financial awards to early career or freelance journalists reporting on California issues. Each $1,000 grant can be used for travel, equipment, supplies and other costs.
At least one grant will be reserved for a student journalist working on an ambitious class project about a local or statewide issue. A professional journalist will be assigned to the recipient of the student award to act as their mentor.
The intent of the grants is to assist young or independent journalists who are pitching stories to California media outlets. We will also highlight the projects on the AAJA-LA website.
Applications should include:
— A description of how you would like to use the funds
— A resume and two to three samples of completed journalistic work
– (For student journalists) A description of your proposed project and why you think it’s important. Please also include the name and contact information of a professor, advisor or mentor who is working with you on this project.
The application deadline is April 1. The winners will be notified by April 15.
For more information, please contact Josh Cain at jcain@scng.com or 714-855-8124.
AAJA-LA/Pasadena Star News Internship:
Application deadline: April 21st
The intern will cover news and key topics in Pasadena and the rest of the San Gabriel Valley for 10 weeks.
The Asian American Journalists Association/Los Angeles will again sponsor a paid summer internship for a student journalist at the Pasadena Star-News this year.
The intern will cover news and key topics in Pasadena and the rest of the San Gabriel Valley for 10 weeks. Applicants should be equipped to work from their homes and/or the field (to be determined by status of the coronavirus pandemic). On-scene assignments are likely, but appropriate safeguards/safety gear would be provided.
The intern will be supervised by a Southern California News Group editor, matched with a mentor from the staff and receive a free AAJA membership.
Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or have graduated within the last six months.
The San Gabriel Valley includes some of Southern California’s most vibrant Asian immigrant communities.
The intern will be writing about trends and issues in those communities, as well as general assignment work. The intern will work 30-32 hours per week. The role may include evening and weekend shifts.
Fluency in an Asian language is a plus but not required.
Deadline is midnight PDT on Thursday April 21. Send cover letter, resume and clips to Southern California News Group Senior Editor/L.A. County Thomas Bray, tbray@scng.com. Please include references. Questions: 951-756-3738 or tbray@scng.com.
AAJA-LA/REGISTER REPORTING INTERNSHIP
Application deadline: May 6th, 2022
The Orange County Register is seeking a talented, dedicated intern for its local news desk. The intern will work 30 to 35 hours per week, covering general assignment and breaking news as well as Little Saigon and other Asian communities. Preference will be given to applicants invested in or interested in the Vietnamese or other Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and who have ties to Southern California. Applicants should have experience in news or feature writing.
Interns may be required to work remotely at the time of the internship.
This position is funded by a grant from the Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles Chapter. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership.
Send a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and at least two references to Register local editor Heather McRea at hmcrea@scng.com by end of day Friday, May 6. Use the subject line AAJA-LA/REGISTER REPORTING INTERNSHIP.
PAST INTERNSHIPS!
AAJA-LA/OC REGISTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE REPORTING INTERNSHIP
Application deadline: December 3rd
Students, We are excited to announce that AAJA-Los Angeles is sponsoring a paid spring internship for community college students at the Orange County Register. Details are below. Each intern will receive a grant of $2,500 for about 10 weeks of work. The intern will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership. Applicants must be enrolled in a Southern California community college or have graduated within the last six months. Questions can be directed to julievpatel@gmail.com.
Good luck!
AAJA-LA
The Orange County Register is seeking a talented, dedicated intern from a Southern California community college for its local news desk. The intern will work about 15 hours per week, covering city hall and community news, as well as general assignment and likely education. Applicants should have experience in news or feature writing. Interns are encouraged to plan to schedule their work hours in blocks of several hours to get maximum benefit. Interns may be required to work remotely depending on coronavirus indicators at the time of the internship. This position is funded by a grant from the Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles chapter. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership. Preference will be given to applicants whose interests or background align with AAJA-LA’s mission. Send a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and at least two references to Register senior editor Todd Harmonson at tharmonson@scng.comby end of day, December 3rd.
Call for Applications: 2021 AAJA-LA Fall Internships
Students, We are excited to announce that AAJA-Los Angeles is sponsoring a paid fall internship at KCET. Details are below. Each intern will receive a grant of $5,000 for 10-16 weeks of work. The intern will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or have graduated within the last six months. Questions can be directed to julievpatel@gmail.com.
AAJA-LA and KCET Digital Production Intern | Fall 2021
Application deadline: Friday, July 30, 2021
Position Title: Digital Production Intern
Department: Content Development and Production
Classification: Full Time, Non-Exempt
Reports to: Senior Director, Digital Content
Location: Burbank
Compensation: Commensurate with Experience
Work with Purpose!
Public Media Group of Southern California (PBS SoCal, KCET, Link TV) is seeking a digital content intern to support content development for digital platforms for current programs including—but not limited to—Artbound, Lost LA, The Migrant Kitchen and Broken Bread as well as new series. Digital content includes editorial, videos, multimedia, and special projects. Duties may include research; content development; website publishing including copy editing and fact-checking; copywriting; pre-production, and post-production. (Production is currently limited due to COVID). Opportunities for original reporting will be provided.
About Public Media Group of Southern California (PMGSC)
Public Media Group of Southern California (KCET, PBS SoCal and LINK TV) tell stories that matter through original programs that reflect the diversity of the region, and the full schedule of trusted PBS programs. Our content channels – KCET and PBS SoCal – are available for free on the internet – connected screens and seven local broadcast channels. LINK TV can be accessed through national satellite channels.
A donor- supported community institution, PMGSC sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations and delivers social impact through services that prepare our most vulnerable children for school.
Job Overview
Working under the Senior Director of Digital Content, the Intern will be responsible for assisting in the content strategy and execution involved in Public Media Group of Southern California’s productions. The intern will assist Digital Producers in developing, coordinating and producing a variety of digital content supporting the station’s original series and national PBS campaigns including: articles, short digital video and multimedia projects.
On-air, online, and in the community, PMGSC plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. In addition to broadcasting the finest programs from around the world, KCET and KOCE produces and distributes award-winning local programs. Link TV provides a unique perspective on international news, current events, and diverse cultures, presenting issues not often covered in the US media.
Responsibilities (include but not limited to)
Work with digital producers, producers, editors, and related PMGSC staff to execute content strategy for productions
Research and develop digital content ideas in support of productions and PBS initiatives
Edit and copy edit written material
Source photography and imagery associated with planned content
Research potential writers for commissioned stories
Write articles in support of productions
Research and conduct outreach to potential partners with the goal of amplifying content produced
Attend editorial and production meetings
Work in a fast-paced environment to meet deadlines
Perform other duties as assigned
Basic Qualifications (required skills)
All candidates must be at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the US
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
All candidates must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or have graduated within the last six months.
All candidates must be willing to work 25 hours/week for 16 weeks or 40 hours/week for 10 weeks.
All candidates must provide their own housing and transportation for the duration of the internship
All candidates must be able to have a consistent, reliable work schedule throughout the session
Demonstrated interest in public media and understanding of KCET, KOCE and Link TV programming
Knowledge of media production for online platforms including short-form video content, social media videos, and articles
Desire to work in media as an editor, multimedia or digital producer
Must have strong writing, editing, and headline skills with consideration towards SEO
Knowledge with photo and video editing software, especially Adobe Premiere and Adobe Photoshop
Knowledge with content management systems (Drupal and WordPress), social media platforms, and Google Analytics
Strong attention to detail
Ability to multi-task with accuracy and to meet deadlines
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Must be a self-starter, proactive, highly motivated and goal-oriented
Equal Opportunity Employer
PMGSC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regards to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Each year, AAJA-LA works with local media companies to provide paid summer internships. It’s part of our philosophy that work experience is the best way to land a job. With the industry-wide decline in budgets, AAJA-LA has become one of the biggest providers of paid journalism internships in the area. They’re open to everyone, but we’re particularly interested in students who like to report on Asian American communities and issues.
Each intern is supported with a mentor and a $5,000 grant from AAJA-LA.
Here’s this year’s interns!
AAJA-LA Pasadena Star-News intern
Annakai Hayakawa Geshlider has covered community issues for The Rafu Shimpo and The Colton Courier. She is also managing editor for Kweli, an arts and literary journal.
AAJA-LA-Orange County Register intern
Camryn Pak is a student journalist from Orange County, California. She is a rising junior at Stanford University majoring in American Studies with an emphasis in Inequality, Media and the Law. Aside from academics, she is a news managing editor for The Stanford Daily and has hosted podcasts and written articles for GovSight, a non-profit civic information startup. She will report for the Orange County Register during the summer of 2021.
Call for Applications: 2021 AAJA-LA Summer Internships
Students!
We are excited to announce that AAJA-Los Angeles is sponsoring paid summer internships at several SoCal newsrooms. Details are below about the second of four internships. Each intern will receive a grant of $5,000 for approximately 10 weeks of work. Some of the news outlets may pay more. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or have graduated within the last six months. Questions can be directed to julievpatel@gmail.com.
Good luck! AAJA-LA
AAJA-LA and KCET Digital Production Intern | Summer 2021
Application deadline: Monday, April 19, 2021
Position Title: Digital Production Intern
Department: Content Development and Production
Classification: Full Time, Non-Exempt
Reports to: Senior Director, Digital Content
Location: Burbank
Compensation: Commensurate with Experience
Work with Purpose!
Public Media Group of Southern California (PBS SoCal, KCET, Link TV) is seeking a digital content intern to support content development for digital platforms for current programs including—but not limited to—Artbound, Lost LA, The Migrant Kitchen and Broken Bread as well as new series. Digital content includes editorial, videos, multimedia, and special projects. Duties may include research; content development; website publishing including copy editing and fact-checking; copywriting; pre-production, and post-production. (Production is currently limited due to COVID). Opportunities for original reporting will be provided.
About Public Media Group of Southern California (PMGSC)
Public Media Group of Southern California (KCET, PBS SoCal and LINK TV) tell stories that matter through original programs that reflect the diversity of the region, and the full schedule of trusted PBS programs. Our content channels – KCET and PBS SoCal – are available for free on internet – connected screens and seven local broadcast channels. LINK TV can be accessed through national satellite channels.
A donor- supported community institution, PMGSC sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations and delivers social impact through services that prepare our most vulnerable children for school.
Job Overview
Working under the Senior Director of Digital Content, the Intern will be responsible for assisting in the content strategy and execution involved in Public Media Group of Southern California’s productions. The intern will assist Digital Producers in developing, coordinating and producing a variety of digital content supporting the station’s original series and national PBS campaigns including: articles, short digital video and multimedia projects.
On-air, online, and in the community, PMGSC plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. In addition to broadcasting the finest programs from around the world, KCET and KOCE produces and distributes award-winning local programs. Link TV provides a unique perspective on international news, current events, and diverse cultures, presenting issues not often covered in the US media.
Responsibilities (include but not limited to)
· Work with digital producers, producers, editors, and related PMGSC staff to execute content strategy for productions
· Research and develop digital content ideas in support of productions and PBS initiatives
· Edit and copy edit written material
· Source photography and imagery associated with planned content
· Research potential writers for commissioned stories
· Write articles in support of productions
· Research and conduct outreach to potential partners with the goal of amplifying content produced
· Attend editorial and production meetings
· Work in a fast-paced environment to meet deadlines
· Perform other duties as assigned
Basic Qualifications (required skills)
· All candidates must be at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the US
· Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
· All candidates must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or have graduated within the last six months.
· All candidates must be willing to work 40 hours/week
· All candidates must provide their own housing and transportation for the duration of the internship
· All candidates must be able to have a consistent, reliable work schedule throughout the session
· Demonstrated interest in public media and understanding of KCET, KOCE and Link TV programming
· Knowledge of media production for online platforms including short-form video content, social media videos, and articles
· Desire to work in media as an editor, multimedia or digital producer
· Must have strong writing, editing, and headline skills with consideration towards SEO
· Knowledge with photo and video editing software, especially Adobe Premiere and Adobe Photoshop
· Knowledge with content management systems (Drupal and WordPress), social media platforms, and Google Analytics
· Strong attention to detail
· Ability to multi-task with accuracy and to meet deadlines
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
· Must be a self-starter, proactive, highly motivated and goal-oriented
Equal Opportunity Employer
PMGSC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regards to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
The Orange County Register is seeking a talented, dedicated intern for its local news desk. The intern will work 30 to 35 hours per week, covering general assignment and breaking news as well as Little Saigon and other Asian communities. Preference will be given to applicants invested in or interested in the Vietnamese or other Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and who have ties to Southern California. Applicants should have experience in news or feature writing.
Interns may be required to work remotely depending on coronavirus indicators at the time of the internship.
This position is funded by a grant from the Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles chapter. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership.
Send a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and at least two references to Register senior editor Todd Harmonson at tharmonson@scng.com by end of day Friday, April 23.
Meet AAJA-LA’s 2020 Summer Interns
Each year, AAJA-LA works with local media companies to provide paid summer internships. It’s part of our philosophy that work experience is the best way to land a job. With the industry-wide decline in budgets, AAJA-LA has become one of the biggest providers of paid journalism internships in the area. They’re open to everyone, but we’re particularly interested in students who like to report on Asian American communities and issues.
Each intern is supported with a mentor and a $5,000 grant from AAJA-LA.
Here’s this year’s interns!
AAJA-LA-Orange County Register intern
Nathan Nguyen, a Cal State Fullerton student, is an intern at the Orange CountyRegister, where he focuses on local government, breaking news and the Asian Pacific Islander and Desi American communities. He was the managing editor and lifestyle editor at the Daily Titan, is an avid (and loyal) Los Angeles Clippers fan and his favorite artists are Anderson .Paak, Flatbush Zombies and the late, great Mac Miller.
AAJA-LA Pasadena Star-News intern
Ashley is a rising junior at Yale University, majoring in political science. On campus, she writes and edits for the Yale Daily News Magazine and leads the Chinese American Students Association. She loves journalism, California, and Asian communities — and she’s excited to work in all three at the Pasadena Star-News this summer.
AAJA-LA CalMatters intern
Orlando is a senior at Cal State Northridge, where he is majoring in journalism. He will intern at CalMatters this fall, where he will report on income inequality in the state for CalMatters’ California Divide project. Orlando previously served as the news editor for CSUN’s student newspaper, the Daily Sundial, where he reported on racial inequity on campus and organized the paper’s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement in Los Angeles. In 2017, Orlando was a summer intern at the L.A. Times through the High School Insider program. He is originally from Ontario, California.
Call for Applications: 2020 AAJA-LA Summer Internships
Students!
We are excited to announce that AAJA-Los Angeles is sponsoring paid summer internships at KCET, the Pasadena Star-News and the Orange County Register. Each intern will receive a grant of $5,000 for approximately 10 weeks of work. Some of the news outlets may pay more. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or have graduated within the last six months. Questions? Contact Julie Patel Liss at 650-906-7818 or julievpatel@gmail.com.
Good luck!
AAJA-LA
Pasadena Star-News
Application deadline: Friday, March 20
The San Gabriel Valley includes some of Southern California’s most vibrant Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The intern’s primary responsibility will be writing about trends and issues in those communities, though the internship may include some general assignment work. The intern will work 30 to 35 hours per week. Fluency in an Asian language is a plus but not required. This position is funded by a grant from the Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles chapter. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership.
Deadline is March 20. Send cover letter, resume and clips to Penny Arevalo, parevalo@scng.com.
AAJA-LA/REGISTER REPORTING INTERNSHIP
Application deadline: Friday, March 20
The Orange County Register is seeking a talented, dedicated intern for its local news desk. The intern will work 30 to 35 hours per week, covering general assignment and breaking news as well as Little Saigon and other Asian communities. Preference will be given to applicants invested in or interested in the Vietnamese or other Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and who have ties to Southern California. Applicants should have experience in news or feature writing.
This position is funded by a grant from the Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles chapter. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership.
Send a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and at least two references to Register senior editor Todd Harmonson at tharmonson@scng.com by end of day Friday, March 20.
AAJA-LA ANDKCETLINK MEDIA GROUP INTERNSHIP
Application deadline: Friday, March 20
KCETLink is seeking a digital production intern for original programs such as Artbound, City Rising, and Lost LA as well as new original digital series such as Ballot Brief and documentaries covering topics such as Prop 187, Prop 13, and Power + Health. Duties may include development and research, pre-production, production, post-production and distribution.
For more details about this internship, click here. Preference will be given to applicants whose interests or background align with AAJA-LA’s mission.
Send cover letter, resume and work samples to Justin Cram, managing editor, jcram@pmgsocal.org, by end of the day Friday, March 20.
Meet AAJA-LA’s 2019 Summer Interns
Each year, AAJA-LA works with local media companies to provide paid summer internships. It’s part of our philosophy that work experience is the best way to land a job. With the industry-wide decline in budgets, AAJA-LA has become one of the biggest providers of paid journalism internships in the area. They’re open to everyone, but we’re particularly interested in students who like to report on Asian American communities and issues.
Each intern is supported with a mentor and a $5,000 grant from AAJA-LA.
Here’s this year’s interns!
Hanh Truong
Mentor: Randy Hagihara, former Hiring Editor, Los Angeles Times
Hanh is a senior at UC Irvine, majoring in Literary Journalism with a minor in Humanities and Law. In her 2nd year, she was an editorial intern at the Los Angeles magazine and in the following school year, she interned at an international gastronomy magazine called Salty. Today, alongside her internship at the Orange County Register where she focuses on Asian communities and general assignment news, Hanh also works as a music journalist for Cloud Jam Studios. Aside from writing, she enjoys listening to all types of music, ranging from Flume, Launder, to A$AP Mob.
Mentor: Matt Ormseth, reporter, Los Angeles Times (former AAJA/OC Register intern)
A Temecula native, Stephanie is an incoming second-year political science and creative writing student at Columbia University. She spent her first year at UCLA where she was a city and crime reporter for the Daily Bruin, producing two investigative stories on a land use battle and business obstruction and one long form story on the history of Westwood Village. She previously worked for the Valley News for two years as a writer focusing on education, local politics and breaking wildfire news. Beyond journalism, she is interested in competitive cheerleading, playing the piano or ukulele, and nonprofit work. She plans on pursuing a career as a journalist for a daily publication.
Mentor: Meghan Coyle, web producer, NerdWallet (former AAJA/KCRW intern)
Brandon is an urban planning student at UC Berkeley. As a content intern for KPCC, he is helping produce the daily news show, Take Two. He wrote for the Daily Californian in Berkeley as the lead city government reporter, with a focus on the housing crisis.
Mentor: Lucas Kwan Peterson, food writer, Los Angeles Times
Victoria is a recent communications graduate of Cal Poly Pomona and is working as a digital content intern at KCET . She is originally from Tijuana but has been living in L.A. for around two years. She is passionate about immigrant cuisines and how these communities improve food/cultural landscapes. When not developing content or reporting, you can find her baking, eating or catching a show somewhere.
Call for Applications: 2019 AAJA-LA Summer Internships
Applications Closed
We are excited to announce that AAJA-Los Angeles is sponsoring summer internships at KPCC, the Orange County Register, KCET and the Pasadena Star-News.
Each intern will receive a grant of $5,000 for approximately 10 weeks of full-time work. Some of the news outlets may pay more. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership.
Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or have graduated within the last six months.
KPCC FM 89.3
Application deadline: Monday, March 25
KPCC is offering an opportunity for broadcasting/journalism students or recent graduates to learn the real-world demands of working in an award-winning public media newsroom. We aim to provide a meaningful experience for the intern.
Southern California Public Radio is seeking one intern interested in radio news production and talk shows. We’ll be hiring for a 10-week stint, with an anticipated June start date. The pay is $14.25 an hour. The intern working with newscasts or shows would assist with reporting, research, and production of those programs, including AirTalk with Larry Mantle (this assignment is fast paced).
Applicants should have experience in radio production and include samples of their on-air work. Preference will be given to applicants whose interests or background align with AAJA-LA’s mission (http://aaja-la.org/about/).
The Orange County Register is seeking a talented, dedicated intern for its local news desk.The intern will cover general assignment and breaking news as well as Little Saigon and other Asian communities.Preference will be given to applicants invested in or interested in the Vietnamese or other Asian communities and who have ties to Southern California.Applicants should have experience in news or feature writing. Send a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and at least two references to Register senior editor Todd Harmonson at tharmonson@scng.com by end of day Friday, April 5.
KCETLINK MEDIA GROUP INTERNSHIP
Application deadline: Wednesday, April 10
KCETLink is seeking a production intern for shows including Lost LA, The Migrant Kitchen, City Rising and SoCal Wanderer. Duties may include development and research, pre-production, production, post-production and distribution.
For more details about this internship, click here.Preference will be given to applicants whose interests or background align with AAJA-LA’s mission (http://aaja-la.org/about/).
Send cover letter, resume and work samples to Justin Cram, managing editor, jcram@kcet.org, by end of the day Wednesday, April 10.
PASADENA STAR-NEWS REPORTING INTERNSHIP
Application deadline: Friday, April 12
The San Gabriel Valley includes some of Southern California’s most vibrant Asian immigrant communities. The intern’s primary responsibility will be to write about trends and issues in those communities, though the internship may include some general assignment work. Fluency in an Asian language is a plus but not required.
Deadline is April 12. Send cover letter, resume and clips to Penny Arevalo, parevalo@scng.com.
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Meet AAJA-LA’s 2018 Summer Interns
Bethany Wang
Mentor: Meghan Coyle, NPR (now web producer for NerdWallet)
Pasadena native Bethany Wang is excited to be back in Southern California after graduating from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where she studied International Affairs with a concentration in Asia and Journalism & Mass Communications. She previously worked with Congresswoman Judy Chu on Capitol Hill and Asian Americans Advancing Justice at the D.C. office, where she worked on social justice issues, such as immigration. From social issues to music, Bethany has an eclectic palate of interests as she was also a writer for the 9:30 Club’s music blog, Half Past, a blog by one of D.C.’s oldest music venues. She is currently interning at 89.3 KPCC where she is supporting the team of AirTalk and FilmWeek.
Kayiu is from Alhambra, California and is an incoming junior at Pepperdine University. She is a news editor for the campus newspaper and serves as a producer for the university’s student-run, live newscast. She just came home from spending a semester in Washington D.C., where she reported on congressional hearings for The Hill Newspaper. Kayiu has a passion for reporting local news and plans on pursuing a career as a producer or reporter for a broadcast news station. She loves traveling, hiking, and trying new foods.
Mentor: Jeremy Chen, reporter, KESQ TV in Palm Springs
Vicky Nguyen reports for East Los Angeles College’s Campus News and is currently is studying to earn a Journalism certificate. She previously graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a B.A. in history and communication. In 2017, Vicky was runner-up in the social media reporting contest at the Journalism Association for Community Colleges California State Conference. At her internship with KCETLink, she works with the team on SoCal Connected, KCET’s award-winning newsmagazine program. Vicky is interested in longform and cultural reporting and plans to pursue a journalism career in public media.
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Lilly Nguyen
Mentor: Randy Hagihara, hiring editor, L.A. Times (retired)
Born and raised in Orange County, Lilly Nguyen now finds herself serving the community that raised her. A recent graduate of Cal State Long Beach, she worked previously at the campus’ newspaper where she wrote on community projects, local news, government policy and a number of social issues. She also interned at Kore Asian Media, where she wrote on Asian Americans in the entertainment sphere and arts world at large. While news might be the basis of much of her writing, she was a former culture editor at a student-run magazine at Long Beach and loves local theater (but, mostly reviewing it) and considers herself a master of show tune karaoke by passion. She currently interns at the OC Register as a general assignment reporter, stretched across much of North Orange County.
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Call for applications: 2018 summer internships
Applications Closed
We are excited to announce that we’re sponsoring several summer internships.
Each intern will receive a grant of $4,400 for approximately 10 weeks of full-time work. Some of the news outlets may pay more. Interns will be matched with a mentor and receive a free AAJA membership.
Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or have graduated within the last six months.
KCETLINK MEDIA GROUP INTERNSHIP
Application deadline: Friday, April 6
KCETLink is seeking a production intern for shows including Lost LA, The Migrant Kitchen, City Rising and SoCal Wanderer. Duties may include development and research, pre-production, production, post-production and distribution.
For more details about this internship, click here.Preference will be given to applicants whose interests or background align with AAJA-LA’s mission (http://aaja-la.org/about/).
Send cover letter, resume and work samples to Justin Cram, managing editor, jcram@kcet.org, by end of the day Friday, April 6.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER REPORTING INTERNSHIP
Application deadline: April 6
The Orange County Register is seeking a talented, dedicated intern for its local news desk.
The intern will cover general assignment and breaking news as well as Little Saigon and other Asian communities.Preference will be given to applicants invested in or interested in the Vietnamese or other Asian communities and who have ties to Southern California.
Applicants should have experience in news or feature writing. Send a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and at least two references to Register senior editor Todd Harmonson at tharmonson@scng.com by end of day Friday, April 6.
PASADENA STAR-NEWS REPORTING INTERNSHIP
Application deadline: Friday, April 13
The San Gabriel Valley includes some of Southern California’s most vibrant Asian immigrant communities. The intern’s primary responsibility will be to write about trends and issues in those communities, though the internship may include some general assignment work. Fluency in an Asian language is a plus but not required.
Deadline is April 13. Send cover letter, resume and clips to Penny Arevalo, parevalo@scng.com.
KPCC FM 89.3
Application deadline: Sunday, Feb. 25, 10 p.m.
KPCC is offering an opportunity for broadcasting/journalism students or recent graduates to learn the real-world demands of working in an award-winning public media newsroom. We aim to provide a meaningful experience for the intern.
Southern California Public Radio is seeking one intern interested in radio news production and talk shows. We’ll be hiring for a 10-week stint, with an anticipated June start date. The pay is $12 an hour. The intern working with newscasts or shows would assist with reporting, research, and production of those programs, including AirTalk with Larry Mantle (this assignment is fast paced).
Applicants should have experience in radio production and include samples of their on-air work. This position is funded in part by a grant from the Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles chapter. Preference will be given to applicants whose interests or background align with AAJA-LA’s mission (http://aaja-la.org/about/).
Titus Wu is from Arcadia, Calif., in the San Gabriel Valley. He is an incoming sophomore at the University of Missouri, Columbia, with a major in journalism. He currently writes sports for the college’s student newspaper and is an assistant news director for the college’s student radio station. Wu plans to pursue print and digital journalism, with a dream of writing many long-form features about important social issues.
The real newsroom:“My first professional experience in journalism was a valuable one, as I got to see an actual newsroom setting beyond student media. Interacting with community members, getting into confrontations with government officials and witnessing buyouts gave me a good, hard look into what being a journalist means. This internship has greatly increased my appreciation for local journalism.”
Jeong Park graduated in June from UCLA. He worked as an assistant news editor and a managing editor for the Daily Bruin, the UCLA’s student newspaper. He covered beats such as the University of California and national higher education policies. Park hopes to pursue an ever elusive career in print and data journalism to tell stories that make people care.
Journalism is here to stay – “I have learned so much from my time at the Register, from pestering sources to writing on quick deadline. The Register put me to work right away and gave me the freedom to pursue stories I wanted to write — such as a story on homelessness in Garden Grove’s Korean community. Seeing dozens of editors and writers work tirelessly throughout day and night has also reminded me that no matter what critics say about the industry, local journalism is here to stay.”
Jeong Park, 23, in Anaheim on Friday, September 1, 2017, is a Korean immigrant and a DACA recipient who came to the United States when he was 11-years-old. Park graduated from UCLA with a political science major and just completed a journalism internship at the Orange County Register. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
This is where I try to sell you on the merits of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which President Donald Trump is expected to end.
But you’ve probably made up your mind already.
So, instead, let me tell you a bit about myself.
Journalism intern Jeong Park in the newsroom at the Orange County Register Anaheim on Friday, September 1, 2017. Park, 23, a Korean immigrant and a DACA recipient who came to the United States when he was 11-years-old. Park graduated from UCLA with a political science major. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
I am an undocumented (or DACA-mented) Korean immigrant who came stateside when I was 11. My mother swears I wanted to come here, but I remember crying a lot in an airplane.
I am also an aspiring journalist. I have heard numerous cries to “get out while you are young,” but journalism has been way too fun and exciting. There aren’t that many jobs that allow you to research ‘butt dart.’
I don’t want to be a story. My job is to tell the stories of others.
So, why am I writing this?
Well, today is the last day of my internship at the Register, so it’s not as if I have much to do.
But I also remember reading Jose Antonio Vargas’ New York Times Magazine story about himself as an undocumented journalist. And I find Ruben Vives’ bylines in the LA Times, another former undocumented immigrant.
I remember how powerful their bylines and stories have been for me. Growing up in California, I did not feel as afraid as others in sharing my identity, but those bylines and stories were comforting. The message I heard was that I, too, could tell stories.
So it’s my turn to let people know that this path is possible.
My story can perhaps be one of those cookie cutter stories; of someone who has done everything I can to succeed only to have it taken away because of immigration status.
But my story isn’t a story of heartbreak, with or without DACA.
Sure, I might go through some unexpected turns and twists over the next couple years or so. I might have to find a (gulp) non-journalism job to tide me over.
But just about a month ago, when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and nine other attorney generals threatened the federal government to end DACA, Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” came on the radio. And I listened.
“At first, I was afraid, I was petrified,” Gaynor sang. “Oh, no, not I, I will survive / Long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive / I’ve got my life to live, and all my love to give.”
One more thing:
I’m not a “dreamer.” Hundreds of thousands of people like me have not only dreamed, but accomplished. And that’s going to continue, no matter what the current administration decides.
The question is where.
Meghan Coyle
Mentor: Gita Amar, media consultant (former TV and radio journalist)
Meghan is a recent graduate of USC Annenberg’s School for Communication and Journalism, where she served as the Online Managing Editor of The Daily Trojan and a radio producer for Annenberg Media. Her radio show, “From Where We Are,” is the 2016 National Winner for Best All-Around Radio Newscast in the SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards. Meghan has also been published in The Washington Post and worked for NBC Sports on the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. She previously interned for “To The Point” at KCRW. This SoCal transplant grew up in Alexandria, VA. This summer, she also has a sweet gig working at the Museum of Ice Cream.
One day’s work: “I never knew how much you could accomplish in one day until I joined the lean and nimble “All Things Considered” team at KCRW. We had a single producer, host, and board operator putting together the newscasts that accompany people on their way home from work everyday. I learned to edit audio faster, multi-task constantly, and write for conversation. It was a huge challenge, but by the end of the summer, I was both on the air and able to fill-in as the producer on the show.”
Call for Applications: 2017 Summer Reporting Internships
Applications Closed
We are excited to announce that we’re sponsoring three summer reporting internships this year.
Each intern will be paid $4,000 for approximately 10 weeks of full-time work. Interns will be matched with a mentor and will receive a free AAJA-LA membership. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or have graduated within the last six months.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER REPORTING INTERNSHIP Application deadline: April 7
The Orange County Register is seeking a talented, dedicated intern for its local news desk. The intern will cover general assignment and breaking news as well as Little Saigon and other Asian communities.
Preference will be given to applicants invested in or interested in the Vietnamese or other Asian communities and who have ties to Southern California.
Applicants should have experience in news or feature writing. Send a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and at least two references to Steve Green, Assistant Managing Editor/Operations,stgreen@scng.com, by end of day Friday, April 7.
KCRW 89.9 FM Application deadline: April 28
AAJA-LA is sponsoring a summer internship at KCRW 89.9 FM in Santa Monica.
The intern will work on All Things Considered with afternoon news producer Ben Gottlieb, developing skills such as: forming a well-focused story, researching and fact-checking, writing for broadcast news and using audio equipment/editing software. The intern may also be able to pitch and produce his/her own stories.
The pay is $4,000 for 10 weeks of full-time work, starting at the beginning of June. The All Things Considered team begins work at 1 p.m. and finishes at about 7 p.m.
Interns will be matched with a mentor and will receive a free AAJA-LA membership. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university or have graduated within the last six months. Preference will be given to applicants whose interests or background align with AAJA-LA’s mission (http://aaja-la.org/about/).
Send cover letter, resume and work samples to Michelle Escobar,michelle.escobar@kcrw.org, with the subject line “AAJA Internship — (Your Name),” by April 28.
PASADENA STAR-NEWS REPORTING INTERNSHIP
Application Deadline: March 31
The San Gabriel Valley includes some of Southern California’s most vibrant Asian immigrant communities. The intern’s primary responsibility will be to write about trends and issues in those communities, though the internship may include some general assignment work. Fluency in an Asian language is a plus but not required.
Deadline is March 31. Send cover letter, resume and clips to Brian Harr, Senior Editor, bharr@scng.com.
Good luck!
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Meet our 2016 Summer Interns
Matthew Ormseth
Mentor: Matt Stevens, reporter, L.A. Times (now at The New York Times)
Interning at the Register taught me to be more comprehensive in my reporting. I learned to identify stakeholders — all the people affected by the issues at the heart of a story — and work their perspectives into a 3-D narrative that looks at those issues from different vantage points. And I learned to use data to support, challenge and qualify those perspectives.
I had mentors, both at the Register and through AAJA, who challenged me to be more thorough as a reporter and more accurate as a writer. After my 10 weeks at the Register, I know how difficult a job reporting can be. But I feel more confident and better equipped to do that job.
Matthew Ormseth was an AAJA-LA intern at The Orange County Register, where he covered university news. He is a senior English major at Cornell University, where he also writes for the school paper, The Cornell Daily Sun. He is a columnist for the Pacific Citizen and the Rafu Shimpo, and enjoys listening to and producing hip hop in his free time.
I’ve learned that as journalists, we are the gatekeepers of information to the community. A journalist should not frame a story and guide the readers to think in a certain way… We serve as a guide, to help the public draw conclusions on its own.
Khoa Lai was an AAJA-LA intern at Nguoi Viet Daily News, the oldest and largest Vietnamese-language publication in the U.S. and based in Orange County, Calif. He is a journalism major at California State University, Long Beach, who has written for the Daily49er, the campus newspaper. He expects to graduate in December. His experience includes stints as an intern at Remarq Inc., a boutique communications firm in West Los Angeles where he worked on the SoCal Honda and Anaheim GardenWalk campaigns; and as an intern at the Caravelle Saigon Hotel, an international five-star hotel in Vietnam where he used qualitative and quantitative research for monthly marketing campaigns and wrote press releases that focused on boosting search engine optimization.
Below are some samples of his stories reported or translated:
Over the course of my internship, I acquired a plethora of essential journalism skills. I learned how to strike a balance between preparation and improvisation. I learned a great deal of basic communication skills, just from overhearing the phone interviews of other reporters. All the while, my take on the world of journalism evolved. Working at the Pasadena Star-News, I was able to observe first-hand the business side of the entire craft,” Peña said.
Without my internship this summer, I would not have been able to learn all of these important lessons. For that, I am grateful to AAJA and the Pasadena Star-News.
Marina Peña was an AAJA-LA intern at the Pasadena Star-News, where she covered Asian communities. A native of Argentina, she is a junior at the University of Southern California, majoring in print and digital journalism and serving as a columnist for USC Annenberg Media. She enjoys strawberries, long walks and writing about social issues.
KCRW 89.9 FM 
PASADENA STAR-NEWS REPORTING INTERNSHIP
