The Full Story
Why Internships?
Students at Texas A&M University-San Antonio are less likely to land paid internships and more likely to juggle classes and jobs unrelated to future careers, according to national data. That’s why Texas A&M-SA’s communication program is fundraising to continue paid journalism internships at community newspapers near campus.
Vision
Our inaugural fundraising initiative, starting with the partnership with The Devine News in spring 2024 has allowed intern Victoria Arredondo to gain real-world experience reporting on city government, school boards and other small-town news. This relationship is a win-win for the newspaper and the student intern.
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Paid local internships mean:
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students don’t need to juggle unpaid internships plus other jobs to make ends meet.
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interns can focus on building skills and experiences at the community newspaper.
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Interns don’t need to relocate, thus avoiding moving and housing expenses.
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Students are more likely to land jobs after graduation.
Mission
Numbers don’t lie.
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TAMUSA’s enrollment is 77% Hispanic, nearly 66% female and 60% first-generation. Nationwide, those groups are underrepresented among paid interns, according to this report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. In 2020, nearly 13% of Hispanic full-time undergraduates in the United States were employed at least 35 hours a week, compared with 9.1% of white full-time undergraduates. ​
Why Community Papers?
A recent Kaplan report recognized the need for paid internships that provide students with transferable skills. Community newspapers are excellent training grounds for future journalists. They offer coverage of city government, school boards, crime, sports and other small-town news in a newsroom with one-on-one instruction. However, many of those papers, which are small family businesses, can’t afford to pay interns but are happy to help nurture and teach interns. The Devine News is among them.
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