Breaking News Intern

Location: Houston, TX, United States Department: Content and News

Reporting Intern

Job Description

The Houston Chronicle is looking for an adaptable and detail-oriented student journalist to join its Breaking News team for the summer 2027 internship program

Reporting interns will have the chance to work in one of America’s most exciting news markets, reporting and writing timely stories about the events, issues and trends shaping Houston and Texas. They will gain hands-on experience covering stories on deadline, developing follow-ups, pitching story ideas and collaborating with editors, photographers and audience journalists to deliver accurate, engaging coverage.

Past summer interns were essential contributors to our coverage, including reporting on topics like extreme weather events, the FIFA World Cup, social justice protests and political rallies. Our paid internship opportunities have also propelled several former interns to full-time roles on the Chronicle’s staff.

Responsibilities

Report and write timely, accurate stories

Collaborate with editors, photographers and the audience team to deliver coverage that meets high standards for accuracy, speed and engagement

Pitch timely news stories, keeping a close eye on local and national news sources, social media and Google Trends to identify topics

Conduct interviews with officials, witnesses and community members on deadline

Verify information from social media, public records and other sources before publication

Contribute to live blogs and enterprise follow-ups as news develops

Requirements

Juniors, seniors or recent graduates with prior experience at a college news publication or professional news organization.

A personal laptop and Wi-Fi or hotspot access.

Must obtain housing in Houston and work in the Chronicle’s office at least 3 days a week.

Internship Details

40 hours a week for 10 weeks, from early June and to early August. Interns will be paid $15 an hour.

Interns will work Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend coverage based on news demands.

The recruiting committee will assign all interns a mentor from the newsroom based on their interests.

Application details

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications, including the required documents, by October 25, 2026.

Please submit a portfolio of 3 journalistic clips, a resume, and a 1-page cover letter addressed to the recruiting committee detailing your passion for journalism and what you hope to achieve through this internship.

About the Houston Chronicle

The Houston Chronicle, recognized for its Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, serves its 2.3 million residents with content and marketing solutions across two of Houston’s largest websites — HoustonChronicle.com and Chron.com, along with our magazine, television and newspaper brands.  Our mission is to spark conversations that inspire action to create a better Houston.  All our content and the innovative business solutions we provide invite Houstonians to join conversations about a community we’ve been committed to covering and helping prosper for more than 120 years. The community we all call home.

About Hearst Newspapers

With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP encompasses a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate.

At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories – growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms – to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be inspired.

Be a part of something bigger – your headline awaits.

Recognizing the diverse needs of our candidates, if you are interested in applying for employment and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or regarding the application process, please contact us by email at [email protected].  Please do not use this email address to inquire about the status of applications. We will only respond to inquiries concerning requests for a reasonable accommodation through this email address.