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Summer Internship Scholarship

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) provides students with a variety of summer internship scholarships to help offset the costs of unpaid internships and/or low paying internships in high-cost cities. The following are the scholarships and subsequent criteria that have been generously provided through donations of UW-Madison alumni, friends, and supporters.

  • Ben and Karen Deutsch Internship Fund: For any undergraduate SJMC student who meets the criteria below.
  • School of Journalism and Mass Communication Board of Visitors: For any undergraduate or graduate student who meets the criteria below.
  • Patricia Simms Journalism Scholarship Fund: Preference will be given to any student interning with the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism – scholarship is $500.
  • Everyone Has a Story Fund: For any undergraduate student in the Reporting Track.  Preference will be given to support voices of those from underrepresented groups or populations.
  • Kelleher Internship Fund: Preference will be given to students who graduated from a Wisconsin high school.
  • Eklund Fund: For any undergraduate or graduate student who meets the criteria below.

Eligibility

  • Be enrolled in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a graduation date on or after December 2024.
  • Be on campus and enrolled in school during the Fall 2024 semester.
  • Have applied for, secured, OR been accepted for a summer internship. The internship must last a minimum of six weeks and involve a minimum of 120 hours of work, with a minimum of 20 hours/week.
  • Show proof of internship(s) – if you applied for more than one; this may include a copy of the completed application, time period and hours of internship, a complete description of job duties and responsibilities, and include the amount of pay or stipend being provided. If already accepted into the internship, a letter from the supervisor confirming acceptance. If you are still in the process, you can upload a copy of email communications.

Criteria

Awards will be based on the following considerations:

  • How this internship will benefit you in regard to your personal and professional goals.
  • How this scholarship assistance will enable you (be specific) to participate in this internship opportunity.
  • Your motivation and passion for the internship and why you specifically want this opportunity.
  • The breakdown of anticipated expenses during the summer of your internship.
  • Preference will be given to students who may not have had any internship experiences to date related to their personal/professional goals and/or have a financial need.

Please note

Internships at a partisan political organization and/or for a legislator cannot be considered.

Application Deadline

Friday, April 5, 2024, 4 p.m. (Deadline extended to 11:59 p.m.)

Application

Application is available online through Scholarships@UW-Madison here.

Before you begin, be sure that you have created a PDF file that contains the following:

  • Resume – Include all internships and experiences.
  • Internship Description(s) – If you have more than one potential internship that you have applied to, please list all of them.
  • Start/End Dates of Internship – Number of hours/week of internship; payment or stipend; whether you are required to receive credit.
  • Proof of Internship Acceptance
  • The Name and Email Address of the person recommending you for this scholarship.

Application deadline is Friday, April 5, 2024, 4 p.m. (Deadline extended to 11:59 p.m.)

Award announcement:

The selection committee will interview finalists before making a final decision. Applicants will be notified by the end of April.