HARRISBURG, Pa. — The PNA Foundation has launched a new centralized online resource to help college students and aspiring journalists connect with newsroom internship opportunities across Pennsylvania. The new website housed on internships.pnafoundation.org, was created in response to the rapid growth and overwhelming demand for the Foundation’s Newsroom Internship Program.
Since its inaugural pilot in 2025, the PNA Foundation Newsroom Internship Program has experienced remarkable expansion. The program has nearly doubled the size of its intern class with 21 students, increased participating newsrooms by 56 percent, and secured significant year-over-year funding growth to support the next generation of journalists.
The new website serves as a one-stop destination for students seeking paid newsroom internships while also highlighting the Foundation’s growing investment in strengthening local journalism throughout the Commonwealth. In addition to student internships, the site provides visibility into opportunities for freelance and displaced journalists seeking short-term newsroom assignments across Pennsylvania.
“We see this as the first step in building a stronger pipeline that connects students with meaningful newsroom experiences and, ultimately, long-term journalism careers in Pennsylvania,” said Tanya Henderson, Executive Director of the PNA Foundation. “One student who participated in our pilot program had his internship extended and has since accepted a full-time position with a highly competitive news organization. That’s exactly the kind of career pathway we’re working to create.”
The program’s continued growth has been fueled by investments that make internships more accessible to students. In 2026, participating interns receive a competitive wage along with a transportation stipend, reducing financial barriers that often prevent students from pursuing professional newsroom experience.
One intern reflected on the impact of the program: “I would not have been able to have such a good experience without the generous pay provided by your organization….to be able to further pursue my journalism career while earning a livable wage was more than I could ask for.”
Participating news organizations have also experienced significant benefits, gaining added reporting capacity and specialized skills that might otherwise be out of reach.
“I wanted to thank the PNAF for supporting the internship program that made it possible for our intern to spend this summer working with the TribLive visuals department. Your support gave us the opportunity to put Sophia’s skills to work on meaningful journalism for our readers while also giving her the chance to grow as a photojournalist and storyteller in a professional newsroom,” said Sean Stipp, Director of Visuals at TribLive. “I’m grateful that programs like this allow news organizations to give emerging journalists meaningful, firsthand experience while benefiting from the energy, perspective and talent they bring to our newsrooms.”
The Newsroom Internship Program is made possible through generous support from the Allegheny Foundation, The Lenfest Institute, the Calkins Foundation, and private donors committed to strengthening local journalism and developing the next generation of news professionals.
For more information on how you can financially contribute or be a partner newsroom, visit PNAFoundation.org or contact Tanya Henderson at TanyaH@pa-news.org.
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