Data Journalism Reporting Intern

Investigate Midwest is looking for applicants for its summer 2024 internship program. This position is for college students who will return to school after the internship.

We're an independent, nonprofit newsroom devoted to serving the public as a watchdog over influential corporations and institutions through in-depth and data-driven investigative journalism.

This position is funded by the Gary Marx Fund, a resource created by longtime investigative reporter David Jackson to help educate the next generation of investigative reporters.

This is a full-time, possibly remote position: 40 hours a week, at $15 an hour, for up to 12 weeks. The internship begins early June and ends mid August.

Successful applicants would be expected to produce 1-2 stories, and assist with research and data-entry for internal use and other investigative projects. In addition, interns might be expected to produce shorter weekly stories on deadline. Interns are strongly encouraged to pitch story ideas.

Work from several 2023 interns includes:

An investigative story on a loophole in the H-2A visa program that allows companies banned from the program to use relatives or a new company to stay in the program just days or weeks after being banned. The reporter tracked down the handful of companies that had been banned, aka debarred, and that had renewed business in a different name.

A multimedia project on the decrease of native prairies and the species in them. The work focused on an application to list the Iowa skipper butterfly as endangered. The reporter requested records, data documents, conducted interviews, took photos and wrote cutlines, created a map, wrote a 3,000-word story and also crafted social media posts for the project.

Experience with and moderate proficiency using Excel/Google Sheets is preferred; familiarity with Python, R or SQL a plus. Experience using data visualization programs such as Flourish and Datawrapper preferred. Data reporting and open records experience or filing Freedom of Information requests is required. Spanish-language skills are a plus.

To apply, please send a resume, a 1-page cover letter, 3 work samples, and at least 2 references and their contact information to the internship director, Suzanne Behnke, suzanne.behnke@investigatemidwest.org, by end of the business day, 5 p.m. Central time, Feb. 9.

Investigate Midwest is an equal employment opportunity employer and we seek to increase diversity in our own operation and in the news media. We encourage individuals from communities traditionally underrepresented in this field to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin. Investigate Midwest considers equivalent combinations of experience and education for certain jobs. All candidates who believe they possess equivalent experience and education are encouraged to apply.

Serious consideration will be given to applicants with previous news internship experience, especially reporting and writing hard news.