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Internships and Job Openings

The Rapidian is always looking for a few good interns. What we can't pay you in financial benefit, we make up for in  college credit, an impressive addition to your resume, and a nice little portfolio of writing samples to show off.

Internships are open to anyone, not just college students. The Rapidian is no longer accepting applications for our Summer 2013 internship program. However, we will soon begin accepting application materials for our Fall 2013 internship program.

WHAT YOU GET
An internship with The Rapidian provides the following opportunities for the intern:

Hands-on Experience

  • Reporting on important events and real issues in Grand Rapids
  • Writing and becoming a better storyteller

Direct Mentorship and Guidance

  • Weekly training sessions
  • Focused assistance on your particular career goals

New and Multi-Media Trainings

  • Training in video, photojournalism and audio recording
  • Curriculum taught by mentors who are well-versed in media production and online reporting

Portfolio and Resume Building

  • Archived online articles showcase growth and progress
  • Articles that you create continue to be your property
  • Help with resume building

Networking Opportunities

  • Opportunities to meet with leaders and members of the Grand Rapids community

 

Check out the possibilities:

Duration of internships is dependent on the time of the year but will typically adhere to the following schedule:

Winter (Jan. - Apr.): 10-15 hours/week for 15 weeks

Summer (May - Aug.): 15-20 hours/week for 12 weeks

Fall (Sept. - Dec.): 10-15 hours/week for 15 weeks

 

 

Community Innovation Intern:

Reports to: Holly Bechiri, Managing Editor
Position type: Unpaid, can be done for college credit
Duration: 4-6 months, dependent upon hours available per week
Hours: 10-15 hours per week, flexible dependent upon availability

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
The Rapidian is seeking a community innovation intern that will have the following responsibilities:

  • Reach out to local businesses and innovation hubs
  • Build relationships with local innovation and entrepreneurial hubs for our Innovation Spotlight section
  • Create engaging and useful content about what it takes to be an innovator in the West Michigan area
  • Create a minimum of two articles per month
  • Other responsibilities as determined by supervisor

Qualifications:

  • A good eye for local businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators that have the potential to have a story built around their success within the community
  • Strong writing abilities
  • Familiarity with Associated Press Style
  • Patient, inquisitive and strong communication skills

Applicants with a keen interest in finding out not only what is happening now but learning about the history of innovation in the area and who was behind the story are encouraged to apply.

Interested applicants should email info@therapidian.org with cover letter, resume and three writing samples.

Beat Intern:

Reports to: Holly Bechiri, Managing Editor
Position type: Unpaid, can be done for college credit
Duration: 4-6 months minimum
Hours: 10-15 hours per week, dependent upon availability

The Rapidian is seeking a beat intern that will have the following responsibilities:

  • Help to build a core community of citizen journalists reporting on content from a specific area of interest
  • Identify interested reporters, encouraging, inspiring and working with them on articles
  • Create content geared towards the specific area of interest
  • Other responsibilities as determined by supervisor

Qualifications:

  • Strong editing experience
  • Leadership and time management skills
  • A good eye for important, timely content relating to the beat subject matter
  • Strong writing abilities
  • Familiarity with Associated Press Style
  • Patient, inquisitive, and strong communication skills
  • Strong editing experience
  • Leadership and time management skills
  • A good eye for important, timely content relating to the beat subject matter

Applicants interested as much in building a community as they are in building content are encouraged to apply.

Interested applicants should email info@therapidian.org with cover letter, resume and three writing samples.

Content Intern:

Reports to: Holly Bechiri, Managing Editor
Position type: Unpaid internship; can be done for college credit
Duration: 4-6 months
Hours: 10-15 hours per week

The Rapidian is seeking a content intern that will have the following responsibilities:

  • Coverage of immediately publishable assigned news stories
  • Create evergreen pieces to be published at The Rapidian’s discretion
  • Other responsibilities as determined by supervisor

Qualifications:

  • Strong storytelling abilities
  • Familiarity with Associated Press style
  • Good eye for identifying stories and recognizing multiple facets and angles of each story
  • Inquisitive and curious about surroundings
  • Prior familiarity with Rapidian platform desired but not required

Content is not limited to written content, but may also include or exclusively be audio, video and photography.

Interested applicants should email info@therapidian.org with cover letter, resume and three writing samples.

Bilingual (Spanish & English) Intern:

Reports to: Holly Bechiri, Managing Editor & Renato Delos Reyes, Community Engagement Specialist
Position type: Unpaid, can be done for college credit
Duration: 4-6 months minimum
Hours: 8-15 hours per week, dependent upon availability

The Rapidian is seeking a bilingual intern that will have the following responsibilities:

  • Create educational tools for Spanish-speaking participants
  • Present educational tools to groups while working with groups to best understand how to use The Rapidian
  • Translate articles from English to Spanish in written form, without compromising the meaning of each reporter's work

Qualifications:

  • Proficiency in grammar for both English and Spanish
  • Translation ability for both Spanish to English and English to Spanish
  • Strong ability to interpret and interact through oral and written communications
  • Familiarity with The Rapidian process for becoming a reporting and creating content
  • A desire to educate others to become active in the Rapidian community, regardless of language barriers

Interested applicants should email info@therapidian.org with cover letter, resume, and three bilingual writing samples.

Nonprofit Sector Internship:

Reports to: Holly Bechiri, Managing Editor
Position type: Unpaid internship; can be done for college credit
Duration: 4-6 months
Hours: 10-15 hours per week

Do you have an interest in working with the nonprofit sector in some capacity? Do you want to meet with and learn about nonprofits in the Grand Rapids area? The Rapidian is seeking a Nonprofit Sector Intern that will have the following responsibilities:

  • Reach out to and build relationships with local nonprofits
  • Create two articles per week, focusing on updates in the nonprofit community and nonprofit profiles or event coverage
  • Other responsibilities as determined by supervisor

Qualifications:

  • Passion for learning about and working with local nonprofits
  • Strong storytelling abilities
  • Prior familiarity with Rapidian platform desired but not required

Content is not limited to written content, but may also include or exclusively be audio, video and photography.

Interested applicants should email info@therapidian.org with cover letter, resume and three writing samples.

Creative Class Internship:

Reports to: Holly Bechiri, Managing Editor
Position type: Unpaid internship; can be done for college credit
Duration: 4-6 months
Hours: 10-15 hours per week

Do you have an interest in working with the local creative minds? Do you want to meet with and learn about the makers, artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers and graphic designers? The Rapidian is seeking a Creative Class Intern that will have the following responsibilities:

  • Reach out to and build relationships with local artists, makers, writers, musicians, filmmakers, graphic designers and the like
  • Create two articles per week, focusing on news, openings and events in the creative community and profiles on folks in the creative community or event coverage
  • Other responsibilities as determined by supervisor

Qualifications:

  • Passion for learning about and working with local creatives
  • Strong storytelling abilities
  • Prior familiarity with Rapidian platform desired but not required

Content is not limited to written content, but may also include or exclusively be audio, video and photography.

Interested applicants should email info@therapidian.org with cover letter, resume and three writing samples.

Local Breweries Internship:

Reports to: Holly Bechiri, Managing Editor
Position type: Unpaid internship; can be done for college credit
Duration: 4-6 months
Hours: 10-15 hours per week

Do you have an interest in working with the local breweries and brewpubs? Do you want to meet with local brewers and learn more about brewing beer and the local brewing culture? The Rapidian is seeking a Local Breweries Intern that will have the following responsibilities:

  • Reach out to and build relationships with local breweries, brewers and members of the local brewing community
  • Create two articles per week, one focusing on “what’s on tap” at local breweries and brewpubs and another focused on profiles on folks in the brewing community, news or event coverage
  • Other responsibilities as determined by supervisor

Qualifications:

  • Passion for learning about and working with local breweries and brewers
  • Strong storytelling abilities
  • Prior familiarity with Rapidian platform desired but not required

Content is not limited to written content, but may also include or exclusively be audio, video and photography.

Interested applicants should email info@therapidian.org with cover letter, resume and three writing samples.

Placemaking Internship:

Reports to: Holly Bechiri, Managing Editor
Position type: Unpaid internship; can be done for college credit
Duration: 4-6 months
Hours: 10-15 hours per week

Do you have an interest in working with groups and organizations involved in economic development? Do you want to meet with community leaders and organizers that drive community and city development and innovation? The Rapidian is seeking a Placemaking Intern that will have the following responsibilities:

  • Reach out to and build relationships with community leaders and organizers that drive economic, city and community development
  • Create two articles per week, focusing on issues, upcoming events and profiles on community leaders, organizations and individuals driving economic, city and community development in Grand Rapids
  • Other responsibilities as determined by supervisor

Qualifications:

  • Passion for learning about and working with organizations and individuals involved in community development
  • Strong storytelling abilities
  • Prior familiarity with Rapidian platform desired but not required

Content is not limited to written content, but may also include or exclusively be audio, video and photography.

Interested applicants should email info@therapidian.org with cover letter, resume and three writing samples.

Local Farmers Internship:

Reports to: Holly Bechiri, Managing Editor
Position type: Unpaid internship; can be done for college credit
Duration: 4-6 months
Hours: 10-15 hours per week

Do you have an interest in working with groups and organizations involved in economic development? Do you want to meet with local farmers and organizers from local markets such as the Fulton Street Farmers Market and the Downtown Market? The Rapidian is seeking a Local Farmers Intern that will have the following responsibilities:

  • Reach out to and build relationships with local farmers and leaders and organizers from local farmers markets
  • Create two articles per week, focusing on issues, upcoming events and profiles on local farmers and leaders at farmers markets
  • Other responsibilities as determined by supervisor

Qualifications:

  • Passion for learning about and working with organizations and individuals involved in local farming
  • Strong storytelling abilities
  • Prior familiarity with Rapidian platform desired but not required

Content is not limited to written content, but may also include or exclusively be audio, video and photography.

Interested applicants should email info@therapidian.org with cover letter, resume and three writing samples.

Local Sports Coverage Internship:

Reports to: Holly Bechiri, Managing Editor
Position type: Unpaid internship; can be done for college credit
Duration: 4-6 months
Hours: 10-15 hours per week

Do you have an interest in sports and working with local sports teams, clubs and organizations? The Rapidian is seeking a Local Sports Coverage Intern that will have the following responsibilities:

  • Reach out to and build relationships with local sports teams, clubs and organizations
  • Create two articles per week, focusing on issues, upcoming events and profiles on local sports teams and organizations
  • Other responsibilities as determined by supervisor

Qualifications:

  • Passion for learning about and working with organizations and individuals involved in the local sports community
  • Strong storytelling abilities
  • Prior familiarity with Rapidian platform desired but not required

Content is not limited to written content, but may also include or exclusively be audio, video and photography.

Interested applicants should email info@therapidian.org with cover letter, resume and three writing samples.