Finding Your Place: A Guide to Internships in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, a vibrant hub for media, entertainment, technology, and various other industries, offers a wealth of internship opportunities for students and recent graduates. Landing an internship in LA can be a crucial step in launching a career, providing invaluable experience and networking opportunities. While specific fall internship programs may be less common, numerous avenues exist for those seeking to gain professional experience in this dynamic city.
Who Can Apply for Internships?
Generally, internship eligibility requires applicants to be actively pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree and possess the legal right to work in the United States. Some programs, like those at the Los Angeles Times, extend eligibility to recent graduates who have finished school within six months of the internship's commencement. It's important to note that internships are typically designed for students who have not yet held professional positions as staff journalists or in other related fields.
Exploring Internship Opportunities
While the Los Angeles Times doesn't currently offer a fall internship program, their spring and summer programs serve as a valuable example of what opportunities exist. The Los Angeles Times internships offer hands-on experience in various departments. Summer interns can expect to perform the work of full-time journalists, gaining experience in story development, execution, and feedback.
Interns with the Data and Graphics department work on projects with the team and other newsroom staff. Photo and video interns will have assignments in the field on their own and alongside visual journalists. The multiplatform editing interns work on either our news or features copy desks. Design interns also are assigned to either news or features. Digital/engagement interns work with audience engagement and platforms team.
Warner Bros. Internship Program
Warner Bros. frequently offers internships across various fields, including artificial intelligence, hardware, information technology, security, software, and cybersecurity. These internships provide opportunities to work with R&D teams on designing, simulating, and evaluating algorithms and protocols for wireless communication. Interns may also be involved in mechanical design for compact electronic devices, performing prototyping, troubleshooting, failure analysis, and thermal testing.
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Make-A-Wish® Greater Los Angeles Internship Program
Make-A-Wish® Greater Los Angeles offers unpaid internships where individuals can contribute their time and talents to support children battling critical illnesses. These project-based internships allow interns to collaborate with professionals and enhance their skills. Applicants should demonstrate reliability, flexibility, and attention to detail, as well as self-motivation. Interns work on projects that contribute to the wish process, typically serving between 9-12 hours per week, with flexible scheduling options.
County of Los Angeles Internship Programs
The County of Los Angeles offers a variety of internship programs designed to provide career development opportunities:
Academic Internship: Students enrolled in college can complete internships for academic credit.
Student Worker Program: Students gain on-the-job training and experience while pursuing a degree or professional certification.
Career Development Internship: On-the-job training and employment opportunities are provided for transition-aged youth.
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Veterans' Internship: Provides on-the-job training and work experience for veterans.
Administrative Internship: Graduates with four-year degrees receive training and learn about County processes.
Management Fellows Program: A two-year paid fellowship for those with a graduate degree interested in a career in County government.
Countywide Youth Bridges Program (CYBP): Provides at-risk youth with career exposure opportunities and resources to prepare them for future success.
Temporary Services Registry (TempLA) Program: Provides on-the-job work experience and soft skills training to local residents to help them overcome workforce barriers.
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Preparing a Standout Application
Although there's no magic formula, a strong application typically highlights experience, skill set, and impressive work samples. Reporting applicants should showcase their range through clips demonstrating breaking news, feature writing, enterprise, game stories, explanatory reporting, and narrative skills. Visual journalism and design interns should present a diverse portfolio. Data and Graphics interns should demonstrate their ability to use computers creatively and efficiently. Digital/engagement interns should demonstrate an understanding of metrics, various social media and other platforms, online publishing and an eagerness to learn more.
The cover letter is the applicant’s opportunity to explain why they are the best person for the internship, demonstrating their knowledge of and enthusiasm for the organization. The personal essay is an exercise that shows off the applicant’s writing chops. The best personal essays tend to circle back to the journalism, but not always. Some include challenges, personal moments that showed why the applicant is committed to journalism or even a deep dive into the applicant’s background.
Key Considerations for Internship Seekers
Deadlines: Keep a close watch on application deadlines. For example, the application window for Warner Bros. internships closed on Monday, March 2, 2026. Priority deadlines, such as the Los Angeles Times' November deadline, should also be noted.
Financial Aspects: Internships can be paid or unpaid. The Los Angeles Times, for instance, paid its interns at least $20 an hour in 2025. While Make-A-Wish® Greater Los Angeles internships are unpaid, they offer academic credit. Students should consider their financial needs when applying.
Location: Most Los Angeles Times interns work out of the El Segundo headquarters. While remote internships are not offered, some positions may be available in Sacramento and Washington D.C.
Commitment: Be prepared to dedicate your full attention to the internship. The Los Angeles Times has strict guidelines on outside work, and interns are expected to focus on building connections and maximizing their internship experience.
Transportation: Certain internships, particularly those in visual journalism, community engagement, and reporting, may require a valid driver's license and access to a car in good working condition.
Navigating the Application Process
- Identify Your Interests: Determine the specific industry or field you're interested in pursuing.
- Research Opportunities: Explore company websites, job boards, and professional networking platforms to find available internships.
- Tailor Your Application: Customize your resume and cover letter to match the specific requirements of each internship.
- Highlight Relevant Skills: Showcase your skills, experience, and accomplishments that align with the internship's responsibilities.
- Proofread Carefully: Ensure your application materials are free of errors and demonstrate your attention to detail.
- Follow Up: After submitting your application, follow up with the organization to express your continued interest.
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