What tips do you have for writing a good journalism internship cover letter?

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Aug 23, 2018 - 11:34 PM

When you're writing a cover letter for a journalism internship, there're a few tips you can follow to help you stand out from the crowd. Don't make the mistake of rehashing what's in your resume. Instead, share details about who you are. Consider telling a brief story of what inspired your interest in this career field. This shows your personality and emphasizes your passion.

Mention the type of journalism you like most. Is it social media, photojournalism, investigative, or broadcast? Whatever your preference, include relevant skills and experience you have in that area. These include interviewing, research, proofreading, writing, and editing.

The standard cover letter includes five main sections. It starts with the greeting followed by the opening paragraph. Next is the hook, which spotlights the value you bring to the table. The next part is the body of the document, which consists of one or two paragraphs showcasing your skill sets, experience, and achievements. In this section, make sure your qualifications match what the employer seeks in an intern.

Keep your letter short. One page is all you need. Also, proofread it carefully, so it's free of punctuation, spelling, and grammatical errors. If you're not sure where to start, use a cover letter template. You can customize it for your own needs.

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Anita Bruzzese

Nov 09, 2018 - 04:12 PM

Some tips for writing a good journalism internship cover letter include crafting a unique letter addressed to the appropriate person that mentions relevant experience/classwork/skills, such as editing, writing, and investigative reporting. You want to highlight specific skills mentioned in the job ad, such as an ability to meet deadlines or work under pressure. Also mention any awards citing your journalism work.

Keep in mind that hiring managers will be carefully scrutinizing your cover letter writing since your ability to craft a clear message – without errors – will be a key skill to any journalism internship. Your cover letter should complement and expand upon your resume, not simply repeat what it says. It’s also a good idea to mention a couple of recent pieces that the news outlet has run that make you want to work there, and point out any relevant stories you have reported on that would be a good fit for the news outlet.

As with any job, you need to make sure you carefully proofread your cover letter. This crucial review step is even more critical for a journalism internship! Make sure you use correct AP style, and make sure your writing is concise.

If you want to learn more about cover letter writing, check out LiveCareer’s How to Write a Cover Letter page. You can navigate to this page via the Cover Letters tab at the top of the LiveCareer homepage.