Landing an Internship at Slate Magazine: A Comprehensive Guide

Slate, a prominent daily online magazine and podcast network known for its strong editorial voice and witty take on current events, offers various internship opportunities for students seeking hands-on experience in the world of online media. Securing an internship at Slate can be a valuable stepping stone for those interested in journalism, editorial work, and digital content creation. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the internship programs offered at Slate, outlining the requirements, expectations, and application process.

Overview of Slate's Internship Program

Slate offers internships in several departments, providing students with diverse opportunities to contribute to the magazine's content and operations. These departments include:

Culture
DoubleX
Politics
Photo and Art
The Slatest
Jurisprudence
Advice

These internships are designed to provide hands-on experience and exposure to the fast-paced environment of a digital magazine.

General Requirements for Slate Internships

While specific requirements may vary depending on the department, several general qualifications apply to most Slate internships:

Student Status: Candidates must be full-time students in college or graduate school.
Availability: Interns are typically required to work at least two full days per week during the spring. Specific days may be required for certain internships, such as the DoubleX internship, which prefers Tuesday and Wednesday availability.
Organizational Skills: All candidates must be highly organized and able to manage their time effectively.
Familiarity with Slate: A strong understanding of Slate's content, style, and mission is essential. Applicants should be familiar with the magazine's articles, columns, and podcasts.
Work Ethic: Interns must be able to work quickly, efficiently, and without much supervision. They should be self-motivated and able to take initiative.
Strong Writing and Editing Skills: Excellent written communication skills are crucial for most internships, as interns may be involved in writing, editing, and proofreading tasks.

Specific Internship Roles and Requirements

Culture Internship

Location: New York office
Responsibilities: Assisting with various tasks related to Slate's culture coverage.
Requirements: Proven interest in the arts, strong writing and editing skills.

DoubleX Internship

Location: Washington, D.C. or New York office
Responsibilities: Assisting with the DoubleX Gabfest and other duties related to women's issues coverage.
Requirements: Proven interest in women’s issues.

Photo and Art Internship

Location: New York office
Responsibilities: Editing photos, producing slideshows, and selecting art for Slate's website.
Requirements: Visual thinking skills, comfort working efficiently.
Note: This is an editing internship, not a shooting internship, but there are opportunities for motivated interns to work on special projects and publish their work.

Politics Internship

Location: Washington, D.C. office
Responsibilities: Assisting with various tasks related to Slate's political coverage.
Requirements: Proven interest in politics, familiarity with Slate's political coverage.
Opportunity: There may be opportunities for occasional writing for the right candidate.

The Slatest Internship

Location: New York office
Responsibilities: Assisting with Slate's news blog, The Slatest.
Requirements: High energy, self-starting attitude, a nose for news, sharp and quick writing skills, tech-savviness, and great editorial judgment. Previous reporting experience is a plus, and the ability to write clean, quick, and clear copy is a must.

Jurisprudence Internship

Location: Remote
Responsibilities: Collaborating with the Jurisprudence team to produce legal coverage, including writing articles on Supreme Court opinions.
Requirements: Law student (preferred) or candidate with a strong legal background, obsessively follows Slate’s legal coverage, able to distill complex legal topics into popularly accessible commentary, preferably with a strong editorial perspective.
Ideal Candidate: Second or third-year law student who has written previously about Supreme Court opinions for other publications, is a reader of Slate’s legal coverage, and a listener of Slate’s Amicus podcast. Candidates should have already spent a significant amount of time watching the court, listening to oral arguments, and reading Supreme Court opinions in full.

Advice Internship

Responsibilities: Hands-on experience working at a fast-paced online magazine and who wants to pursue a career in editing.
Requirements: Organized and detail-oriented, have a proven interest in editorial work, and be familiar with Slate’s advice columns. They must be able to work efficiently and without much supervision, but also be enthusiastic about contributing to a team.
Note: This is not a podcasting position.

Art/Illustration Internship

Location: Downtown Brooklyn office
Responsibilities: Collaborating directly with the design and editorial teams to create illustrations accompanying our published work sitewide.
Requirements: Candidates should also be open to and enthusiastic about collaboration and critical discussion of their work, as well as bringing new ideas to the table.

Compensation and Benefits

Slate internships are paid positions, with compensation set at the minimum wage in the intern's location or $15 an hour, whichever is greater, with the exception of the Advice internship which pays minimum wage in your location or $16 an hour, whichever is greater. This ensures that interns are fairly compensated for their contributions to the magazine.

Application Process

To apply for a Slate internship, candidates should follow these steps:

Review Available Internships: Visit the Slate website to identify the specific internships that are currently available and match your interests and qualifications.
Prepare Application Materials: Gather the necessary application materials, including a resume, cover letter, and writing samples (if required).
Tailor Your Application: Customize your cover letter and resume to highlight your relevant skills and experience for the specific internship you are applying for.
Submit Your Application: Follow the instructions provided in the internship posting to submit your application online.

Slate's Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Slate is committed to excellence through diversity and encourages applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds and traditions. The company values diverse perspectives and strives to create an inclusive work environment where all employees and interns are treated with respect and given equal opportunities. Slate is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.

About Slate

Founded in 1996, Slate is a daily online magazine and podcast network known for its strong editorial voice and witty take on current events and culture. Slate's podcast network, established in 2005, produces more than 20 podcasts, including Slow Burn, What Next, Decoder Ring, ICYMI, and more. Slate is an affiliate of the Graham Holdings Company (NYSE:GHC).

Tips for a Successful Application

Demonstrate your passion for Slate: Clearly articulate your interest in Slate and its content in your cover letter.
Highlight relevant skills and experience: Showcase your writing, editing, and organizational skills, as well as any relevant experience in the field.
Provide strong writing samples: Submit writing samples that demonstrate your ability to write clearly, concisely, and engagingly.
Proofread carefully: Ensure that your application materials are free of errors in grammar and spelling.
Follow instructions: Carefully follow the instructions provided in the internship posting to ensure that your application is complete and submitted correctly.

Read also: Landing a Flaunt Internship

Read also: Analyzing Forbes Best Colleges

tags: #slate #magazine #internship #requirements