November 20, 2009 for the Summer 2010 radio room and reporting programs.
July 9, 2010 for year-long internship. Program starts Sept. 13, 2010
The Toronto Star offers young journalists three internship programs. Interns work with full-time staff in a challenging but supportive environment. All Star internships are paid, contract positions.
We cannot accommodate volunteers, short-term placements or co-op students.
A driver’s licence is required for reporting and photography positions (Radio Room excepted).
One-year internship
The Toronto Star is offering a one-year internship program for young journalists.
The program runs from September to September and is open to graduates under the age of 30 who have never held a full-time, permanent staff position at a Canadian daily newspaper.
Successful reporting candidates work in the city department. Copy editing interns are assigned to a variety of editing desks during the year. The program begins with orientation and there are seminar days. A demonstrated commitment to journalism is required, through a combination of formal journalism training and experience, or extensive experience. We will consider candidates with non-traditional qualifications and credentials. The application deadline is July 9, 2010. The program starts Sept. 13, 2010.
There are six reporting interns, two copy editing interns and a design intern in the 2009 - 2010 program.
The Radio Room
The Radio Room requires strong reporting and phone interview skills and the ability to work quickly and accurately.
Radio room reporters monitor emergency scanners, do police checks, monitor radio and television news and report stories that are often crime or trauma related. In addition to writing for the newspaper, radio room reporters file breaking news stories and updates to the website. Successful candidates also work shifts answering phones and providing support to the newsroom.
The radio room environment is often hectic, so successful candidates must be calm, well-organized, able to juggle several tasks at once; able to persuade sometimes reluctant officials to talk and prepared to interview victims of crimes or accidents, and family members of people killed or hurt in accidents or crimes.
The Radio Room is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by journalism students working eight-hour shifts. Several students are hired in late summer to work part-time during the university year; a second group of students is hired to work through the summer months. The radio room has proven to be excellent preparation for summer reporting programs at the Star and other dailies. Strong news reporting experience at university or community papers is required; reporting experience at a daily is a strong asset. The application deadline is November 20, 2009 for the Summer 2010 program.
Summer Program
This is a demanding program because summer reporters and photographers are hired on vacation replacement contracts - meaning that as full-time staff disappear on vacations, summer interns are expected to step up to the demands of replacing them.
The 10-week contracts for reporters are all general assignment positions in the city department and successful applicants could be writing features, covering crimes, courts, inquests, breaking news or health and education stories, in other words, anything that’s happening.
The positions are open to college and university level journalism students, (or college and university level journalists) or students who graduate in the year of the summer program they are applying for. Previous experience at a daily newspaper is usually required.
The program begins with a week-long orientation and monthly seminars and volunteer mentors offer additional support. The application deadline is November 20, 2009 for the Summer 2010 program.
Application deadlines:
November 20, 2009 for the Summer 2010 radio room and reporting programs.
July 9, 2010 for year-long internship. Program starts Sept. 13, 2010
What we look for
Enthusiastic, talented, curious and intelligent journalists with a strong work ethic, a positive attitude and a passion for the profession, who will bring energy, ideas and new perspectives to the paper. Fluency in other languages and experience with different cultural and ethnic communities are assets. A strong portfolio of published work is required.
Packages should contain the following collated material (in this order):
• Cover letter, state position applying for at top of page in bold type. Include email, street address and phone number.
• Resume
• References
• Material
Need for Reporter applications:
• A range of clippings with a strong component of news stories
• Proven ability to write well, report thoroughly, synthesize and organize information
• Reporting experience outside school assignments and a demonstrated commitment to journalism
• Strong people skills
• Life experience that contributes to your development/ability as a journalist
Need for Photographer applications:
• A varied portfolio of photojournalism projects and spot news photographs
• Ability to make pictures in a variety of conditions and settings and under time pressure
• A minimum of one multimedia project - video or audio slideshow or combination of stills and video that illustrate an understanding of multimedia story telling
• Photography experience outside school assignments and a demonstrated commitment to photojournalism
• Strong people skills
• Life experience that contributes to your development/ability as a journalist
Need for Artist (Graphics) applications:
• Excellent Illustrator, PhotoShop skills
• Excellent reporting and research skills
• 3D graphics, Flash or GIS mapping experience a definite plus
• Previous newspaper or magazine experience required (campus publications qualify)
• Strong people skills
• Life experience that contributes to your development/ability as a journalist
Need for Designer applications:
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, often under tight deadlines
• Knowledge of Illustrator, Photo Shop and Indesign. Flash skills considered an asset
• Previous newspaper or magazine experience required (campus publications qualify)
• Strong people skills
• Life experience that contributes to your development/ability as a journalist
How to apply
Each position and program requires a separate application with the exception of summer positions in the Radio Room. Those who apply for reporting jobs in the summer program are automatically considered for the radio room.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Please read the following instructions carefully. We thank all applicants for their interest. If you provide an email address, we will send a standard message that acknowledges receipt of your package. Applications and accompanying materials will not be returned. Once applications are in, we will be in touch only with candidates we would like to interview.
For Reporters:
Application packages for reporters must include a one-page cover letter, resume, three references (names and contact numbers - both home and cellphone plus email addresses are sufficient but you may include reference letters if you wish) and a selection of six to 10 published clippings, a mix of news and features. You may include one opinion piece or review or column. If you are fluent in another language or have experience with diverse communities, please include that information in your resume. Applications are reviewed by a panel of two or three editors so we need three complete copies of your package, submitted together in one envelope.
Please send application packages for reporting positions to:
Roger Gillespie
Senior Editor, Training and Development
Toronto Star Editorial Department, 5th Floor
1 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ont.
M5E 1E6
