1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100
Arlington, Va. 22209
703-807-2100
The Reporters Committee offers internships and fellowships on a regular basis. The work is challenging, but rewarding. Right from the start, interns write articles for our newsletter and magazine, contribute to our booklets on specific legal topics, and conduct research for other special projects. Legal fellows also handle legal defense questions in the areas to which they are assigned, and often write amicus briefs in appellate cases. Journalism fellows edit and write for all of our publications.
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2010-2011 Fellowship information:
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The Reporters Committee hires two or three legal fellows each year. Fellows will monitor significant developments in media law, assist with responding to legal defense requests from reporters, prepare legal memoranda, and handle other special projects. In addition, fellows will write for the Committee's publications, the quarterly magazine The News Media & The Law, and the bi-weekly newsletter, News Media Update.
Law fellows must have graduated from law school and taken a bar exam before the fellowship begins, but need not have passed the exam by then. Fellows start in September, but all hiring is done in the spring. The application deadline for the regular fellowships is usually in February; complete applications (see next paragraph) must be received at that time. A background in news reporting is strongly preferred.
The Reporters Committee hires a journalism fellow each year. The journalism fellow plans, supervises and edits articles for our website, newsletter and magazine, and works with our staff attorneys to ensure that all of our work is appealing to and useful for journalists, not just lawyers. A journalism fellowship candidate must have at least three years experience as a reporter or editor, and should have a background in free press issues.
There is no application form. Candidates should submit a cover letter; resume; names, addresses and phone numbers for three references; a legal writing sample (for one of the legal fellowships); and news clips or another short non-legal writing sample to the Executive Director. Applications may be mailed or emailed. Application materials cannot be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
The Reporters Committee is a voluntary, unincorporated association of reporters and editors, dedicated to protecting the First Amendment interests of the news media. From its Arlington, Va., office, the Reporters Committee staff provides cost-free legal defense and research services to journalists and their attorneys throughout the United States, and also operates the FOI Service Center to assist the news media with federal and state open records and open meetings issues.
The Reporters Committee has existed since 1970 to preserve and defend the First Amendment and freedom of information rights and interests of journalists around the country. As a small organization, the Reporters Committee relies heavily on its interns to provide significant contributions to our publications and our legal work. Interns report and write on free press and media law issues for our magazine, Web site and guidebooks and assist our staff of lawyers in conducting research to help reporters overcome legal hurdles covering the news.
The Reporters Committee also provides its interns with regular opportunities to interact with working journalists, media lawyers and policymakers through seminars around Washington, D.C. Interns will attend Congressional hearings on Capitol Hill, hear arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal appellate courts and visit newsrooms and government agencies where they can learn firsthand about free-press issues.
We also hope that after their experience at the Reporters Committee, our interns become First Amendment and freedom of information advocates.
Students or recent graduates may intern in the Spring, Summer or Fall semesters. Interns may receive college credit and are eligible to receive a $2,000 stipend from the Reporters Committee. Some interns may be enrolled in Washington semester study programs through their colleges or universities.
Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter and writing samples (3-5 clips and/or a short research paper). A strong background in journalism is preferred.
Applications are best sent by January 31 for the Summer term; May 31 for Fall; and October 31 for Spring, but are accepted anytime on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
The Reporters Committee is located in Arlington, Virginia, near the Rosslyn Metro station, just across the Potomac River from Georgetown, and is an easy commute from most places within the metropolitan D.C. area.
Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and writing samples (3-5 clips, journalistic writing samples and/or a short research paper) to:
Internship Coordinator
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100
Arlington, VA 22209
or
internships@rcfp.org
Two types of internship are available:
Journalism internship. This intern, a college student or recent graduate, will cover a broad range of issues, primarily writing for our magazine, Web site and guidebooks.
Legal interns. Legal interns are law students who will gain experience in legal research and writing, aiding the attorneys at the Reporters Committee answering calls from our legal hotline and will also contribute to the magazine, Web site and guidebooks. Journalism experience is not always necessary, but still preferred, in legal intern candidates.
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press is a voluntary, unincorporated association of reporters and editors dedicated to protecting the First Amendment interests of the news media. It provides cost-free legal defense and research services to journalists throughout the United States, and also operates the FOI Service Center to assist reporters with federal and state open records and open meetings issues.
More information about the Reporters Committee is available here.
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The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the
Press 1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100 Arlington, Va. 22209 703-807-2100
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