Journalism Internship Program

The Journalism Internship Program represents an outstanding opportunity not only to contribute to a worthy cause, but also to democracy building in Central Europe. As such, it represents the ideal opportunity for an individual or organization to profile themselves in an academically, politically, and economically visible area.

Project Goals

The program aims to offer American university students a better understanding of Central Europe. This includes the role of Central European countries in the 21st century. It also explores value systems and attitudes in the Central European states that are in economic and social transition from communism to democracy, as well as their role in global issues. By increasing American university students‘ interest in Central Europe and the issues surrounding its development, mutual ties between the United States of America and the Czech Republic and Central Europe would be enhanced.

The Internship Program

We believe that young people, especially students, represent the future of journalism. Our Internship Program focuses on students of journalism and on teaching journalism. We provide our interns with a different experience than that which they would get from participating in any other Czech periodical publication. We are able to accomplish this trough our proven track record in the following areas:

1. Parallel Czech and English language publications, which are highly respected
2. Completely bilingual staff
3. Extensive local and international editorial contacts
4. Regular on-site seminars
5. Established teaching record for graduate and post-graduate journalists
6. Receptor site for foreign rotating correspondents
7. Prague serving as a center of opportunity

The internship program is based at Přítomnost and The New Presence magazines (see enclosure), in a teaching setting with both Czech and foreign students under one roof. This creates a truly unique environment, enabling students from both sides to compare the Czech and American way of writing and analysis. Students also share in the responsibility of planning and preparing the magazines with the editorial staff.
The program also aims to help students learn how to get new contacts, to explore, to think and write differently than before, thus preparing them for their future work in the media.

Internship curriculum

The program includes the following basic activities and duties:
• Weekly meetings with the editors of Přítomnost and The New Presence.
• Meetings once a month with the publisher of The New Presence.
• Proofreading/copy-editing articles.
• Assisting in research for ongoing and future articles.
• Offering input on possible themes, articles and general layout of the magazine.
• Meetings with local Czech journalists as well as with Czech journalism students.

In addition to the above, interns are responsible for the following writing assignments:
• An in-depth, investigative article of 2500 words, which examines a regional issue. The topic should be one that allows students to conduct interviews in addition to the usual research via relevant publications, the Internet, etc.
• Collaborating on a group article (2-4 people). General criteria will be the same as for the individual article.
• Submitting a weekly journal entry of observations, ideas and general thoughts, which ideally should provide material for writing assignments.

Martin Jan Stránský, MD Publisher Tel.: +420 222 075 600 F ax: +420 222 075 605 Národní 11, Prague 110 00, Czech Republic