WLS TV ABC7 ITeam Consumer Intern Spring 2027

Disney; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

ABC7 (WLS-TV) Chicago is the Midwest flagship of the ABC television network, located in The Loop. This internship is a part-time, six-month commitment in Chicago from January 2027 to June 2027.

As a Consumer Investigative Unit intern, you will assist reporters, attend field shoots, log interviews, and help with FOIA requests. The role emphasizes research, data privacy awareness, and serving viewers with investigative stories.

Qualifications

• Experience in journalism (print and/or broadcast), television news, new media production, or news script writing through coursework, student media, or internships.
• Experience communicating professionally via phone and email while accurately documenting information
• Demonstrated ability to research and develop story leads

Responsibilities

• Assisting the investigative reporter and producer with stories by researching and following up on hotline calls and emails.
• Attending field shoots and interviews
• Sitting in on editing of segments
• Logging interviews with use of Dalet
• Setting up interviews and help find digital original stories
• Submitting Freedom of Information Act requests for data

Skills

Journalism experience

Professional communication

Story research

Education

Junior or Senior year preferred

Job description

About the Role & Program

ABC7 (WLS-TV) Chicago is the Midwest flagship of the ABC television network. ABC7 leads the market in local news coverage with daily newscasts and has been in a number one position in local news since March 1986! The station's offices and studios are in The Loop in downtown Chicago!

This internship is a part-time (18 hours), six-month commitment in the Chicago, Illinois area from January 2027 - June 2027.

What You Will Do:

Our Consumer Investigative Unit of the I-Team responds to viewers who need help or feel as though they have been ripped off or wronged. The I-Team looks for patterns of complaints attached to certain companies to warn other viewers. We also alert viewers to data and privacy concerns and find stories that have broad warnings, which can help improve people's everyday lives.

Beyond responding to viewers the team also proactively digs for other stories through research and the use of the Freedom of Information Act to uncover wrongdoing and problems which affect consumer's pocketbooks.

The role of an intern in the Consumer division of the I-Team department will include:

• Assisting the investigative reporter and producer with stories by researching and following up on hotline calls and emails.
• Attending field shoots and interviews
• Sitting in on editing of segments
• Logging interviews with use of Dalet
• Setting up interviews and help find digital original stories
• Submitting Freedom of Information Act requests for data

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Experience in journalism (print and/or broadcast), television news, new media production, or news script writing through coursework, student media, or internships.
• Experience communicating professionally via phone and email while accurately documenting information
• Demonstrated ability to research and develop story leads

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience evaluating stories for investigation

Education:

• Junior or Senior year preferred

Eligibility Requirements & Program Information:

Candidates for this opportunity MUST meet all of the below requirements:

• Be enrolled in an accredited college/university pursuing a degree taking at least one class at time of application OR currently participating in a Disney College Program or Disney Internship.
• Current Disney Interns, College, International, or Culinary Program Participants: You may only work for ONE consecutive year (12 months) in any combination of an internship and/or program.
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Possess unrestricted work authorization

Additional Information:

• Able to have a consistent, reliable work schedule throughout the internship
• Fully available from January 2027 through June 2027
• All candidates must be willing to work 18 hours per week for the duration of the internship during the business week, Monday through Friday
• Able to provide own housing for the duration of the internship program in the Chicago, IL area
• Able to provide/have reliable transportation to/from work in the Chicago, IL area

Materials Required:

• A portfolio review is required for this position. For full consideration, please include a link to your portfolio on your résumé. Applications without a portfolio link on the résumé will not be considered a completed application packet and may not be fully considered for the position. Please visit our support site or additional information.

The pay rate for this role in Illinois is $20.00 per hour. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.