Summer Internship, Herald-Mail, Hagerstown,MD

Position: 2026 Summer Internship, The Herald-Mail, Hagerstown,MD
The Herald-Mail / , part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, seeks a news intern for the summer of 2026.

The intern, based in Hagerstown or Washington County, Maryland, will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the community and build relationships with first-hand sources as they gain experience in the journalism industry.

This will not be a position that assists in newsroom administrative duties. The intern will work daily as a reporter so they can develop and apply the experience and skills they gain in a fast-paced, real-time newsroom environment. The undergraduate and graduate students will have opportunities where they can develop, grow and possibly become the next generation of talent for the USA TODAY Network.

The position will be virtual, but the intern will work in Hagerstown or Washington County and work closely with an experienced reporter and be guided by a hands-on editor in Maryland.

As part of the experience, there will be opportunities to work with reporters in Franklin County, Pennsylvania and possibly others in the USA TODAY Network.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

Strong writing skills and a command of grammar and style.

Experience with social media, including Instagram Stories, as a tool to build audience and as a source for beat development.

Experience with and interest in multimedia, including video.
A journalist committed to values of fairness, diversity, inclusion and professionalism.

REQUIREMENTS

An undergraduate or graduate student in the process of obtaining a degree in journalism or similar field.
Has worked previously as a media intern or gained experience with a school newspaper or publication.
Good time management and organizational skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Newsroom interns will work with breaking news, features, enterprise and social media teams to learn and sharpen basic and advanced journalism skills, handling reporting, writing, editing, copy editing, digital production, research, database work, investigative work and visual journalism.
Interns will gain experience in a 24/7 deadline-driven newsroom.
Critical thinking and analytical skills will be encouraged and sharpened.
Interns will participate in news meetings and learn how priorities for news content and coverage are set and executed.

APPLICAITON INSTRUCTIONS:
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

Your resume - one to two pages.
A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you've produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.