Work with us: The Charlotte Observer is looking for summer 2026 interns

The Charlottte Observer is accepting applications for its 2026 summer internship program.

We are looking for bright, ambitious journalists who will bring curiosity, energy and imagination to report on stories in Charlotte and surrounding communities.

Our interns are a crucial part of our newsroom operation and are treated as professional, full-time employees from day one. Each will be assigned to teams working with editors and seasoned mentors to develop sources, report and write stories and shoot photos and video, while receiving the necessary coaching and training to help grow as journalists.

The Charlotte Observer was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Breaking News in 2025 for our coverage with the News & Observer of Hurricane Helene and its aftermath in Western North Carolina. In the past, The Observer has won multiple Pulitizer Prizes, including two for public service and three for editorial cartoons.

In addition, the Observer this year won 34 awards at the 2025 North Carolina Press Association banquet.

The internship program

• Internships are paid full-time for 10 weeks and typically start at the end of May or beginning of June.
• Internships are in-person and are based in the Charlotte metro region.
• Interns participate in regular training sessions offered by McClatchy Media and on-site at the Observer newsroom.
• Our interns generally work in our newsroom from Monday to Thursday, with Friday acceptable as a hybrid in-market remote workday.

We seek strong candidates to work as reporters, visual journalists and audience growth producers. Assignments have been on metro, politics, sports, business, features, photography/video and our audience growth teams. Please let us know if you have an assignment interest, or any specialized expertise, such as data reporting or audience/growth development.

Qualifications

The internship is open to rising or current sophomores, juniors and seniors and graduating seniors. Interns must be enrolled in a four-year degree program, graduate program or have recently graduated. Other qualifications:

• A collaborative work ethic and a strong desire to learn.
• Deep curiosity and a drive to find the truth.
• Solid news judgment, accuracy, and high ethical standards.
• Understanding of the professional use of social media in news-gathering and audience development.
• A quick study of technology and tools used in news-gathering.
• Experience working at a college publication, print or online, or another news outlet is required. Previous experience, in addition to a college publication, is preferred.
• Bilingual skills are a plus.
• A driver’s license and reliable transportation are required.

The Charlotte Observer internship is competitive and we place a high premium on breaking news. Most of our interns land full-time jobs following their stint at The Observer, including some hired at McClatchy properties.

Where the internship is located

Your homebase is in Charlotte, but our coverage area spreads to communities in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, Gaston, Lincoln and other counties, and across the South Carolina border to York County. With population of nearly 1 million, Charlotte is North Carolina’s largest city, with the region among the nation’s fastest growing metropolitian area with 2.8 million residents.

Vibrant and diverse, Charlotte is the South’s banking capital, home to the Panthers, Hornets, NASCAR and Lake Norman. It has a robust restaurant scene, choice arts, museums, historic neighborhoods and other notable cultural outlets such as the Levine Center for the Arts, the Gantt Center, the Independent Picture House and live shows at Three Bone Theater that make Charlotte truly an exciting place to live.

What is The Charlotte Observer application deadline?

The deadline to apply is 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis, but we strongly urge candidates to apply early and before the deadline.

What should I include in the application?

Candidates should apply at McClatchy’s online portal at mcclatchy.com/careers. Here is a link to the Observer application.

• A single-page cover letter summarizing what you would bring as a journalist to our newsroom. 
• A resume that includes links to your public social media accounts ( for example X, Instagram, TikTok)
• At least three work samples, preferably in PDF format, or a link to a personal website or portfolio
• Two references, which may be included on your resume or cover letter.

If you are interested in applying for an internship with our sister publication, The Herald, click this link here. The Herald’s coverage area is just over the state border in York County, SC, but you’d be based out of Charlotte.

For additional information contact Lisa Vernon Sparks, intern supervisor, at lvernonsparks@charlotteobserver.com

The work of previous interns

Our interns have done outstanding work. Below are links to some notable articles:

This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM.