STUDENTS: WTJU summer 2027 internship early decision application LIVE!
By WTJU
Each summer, WTJU hires paid student interns to produce lots of radio / podcast segments, tell interesting stories through our archives, run tech for live music performances, get experience in professional media and communications, and lead our summer youth radio camps.
WTJU summer internships are full-time (35 hours/week) positions for 9 – 11 weeks, and interns are paid $16/hour. Interns will be assigned to a WTJU staff member who will serve as their mentor and direct supervisor.
This year, there will be a two-phase application cycle: Early Decision, due December 1, and Regular Decision, opening and due in the spring.
Early Decision applications are due December 1. All are welcome to apply, though WTJU will prioritize current second- and third-year students whose studies and career interests are in media and/or broadcasting. Interviews with select candidates will take place in early December. Early Decision applicants who are not selected are encouraged to reapply in the spring.
More information on the Regular Decision application will come when the Early Decision application phase is complete.
TO APPLY:
To ensure consideration, submit our online application form by the early decision deadline of December 1. Click here to go to the application form.
No previous experience is required, though it doesn’t hurt. But if you’ve never done media production before, we’ll teach you. The key requirements for this internship are that you are dependable, genuinely curious, and communicate well. WTJU internships are open to all current undergraduates.
Polish your resume and prepare answers to our application questions. Optional but encouraged: you can also submit writing and/or audio production samples for our consideration.
FAQ below. If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected].
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WTJU SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FAQ
What do WTJU Interns do?
- Research, interview, record and edit on-air segments including daily local news and weekly arts coverage.
- Work on podcasts like Arts This Week. Interns pitch and conduct interviews, cut tape, research, and score & mix audio pieces for these shows.
- Lead WTJU’s summer radio camps.
- Direct WTJU’s High School Summer DJ program.
- Unearth, catalogue, research, and present materials from our print and audiovisual archive to include in a digital exhibit celebrating our 70th anniversary, telling the story of WTJU’s history in the local music scene.
- Work towards digital accessibility remediation in our podcasts, live recordings, articles, and more.
- Hone communications skills by creating and producing short-form video segments and other promotions.
- Mix, sound engineer, and video engineer live concerts and archived recordings at WTJU.
- Work on personal projects under the supervision of a staff mentor, as time allows.
What’s the time period?
Total of 9 – 11 weeks. Interns start on Tuesday, May 25 and must be present the first week for training. Interns must stay through at least July 23 and are welcome to continue working as late as August 6.
What happens after I submit my application?
WTJU staff will begin reviewing all applications the morning after the early decision deadline, and will interview some candidates in the weeks that follow.
You said paid?
Yep. It’s a job. 35 hours expected each week. Any current undergraduate student is welcome to apply (even those graduating in May).
Is there anything that will help my application?
As noted above, the key criteria are that you are dependable, genuinely curious, and communicate well. Experience with media production helps. Experience teaching and/or working with kids helps. Understanding WTJU’s programming and values helps.
What have past interns taken away from the experience?
Here are a few select testimonials from recent WTJU summer interns:
- “I loved the diversity of skills I got to work on and the window into the world of Charlottesville culture and music that it provided.”
- “I loved how much I was able to learn in such a short time.”
- “I came into this internship without many technical editing skills and I felt very supported by my peers and supervisors.”
- “I was able to develop a strong foundation to pursue a subject I am really passionate about. I now know which direction to go next.”
What kind of future jobs do WTJU interns get?
All sorts of things, of course. Some recent WTJU interns now work at PBS NewsHour, NPR’s Morning Edition, VPM, C-SPAN Radio, audio/video production companies, in music journalism, and more.
Is there a remote option for internships?
WTJU internships are primarily in-person. That said, a bit of work-from-home audio production may be doable in some circumstances.
I really like kids and want to help with camps, but I’m tied up part of the summer. Can I work on just the camps?
Email us at [email protected] and let’s talk.
I still have questions!
No problem. Email us at [email protected].
