The California Report Magazine Intern

Kqed Inc; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

KQED Inc. in San Francisco offers a paid internship of 16 hours per week, from Jan 19, 2027 to Jun 25, 2027, at $19.61/hour. The role centers on long-form audio storytelling for The California Report Magazine, with field and in-studio work required in our headquarters and in the field.

You'll research, develop story ideas, book guests, conduct interviews, record sound, and write digital stories. Candidates should show samples, follow California affairs, and bring skills in audio editing and

Qualifications

• Background in long-form audio production and storytelling.
• Must share samples of audio work.
• Follow current California affairs, events, and trends through news outlets.

Responsibilities

• Research and develop potential stories, show themes and host interview segments.
• Initiate discussions with staff on story pitches and reporting plans.
• Identify interview subjects, conduct pre-interviews, and book guests.
• Conduct field interviews, record sound and provide producers with usable material.
• Write accompanying digital story for every radio story you produce.

Skills

Long-form audio storytelling

Interviewing

Field recording

Digital audio editing

Social media skills

Tools

ProTools

Hindenburg

Audition

Job description

This is a paid internship, working 16 hours per week from Tuesday, January 19, 2027, through Friday, June 25, 2027. The current hourly rate is $19.61 per hour.

Listening to The California Report Magazine is like taking a road trip for your ears to meet the people and visit the places that make the Golden State unique. Every week, we bring you stories about real people and the sometimes extraordinary situations they find themselves in. We celebrate a range of experiences on our show, and encourage interns from all backgrounds to apply. We’re also looking for interns who are passionate about long-form audio storytelling, and amplifying the voices of people we don’t often hear from in the media. The 29-minute program airs throughout the weekend on stations across California, and is also available as a podcast.

KQED envisions a public media organization with a culture that centers on human dignity, equity, and belonging. This will enable us to better serve and reflect the Bay Area through diverse and inclusive storytelling.

We value the contributions of marginalized people in society — including Black, Indigenous, and all people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people — and we believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do, and we strongly encourage members of these communities to apply.

The mission that drives us: KQED provide citizens of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media. We provide citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone and engage audiences to share their stories. We help students and teachers thrive in 21st-century classrooms, and take people of all ages on journeys of exploration- exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

This role requires working in KQED's newly renovated headquarters and working in the field.

Essential Functions:

• Research and develop potential stories, show themes and host interview segments.
• Initiate discussions with TCR Magazine staff on your story pitches, and how you plan to report them.
• Identify interview subjects, conduct pre-interviews, and book guests.
• Conduct field interviews, record sound and provide producers with usable material.
• Write accompanying digital story for every radio story you produce, and assist staff on additional digital stories.

Other Job Functions:

• Assist the host, producers and editors with production needs as assigned.
• Help promote stories through social media.

Knowledge/Experience Required:

• Must have a background in long-form audio production and storytelling (and be able to share samples of audio work).
• Must follow current California affairs, events, and trends through news outlets and other sources.

Knowledge/Experience Desired:

• Skills and experience in writing news features are helpful, but not required.
• Knowledge of California related-issues, geography, and communities.
• Familiarity or experience with podcast production.
• Fluency in languages other than English is a plus.
• Some experience in digital audio editing (ProTools, Hindenburg, Audition, etc.).
• Social media skills.

Growth & Development Opportunities:

• Following the internship, some alums work in the newsroom in a range of positions – from filling in as a producer or reporting stories for The California Report Magazine, to being trained to work on other KQED News programs.