Applications are open for Fall 2026 for the Student Press Law Center’s Rosalind G. Stark Student Press Freedom Internship:
Organization Type: Nonprofit
Time Commitment: 20 hours per week
Length: Fall 2026 semester, with flexible start and end dates
Compensation: $20/hour
Location: Remote
Position Summary
The Student Press Law Center is seeking applicants for the inaugural Rosalind G. Stark Student Press Freedom Internship to help protect and advance the rights of student journalists. This paid internship is supported by the Rosalind G. Stark Student Press Freedom Internship Fund, a permanent endowment established in honor of longtime SPLC board member and former board chair Rosalind “Roz” Stark.
This role is ideal for a law or journalism student, or an early-career professional, interested in student press freedom, media law, advocacy or nonprofit communications. Depending on the intern’s skills and interests, the intern may help with our Legal Hotline; work with our grassroots New Voices coalitions on student press freedom legislation, or produce journalism and communications about the state of the student press and SPLC’s work.
Key Responsibilities
The internship will include a mix of the responsibilities below, depending on the candidate’s education, skills and interests. Let us know in your cover letter whether you would prefer to focus more on journalism, communications, legal, advocacy or some combination. Legal internship applicants must be a current law student.
Journalism
- Research and report on censorship cases and other student press freedom issues, and on SPLC’s impact
- Track media coverage of student journalism and SPLC
Communications
- Draft newsletters and other email updates and outreach content
- Develop, schedule and publish social media content (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
- Create graphics and visual assets (e.g., in Canva) for social media, YouTube and email
- Grow audience engagement through outreach, commenting and tagging partners
- Help prepare analytics reports
- Maintain digital asset library (images, templates, logos)
- Make light WordPress updates to our website
Legal
- Assist with SPLC’s Legal Hotline, researching discrete areas of law to help the attorneys respond to inquiries from student journalists and educators
- Help develop and update legal resources and training materials
Advocacy
- Work with grassroots New Voices coalitions to advance student press freedom legislation
- Monitor legislative developments affecting student journalists
- Help develop advocacy toolkits and materials for coalition leaders
All Interns
- Attend weekly or bi-weekly team check-ins
Ideal Candidate Qualifications
We recognize that not every candidate will possess every qualification on this list. We encourage you to apply if you are excited about the role and eager to learn. Previous internship and student journalism experience is preferred, but strong candidates without prior experience are encouraged to apply.
All Interns
- Interest in student journalism, media law, legal advocacy, public policy, digital marketing or nonprofit communications
- Strong written communication and attention to detail
- Organized, self-directed and able to manage deadlines
Journalism
- Current journalism student interested in reporting on the broader student journalism landscape
- Basic reporting, writing, research and interviewing skills
Communications
- Familiarity with major social media platforms and basic content creation tools (e.g., Canva)
- Basic knowledge of website content management systems (we use WordPress)
- Bonus: experience with analytics tools (e.g., Meta Insights, Google Analytics) or email marketing platforms
- Strong research and writing skills for strategic communications
Legal
- Current law student who has completed their first year, or recent law school graduate, with an interest in media law and the First Amendment
- Strong legal research and writing skills
- Ability to translate complex legal concepts for a general, non-legal audience
Advocacy
- Interest in grassroots organizing, coalition-building or legislative advocacy
- Familiarity with, or willingness to learn, state legislative processes
- Strong interpersonal skills to engage with New Voices coalition partners, student journalists and educators
Internship Benefits
- Learn about media law and free press issues affecting student journalism
- Gain hands-on experience with digital campaigns at a nonprofit
- Develop portfolio-worthy content and measurable impact metrics
- Receive mentorship and regular feedback from experienced professionals
- Flexible hours and remote work
- Possible academic credit, depending on your institution’s policies
To Apply
Please submit your resume, a cover letter explaining your interest in the role and 2–3 samples of relevant written or digital content (e.g., journalistic writing, legal writing, social posts, graphics, etc.). In your cover letter, note which area(s) — journalism, communications, legal or advocacy — interest you most, so we can match you with the right mix of responsibilities. Please also provide at least two references that would be available upon request. These materials can be submitted here.
Applications will be reviewed starting Monday, Aug. 31.
About the Student Press Law Center
The Student Press Law Center is the nation’s only legal organization devoted exclusively to defending and advancing the free press rights of student journalists. Since 1974, we have helped students and their educators navigate the law, strengthen their reporting and stand up for press freedom. Our legal support, education and advocacy empower student journalists to report freely and courageously. For more information, visit splc.org/about.