Overview

Mongabay.org offers an internship program, which primarily involves writing environmental news stories for our affiliated news site – Mongabay.com. Our interns will have the opportunity to develop their writing skills and have their news stories be published on our renowned website which boasts over two million global readers every month.

Spring 2021 (January-June 2021). We are now accepting applications.

What will you do?
Our interns will be writing roughly six news stories on a variety of conservation and environment topics over a course of a six-month commitment. Topics will be assigned to our interns by one of our editors. The Mongabay interns will work closely with Mongabay journalists and receive writing guidelines and feedback on their news stories before publication, receive a deeper understanding of journalistic programs and processes at Mongabay and receive one-on-one training and mentorship from the editors who work with the fellow.

Program Schedule:
This is an unpaid part-time opportunity. The interns will be working virtually (at home or wherever they feel most productive) with set deadlines to be met. We are flexible on how many hours per week the intern is able to work but an average of 10 hours per week is required for the full six months. Some weeks could require 15 hours or so while others may be considerably less; our interns have to be flexible and plan accordingly.

Internship Perks:

• Publishing experience in a high-profile news outlet
• Learning about journalistic programs and processes at Mongabay
• Becoming part of a community of passionate and talented writers
• Coaching and support:
  • Meet and greet training session via Skype and Q&A with Mongabay staff
  • Working with different editors and receiving guidance and feedback
• Developing writing skills
• Developing interviewing skills
• Resume building
• Mongabay letters of reference and personal recommendations

Who are we looking for?
Below is a list of traits we look for when selecting individuals for our internship program:

• Excellent communication skills
• Self-motivator
• Passionate about environmental subjects
• Positive attitude
• Coachable and open to learning
• Strong values – personally and professionally
• Problem-solving skills

Selection Process:
Applicants will be notified in late December. We ask that you do not email asking about the status of your application in the meantime. If selected, you will start in the first month of the term (January 2021).

Required Application Materials:

Applicants are required to submit the following documents (have these items prepared before beginning the application process):

1. Resume
2. Cover letter
   • Indicate why you are interested and what values & skills you can contribute to Mongabay.
3. Submit a writing sample from a journal entry or blog article (600 words max.)
   • Or you can choose one from the following three articles to complete a writing sample
     1. Beyond the numbers: Human attitudes and conflict with lions (Panthera leo) in and around Gambella National Park, Ethiopia
     2. Changes in the West African forest-savanna mosaic, insights from central Togo
     3. Thismia kelabitiana (Thismiaceae), a new unique Fairy Lantern from Borneo potentially threatened by commercial logging

4. Optional: submit an additional writing sample of your own (600 words max.).

Please use our application form to send your materials.

Application deadline: November 16, 2020 (11:30 a.m EST – New York time).

For more information, please contact Maria Salazar at maria (at) mongabay.org

For a list of our former interns and contributors, visit our internship bio page.