We’re seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented People & Operations Team Intern to join our team for a three-month fall internship. This is a unique opportunity to join a growing, national movement to rebuild local news in communities across the country in a way that allows these local news organizations to better serve the public while being sustainable and independent. As part of the People & Operations team, you’ll contribute meaningfully to the inner workings of a national venture philanthropy, gaining hands-on experience in project management, organizational development, and team culture. While you’ll work primarily within our People & Operations team, the projects you support will help improve workflows, strengthen internal programs, and enhance the staff experience across the organization, helping us reflect, improve, and innovate so we can better support the local news organizations at the heart of our mission.

The hourly rate for this position is $20, with an expected 10 hours per week, with flexibility based on your availability and interest. We are a fully remote team, including all internships.

Who we are

We’re a small but entrepreneurial team working to reshape the future of local news in our country. We’re passionate about journalism, civic engagement, and how local news plays a unique role in shaping our democracy. We help build and grow sustainable local news organizations all over the country — through financial investment, venture support, and movement building — that are governed by, sustained by, and look like the public they serve. Learn about our portfolio.

AJP has raised over $224 million for the cause so far, and aims to catalyze enough investment in nonprofit local news to create thriving, equitable, public service-oriented newsrooms that increase civic engagement and make communities work better for their residents.

Our team is deeply connected to our mission and supportive of each others’ goals and overall well-being. We aim to be an organization where everyone feels heard, respected, and valued. We are an entirely remote, distributed team and strive to maintain a healthy, fun, and productive workplace, working alongside smart, energetic colleagues who enjoy one another and the work. Meet our full team.

Our values

• Local First: We know that local journalism must serve and be led by local communities. We make a practice of listening to, and making decisions with – not for – those communities, and connecting them to find strength in each other.
• Bold Leadership: We understand the severe economic challenge facing local news and thus democracy, and we embrace a sense of possibility with courage, urgency, and perseverance.
• Constant Learning: We recognize the unknown in front of us. Therefore, we operate with humility and a commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration.
• Commitment to Equity: We commit to creating a better, more diverse, and more inclusive news media that advances human and civil rights. We actively fight against injustice and racism, and that starts with doing the work ourselves.
• Integrity: We accept the responsibility of earning trust every day. We operate with honesty, transparency, dignity, and respect, and without allegiance to party, ideology, profit, or power.

Your team

You’ll be working closely with the People & Operations team and reporting to our Special Projects Coordinator. We’re a small but mighty team of five that drives the systems, culture, and internal infrastructure that keep the organization running smoothly. We’re known for being collaborative, creative, and always ready to problem-solve. From big-picture planning to behind-the-scenes details, we love making things work better—for our team and for our mission.

Job responsibilities

The People & Operations intern will have the following responsibilities:

Improving systems and workflows

• Research and recommend tools or processes to help streamline and automate internal workflows
• Explore how other industries are using AI in creative ways to improve operations and team engagement and share ideas we might adapt
• Help carry out deliverables from internal working groups, including identifying practical improvements for team operations

Strengthening team programs and culture

• Collect feedback on internal programs and suggest ways to grow their impact
• Help launch our staff mentorship program with a focus on boosting engagement
• Contribute to planning and energizing team huddles with engaging breakouts, prompts, and ideas that bring people together

Supporting event planning and execution

• Provide planning and execution support for key internal events, including our annual AJPalooza convening, upcoming team retreats, and other special gatherings; this may involve researching venues or vendors, coordinating logistics, and creating staff-facing communications and materials

Who you are

What background and skills do you have? (We know not all candidates will have all the skills we list, and that’s OK. Tell us more about your relevant skills in the application!):

This role might be a fit if you are…

• A thoughtful communicator and listener
• Curious and eager to learn about how organizations work
• Proactive and comfortable taking initiative
• Organized and detail-oriented, especially when juggling different projects
• Interested in helping teams work efficiently and creating a positive workplace
• Prior experience in operations, HR, event planning, or team engagement is helpful but not required
• A person with passion for making the country a better and more just place for its residents by helping to build a new local news ecosystem across the U.S.

What to expect in the hiring process

Our hiring process is designed to be thorough, transparent, and consistent for all candidates. Interviews are anticipated to take place in early August. The internship is scheduled to begin on September 1, with flexibility to accommodate academic or other commitments. Working hours will be determined in collaboration with the selected candidate to ensure a mutually suitable arrangement.

Please submit an application through our portal. Download the full job description here. If you have any questions please feel free to email careers@theajp.org with “People & Operations intern” in the subject line.

The American Journalism Project is dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. AJP encourages people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses to apply.