Internships at the Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press offers work experience internships for students embarked on a journalism education. The Free Press is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workforce. We encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, abilities and perspectives.
School-year internships
Students enrolled in an accredited post-secondary journalism program may apply for a school-year internship to develop the skills they are learning in their coursework. These internships last a maximum of 30 working days (six weeks), and are usually arranged as a component of their journalism studies. We also offer internships during the Christmas holiday break.
Students accepted into our program will perform all of the functions of a working journalist, under the mentorship of an editor or reporter. They will have an opportunity to develop a rich portfolio of material published in the newspaper and on our websites.
Space is limited, and applicants are advised to apply early. Send your application package to Associate Editor Stacey Thidrickson at stacey.thidrickson@freepress.mb.ca or by mail at the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., R2X 3B6.
Summer internships
The Free Press also offers summer internships for student journalists. To be eligible, a student must be enrolled in a journalism program or have graduated from a program during the year of application. Students who are hired will be paid as a student reporter, and will perform all of the functions of a working journalist.
We offer three specific internships for summer:
City news reporting
Applicants are requested to send a resume and six to eight samples of published work. The application period closes mid-March.
Send your application package to Associate Editor Stacey Thidrickson at stacey.thidrickson@freepress.mb.ca , or by mail at the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., R2X 3B6.
The Vince Leah / Free Press Sports internship
A summer internship in sportswriting created to honour local sports legend Vince Leah, who spent 63 years as a journalist – 13 years with the Winnipeg Free Press after 50 years at the Winnipeg Tribune. ‘Uncle Vince’ was also known for bringing Little League baseball to Canada in 1950 and for naming the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He received the Order of Canada in 1980 and died in 1993, at the age of 79.
The Vince Leah / Free Press Sports internship offers three months of paid summer employment to a Manitoba student engaged in a degree or diploma program in journalism who is interested in a sportswriting career.
To qualify, applicants must:
- be a Manitoban;
- be enrolled in a recognized journalism degree/diploma program;
- provide samples of work, including a reasonable number of sports-related stories;
- provide work/personal references from an instructor/professor;
- provide education and any journalism-related work record;
- provide a 300-word explanation outlining interest and desire to work in sports;
- possess a valid driver’s licence.
Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, April 4, 2023 and should be submitted to Sports Editor at jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca. The successful applicant will be notified by April 21, 2023.
The Jon Thordarson Free Press Photojournalism internship
Winnipeg Free Press long-time photo editor Jon Thordarson spent 40 years in the newspaper business. He was known for nurturing local talent and coached some of the country’s best photographers.
Jon started as a copy boy in the 1970s and made his name as a photographer, taking many of the iconic photos of the Winnipeg Jets before becoming the Free Press photo editor in 1989. During those 40 years, he navigated tremendous technical changes, from the days of rolling film and developing it on metal reels in the darkroom to the modern digital era. He died March 13, 2010, after waging a long battle with cancer.
The Jon Thordarson Free Press Photojournalism internship offers three months of paid summer employment to a student engaged in a journalism program, and interested in a photojournalism career.
To qualify, applicants must:
- be enrolled in a recognized journalism degree / diploma program or have graduated during the year of application;
- provide samples of work (stills and video);
- provide work / personal references from an instructor/professor;
- provide education and any journalism-related work record;
- provide a 300-word explanation outlining interest and desire to be a photojournalist;
- possess a working kit of camera gear;
- possess a valid driver’s licence.
Applications should be submitted by email to mike.aporius@freepress.mb.ca, or by mail to Mike Aporius, Photo Editor, Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.