Editorial Assistant

The American Scholar; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 19,000 - 20,000; Part time

Job summary

The American Scholar Editorial Assistant position is a part-time internship for Autumn 2026, supporting our print magazine, website, and social media efforts. The role is based in Illinois, with work that is largely remote.

Compensation is a $15,000 stipend for 36 weeks, with 21 internship hours per week and a flexible start date around November 2, 2026. You will gain hands-on experience across the magazine production cycle.

Responsibilities

• Fact-check articles with editors and authors for Spring/Summer 2027 issue
• Draft and post content to social media; brainstorm narrative-driven formats
• Assist with photo research
• Proof print and online content
• Support larger print or online projects

Job description

The American Scholar Editorial Assistant Description- Autumn 2026

The American Scholar, the quarterly magazine of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, is seeking candidates for the part-time position of editorial assistant, with duties related to our print magazine, our website, and our social media efforts. Since 1932, the Scholar has won or been nominated for numerous National Magazine Awards, and work that we publish has been anthologized in Best American Essays, The Pushcart Prize, and other publications. Candidates need not reside in the Washington, D.C., area—we are a staff that works largely remotely.

Responsibilities:

• Fact-check articles, working closely with supervising editors and authors, that will appear in our Spring and Summer 2027 issue


• Help draft and post content to our social media accounts, and help online staff think creatively about developing new types of narrative-driven content on social media


• Help with photo research


• Proof print and online content


• Potentially work on larger projects related to either print or online

The editorial assistant will have the chance to experience one complete production cycle of the magazine and will have the opportunity to see how an issue comes together from conception to completion.

Hours and Compensation

The position will be paid a stipend of $15,000 total for 36 weeks of work. Required internship hours are 21 per week (to be decided between intern and supervisor), 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST. The preferred start date is November 2, 2026, but it is flexible.