Local Government - Politics Intern - Summer 2027
Summary: Help our team lead the charge on coverage of North Texas government and politics in a market hungry for it. From breaking news to viral trends, you'll set the agenda and shape how our audience understands critical local issues.
Job description: The Local Government/Politics intern will be assigned a variety of reporting tasks primarily focused on — but not limited to — various events and issues related to government and politics in North Texas. Assignments will include breaking news, daily news coverage and utility/service journalism that helps our readers. This is a fast-paced, quick-turn job focused on breaking government news, what’s trending and expanding the conversations readers are having online. Ideal candidates will be well-versed in using social media to generate pitches and report stories.
What will you do?
Write quickly and accurately on a variety of local news topics related to government/politics
Use social media as a tool to develop story ideas and respond to what our audience is talking about
Build stories with links, tags, SEO best practices, attractive web headlines and multimedia when appropriate
Work with editors to develop coverage that resonates with our digital audience
Assist with video and audio journalism, as needed
What will it take to be successful?
Good news judgment, accuracy, speed, grammatical precision, a flair for headlines, energy, curiosity and an ability to provide the best local news coverage with impact, excitement and an eye toward digital success
Proficiency in digital content management tools
Using social media for newsgathering and audience development
Demonstrated ability to work remotely via smartphone or laptop computer
Understanding of platforms and audiences and ability to compose stories appropriate to the platform of publication (e.g., voice, style, formatting, hyperlinks)
Deep knowledge of SEO techniques and other digital best practices
Using accepted newsroom tools for planning, authoring, communicating, etc.
Collaborating effectively with team members and across newsroom teams
Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment, producing stories quickly and accurately
Knowledge of digital news analytics
Valid driver's license and registered vehicle to travel to assignments
About The Dallas Morning News:
Since 1885, The Dallas Morning News (www.dallasnews.com) has been North Texas’ trusted source for credible, independent journalism — reporting with accuracy, fairness, and integrity. Each week, we reach more than 4 million people across print, digital, and social platforms, covering the stories that shape life in Dallas and across the state. From politics and public policy to business, culture, and sports, our mission is to inform, engage, and reflect the diverse communities we serve.
About Hearst Newspapers:
With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP represents a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate.
At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories — growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms — to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be inspired.
Be a part of something bigger – Your Headline Awaits.
Skills Required
- Strong news judgment, accuracy, speed, grammatical precision, headline writing, energy, curiosity, and commitment to impactful local news coverage
- Proficiency in digital content management tools
- Ability to use social media for newsgathering and audience development
- Ability to work remotely via smartphone or laptop computer
- Understanding of digital platforms and audiences, including platform-appropriate voice, style, formatting, and hyperlinks
- Deep knowledge of SEO techniques and digital best practices
- Experience using accepted newsroom tools for planning, authoring, and communication
- Ability to collaborate effectively with team members and across newsroom teams
- Ability to produce stories quickly and accurately in a fast-paced environment
- Knowledge of digital news analytics
- Valid driver's license and registered vehicle for travel to assignments
Hearst Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Hearst and has not been reviewed or approved by Hearst.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, including medical plan choice, full in-network preventive coverage, dental and vision, telemedicine, prescription coverage, and fertility resources. Mental-health resources and other wellbeing services (e.g., therapy sessions, crisis support, virtual physical therapy, and chronic-condition programs) further strengthen the health offering.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as meaningful through a 401(k) plan with company matching and Hearst covering plan administration fees. Performance bonuses are also noted as available in some roles, adding an additional rewards component beyond base pay.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits include paid holidays, paid sick days, and vacation time with a commonly cited annual range, alongside paid parental leave and family medical leave. A remote work program and flexibility signals are also included as part of the overall rewards experience.
Hearst Insights
What We Do
Hearst is a leading global, diversified media, information and services company with more than 360 businesses. Its major interests include ownership in cable television networks such as A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime and ESPN; global financial services leader Fitch Group; Hearst Health, a group of medical information and services businesses; transportation assets including CAMP Systems International, a major provider of software-as-a-service solutions for managing maintenance of jets and helicopters; 33 television stations such as WCVB-TV in Boston and KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California, which reach a combined 19 percent of U.S. viewers; newspapers such as the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle and Times Union (Albany, New York); more than 300 magazines around the world, including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Men's Health and Car and Driver, and digital services businesses such as iCrossing and KUBRA; and investments in emerging digital entertainment companies such as Complex Networks.
