CNN Internship 2025 | Broadcast Journalism Sector Roles

Ever wanted to enter the world of news, TV, or media? Landing a CNN Internship could help you begin your employment in the coolest way. If you’re a student or just graduated, scoring an internship here puts you right inside one of the world’s most trusted news companies. It isn’t just another news outlet. It’s a global powerhouse that covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, entertainment, business, and international affairs. This means interns get the chance to work in fast-paced environments, gain hands-on experience, and learn from some of the best journalists, producers, and media professionals out there.

The awesome part about this internship is that you actually get to do way more than just sit in an office. Whether you’re interning in CNN’s NYC newsroom, the Washington, DC political headquarters, or their massive hub in Atlanta, you’ll be working on real stories, helping with live broadcasts, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how news is created and delivered to millions of viewers worldwide. Plus, with CNN Internships London, you can even get an inside view of international journalism. If you’re passionate about media, storytelling, and keeping people informed, this work experience will be the best learning experience. There are lots of different paths in these internships, which helps you find your thing and grow into a career you’ll love.

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CNN Internship | Summer Program for College Students

About CNN: A Quick Overview

CNN, short for Cable News Network, is one of the biggest and most recognized news organizations in the world. It covers everything, from breaking news and politics to business, sports, technology, and entertainment. Whether it’s a major election, a global crisis, or the latest Hollywood gossip, CNN is always on top of the news, bringing information to people across TV, digital platforms, and social media.

But CNN isn’t just about reporting news. It’s also a leader in investigative journalism, breaking some of the biggest global stories before anyone else. Their reporters travel the world to cover wars, disasters, and political events, making sure people get accurate and up-to-date information. It also has a huge digital presence, which means they don’t just rely on TV broadcasts. They run one of the most-visited news websites, post updates on social media, and create interactive content for audiences who prefer getting their news online.

Fast Facts About the Company

CNN was actually the first 24-hour news network ever created. Back in the day, news was only broadcast at certain times, but CNN changed the game by running non-stop, 24/7 coverage. Since then, it has grown into a global brand, with news bureaus and reporters in nearly every major city worldwide.

CNN’s Global Operations: Where They Work

CNN isn’t just based in one city. They’ve got major offices all over the world, and depending on what type of internship you’re looking for, you might end up working in one of these locations:

Other key locations include Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, and Miami, each focusing on different aspects of news and entertainment.

CNN’s Digital Transformation & Future

News is changing, and CNN is adapting to the digital world in a big way. They’re no longer just a TV-based news network—they’ve expanded into digital news, streaming, podcasts, and interactive journalism to keep up with how people consume media today. Some key innovations they have developed include:

The future of CNN is all about digital storytelling, using AI, data-driven journalism, and interactive news formats to engage audiences. If you’re looking to intern at CNN, you’ll be entering a company that is constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries of modern journalism.

CNN Summer Internship

If you’ve ever wanted to see what it’s like to work inside one of the leading and most influential news networks, then the CNN Summer Internship is the perfect opportunity. Whether you’re into journalism, broadcasting, production, digital media, or even business and marketing, it has a summer program that lets you get real-world experience, work on actual news stories, and learn from top professionals in the media industry. Here, you’ll help with research, assist with live broadcasts, create digital content, and even contribute to investigative reports.

Whether you’ve always dreamed of making your work available on a major news platform or you’ve never had the opportunity, this internship will allow you to realize that dream. It’s also a great way to build industry connections. From pro mentors to insider newsroom tours and cool networking meetups, interns here get chances that can lead to real media jobs after they graduate. And let’s be honest, having this cable network on your resume is a game-changer if you’re planning to work in journalism or broadcasting.

How Long is the Summer Internship, and What’s the Structure?

The internship usually goes for 10 to 12 weeks, which makes it a great fit for students looking to do something big over summer break. This means you can gain hands-on work experience without delaying your studies. Interns usually work full-time (about 40 hours per week) and get to immerse themselves in real newsroom activities. The structure of the internship varies based on the department, but here’s what a typical summer intern can expect:

• Orientation and Training – Your first week will involve meeting other interns, learning about their work culture, and getting a crash course in newsroom operations.
• Assigned Projects – Depending on your role, you might be assigned to work on news research, production, digital content creation, marketing strategies, or even live broadcasts.
• Mentorship Program – CNN pairs interns with mentors who are experienced professionals in the media industry. They help guide you through your work and offer career advice.
• Networking and Workshops – Throughout the summer, they host workshops, guest speaker events, and networking opportunities where you can meet top journalists, producers, and media executives.
• Final Presentation or Project – Some internships might require interns to complete a final project where they present their work to a panel of professionals.

Why Summer Internships Are So Competitive?

Here’s the thing: You’re not the only one who wants a summer internship. The number of students who apply each year is huge, but only a small group gets accepted because this internship really stands out. This internship gives you real-world experience, direct access to top journalists, and the chance to work for one of the biggest news brands in the world.

CNN wants students who bring big ideas, tons of energy, and can keep up in a place where things move fast. If you want to stand out, you need to showcase your journalism skills, media knowledge, and ability to think on your feet. Even if you don’t have previous work experience, strong writing skills, a great portfolio, or experience in student media can help you get noticed.

Because of the competition, it’s super important to apply early. Keep an eye on the official CNN careers page to see when applications open. The hiring process usually involves submitting a resume, cover letter, and portfolio, followed by interviews with recruiters. If you want to increase your chances, start preparing your application well in advance.

Types of Internships

CNN is way more than just a newsroom. It takes a whole team of journalists, producers, editors, marketers, and business professionals to run one of the biggest media brands in the world. That means there are a ton of different internship opportunities, each focused on a specific area. Whether you’re passionate about news reporting, digital media, marketing, or even finance, they have something for you. Here’s the full scoop on the 7 standout internships, what interns actually get to do, and why they’re worth checking out:

1. Journalism Internship

If you’ve ever imagined yourself covering breaking news, interviewing sources, or helping research major stories, then a CNN Journalism Internship is exactly what you need. This internship gives you a front seat to the world of news reporting, where you’ll work alongside professional journalists to gather facts, conduct interviews, and help produce news stories. As a journalism intern, you’ll:

• Assist with news research by gathering information, fact-checking reports, and identifying important angles for a story.
• Help write scripts and summaries for live broadcasts or digital articles.
• Shadow reporters and correspondents, seeing how they conduct interviews and cover events.
• Contribute to investigative pieces, working with data and research teams to uncover big stories.

Students in journalism, communications, or political science will love this internship, especially if reporting or writing is in their future.

2. Production Internship

News isn’t just about reporters on camera. You’ve got producers, directors, and tech teams all working hard to make sure everything stays on track without any hiccups. A CNN Production Internship is about learning the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating a professional news broadcast. As a production intern, you’ll:

• Assist in live news shows, working inside the control room to help producers manage scripts and visuals.
• Help with scriptwriting, making sure everything is accurate and flows well for broadcast.
• Edit and organize video clips, ensuring high-quality visuals are used in news segments.
• Work with camera crews and studio teams, learning how to operate professional broadcasting equipment.

This is a great opportunity if you’re interested in TV production, media technology, or video editing, and want to understand how news is actually put together before it reaches viewers.

3. Digital Media Internship

Let’s be real. Most people don’t just watch CNN on TV anymore. News is now everywhere, like on websites, social media, mobile apps, and even TikTok. That’s why they have a massive digital media team, and this internship lets you be a part of that. As a digital media intern, you’ll:

• Create content for the website, including short articles, news updates, and interactive features.
• Help with social media strategy, posting updates and analyzing engagement on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
• Assist with video production, helping to create content for YouTube and other digital platforms.
• Work with analytics tools, tracking how audiences interact with digital content.

This internship is perfect if you’re into social media, digital marketing, or content creation, and want to see how news organizations adapt to the digital age.

4. Editorial Internship

Editorial interns are the ones digging deep into news stories, researching facts, and making sure everything is accurate before it goes live. If you love fact-checking, investigative reporting, and writing, this is the role for you. As an editorial intern, you’ll:

• Work with investigative teams, helping research complex topics like politics, crime, and world affairs.
• Assist with proofreading and fact-checking, ensuring all content meets journalistic standards.
• Help organize interviews and background information for upcoming reports.
• Write and edit digital articles, making sure they are engaging, informative, and error-free.

This internship is a great fit if you love writing, research, and storytelling, and want to gain experience in editorial work and investigative journalism.

5. Marketing & Public Relations Internship

News companies don’t just report the news—they also have to market themselves to audiences around the world. A Marketing & PR Internship is all about learning how a major media company builds its brand and promotes its content. As a marketing or PR intern, you’ll:

• Help plan promotional campaigns for shows, events, and new initiatives.
• Write press releases and media updates, working closely with the public relations team.
• Manage social media campaigns, helping to engage viewers and attract more followers.
• Track audience engagement, analyzing how people interact with content online.

This internship is awesome for anyone studying PR, marketing, or communications who wants to learn how to handle real media projects.

6. Business & Finance Internship

Running a global news company takes serious financial management, and CNN has a whole department focused on budgeting, advertising, and revenue generation. This Business & Finance Internship lets you peek into how things work on the business side of media, not just what’s on screen. As a business/finance intern, you’ll:

• Analyze financial reports, helping the team understand profits, expenses, and budgeting.
• Work with the advertising department, learning how media companies make money through commercials and sponsorships.
• Assist with strategic planning, looking at potential new business opportunities.
• Help with data analysis, tracking revenue trends and audience growth.

If you’re into business, economics, or finance, this internship will show you how the corporate side of a media company operates.

7. Legal & Compliance Internship

News organizations deal with a lot of legal issues, like copyright laws, media regulations, contracts, and even lawsuits. A Legal & Compliance Internship gives you info of media law and ethics, which is crucial for anyone interested in the legal side of journalism. As a legal intern, you’ll:

• Review contracts and legal agreements, making sure CNN complies with media laws.
• Assist in researching defamation, copyright, and privacy laws related to news reporting.
• Work with the compliance team, ensuring that the company follows all government and industry regulations.
• Help with case studies and legal documentation, learning how legal teams support journalism and media companies.

For students into law, politics, or media rules, this internship shows how news places protect themselves and follow the law.

Required Qualifications

To land a CNN internship, you typically need to be:

• A college student or recent graduate (within the last two years).
• Majoring in a relevant field like Journalism, Communications, Digital Media, Political Science, Film & TV Production, Business, Marketing, or Law (depending on the internship type).
• Able to commit to full-time or part-time work for the duration of the program.

They don’t always require previous work experience, but if you have any freelance projects, school newspaper experience, video editing skills, or digital content work, that can give you an edge.

Preferred Skills

Even if you meet the basic qualifications, they want interns who can bring something extra to the table. Some of the key skills that can help you stand out include:

• Strong communication skills – Whether you’re writing news reports, working with a team, or pitching ideas, being able to communicate clearly is a must.
• Writing & research skills – Journalism and editorial interns especially need to know how to dig up facts, write engaging content, and verify sources.
• Video editing and production – If you’re applying for a production, digital media, or journalism internship, having experience with software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro is a huge plus.
• Social media & digital content creation – Interns working in CNN’s digital division should know how platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok work.
• Ability to perform in a fast-paced workplace – News moves fast, so interns need to be adaptable and ready to jump into action.

Age Limit and Country-Specific Requirements

Most CNN internships are for students who are 18 or older, but there’s no max age limit holding anyone back. Some locations might have different eligibility rules, so always check the official CNN Careers page to confirm the requirements for your region.

Can International Students Apply?

Yes, it’s possible, but you’ll need to check the location because rules can change depending on where you are.

• For U.S.-based opportunities, (CNN Internships NYC, Washington, DC, Atlanta, etc.), international students must have work authorization, such as CPT or OPT for those studying in the U.S.
• In Europe (CNN Internships London, etc.), placements are often open to students with the UK and the EU employment right.
• Some CNN locations might offer visa sponsorship, but it’s rare, so international students should double-check the job posting details.

If you’re an international student looking to intern at CNN, make sure you have the legal ability to work in that country before applying.

CNN Internship Application Process: How to Apply and Get Hired?

Applying for a CNN internship is pretty straightforward, but since the competition is high, ensure you follow the process carefully and submit a strong application.

1. Find the internships on the CNN Internship Page, LinkedIn Jobs, or university job boards.
2. Pick a role that fits your interests, whether you like writing stories, editing videos, managing media, or helping with promos.
3. Prepare your application with a strong resume, cover letter, and portfolio (if required for digital or journalism roles).
4. Fill out the online form, add your personal info, and attach your resume and other files. Now submit everything!
5. It might take a bit, but HR will get back to you after they review things.
6. When shortlisted, be ready for an interview that tests your thinking and maybe some tech know-how.
7. If they say yes, your next step is reading the offer and letting them know when you’ll start.
8. Study how they work, check out major news stories, and connect with people who’ve interned before.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Summary:

Working as an intern at CNN means learning by doing in journalism, media, or production while being part of a major global newsroom. With major locations in NYC, Washington, DC, Atlanta, and London, interns get to assist with live broadcasts, research major news stories, and contribute to digital content. The application process is competitive, requiring a strong resume, cover letter, and sometimes a portfolio, but the experience can open doors to full-time jobs in media. Interns here get paid, and depending on the job and location, you could earn anywhere from $16 to $22 an hour. If you’re passionate about news and storytelling, apply early through the careers page and get ready to start your media career.