Posted On: April 2, 2026

Journalism Internship

Media Organization: Straus Media/Manhattan

Company Description

Straus Media is a long-established company that publishes 17 newspapers in total in New York City, upstate New York and in NJ and Pennsylvania.

The four Manhattan newspapers and web sites are: Our Town, West Side Spirit, Chelsea News and Our Town Downtown.

Job Description

Straus News, which in Manhattan comprises four weekly newspapers, seeks capable and enthusiastic editorial interns for the fall, spring and summer semesters.

Interns work in the office and remotely, covering local neighborhood news on the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Downtown and Chelsea. Interns work closely with editorial staff, attend weekly story meetings (in person or over Zoom) and report on and write everything from arts features to investigations.

We require interns to commit to two full weekdays. Days and times are flexible. Internships are unpaid and MUST be eligible for school credit.

Duties include:
• Reporting and writing profiles, Q&As, feature stories, news stories, investigative pieces, news briefs, and other stories
• Attending weekly editorial meetings
• Pitching stories
• Helping research investigative stories
• Doing "man-on-the-street" interviews
• Taking photos and videos

Interns will report on local government, transportation, small businesses, schools, crime, the arts and development, as well as write profiles.

We like stories that inform our smart, loyal readers about their neighborhoods, stories they are not likely to read elsewhere. These are published in the West Side Spirit, Our Town, Our Town Downtown and Chelsea News.

We do not do reviews, either of arts events or food/restaurants, but we do stories about the people behind those events and restaurants.

Interns will get help, advice and suggestions on pitching stories, developing them, reporting and research, and writing (and re-writing). At the end of their tenures, interns leave with a wealth of published clips, with the range of topics and story types determined by abilities and, at least in part, interests.

To Apply

Please email Keith Kelly at editor.ot@strausnews.com. Include a brief cover letter detailing your specific interest in local journalism and your availability (potential starting date as well as days/times available) for the semester. Please also attach a resume and links to published clips.