This summer, Gannett welcomed 43 interns to participate in its 2022 summer news internship program in collaboration with the Freedom Forum, Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting and Meta as part of the deep commitment to inclusion, equity and diversity in its news coverage and initiatives.
“We are thrilled to once again offer diversity-focused internships that provide rising journalists with mentorship and work experiences that will carry them far beyond the summer. The future of journalism is full of young, diverse people illuminating newsrooms and elevating truth through stories, and our internships serve as a career bridge for them to do so,” said Mizell Stewart III, Vice President of News Performance, Talent and Partnerships for Gannett and the USA TODAY Network.
Gannett is working with Freedom Forum, a private nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to fostering the five freedoms of the First Amendment, for a third year. This year’s diversity-focused internship experience includes mentors and training sessions for interns.
“This summer we are excited to be working together again with Gannett to provide a robust mentoring program for a young, diverse generation of future journalists,” said Jan Neuharth, Chair and CEO of the Freedom Forum. “My late father, Al Neuharth, founder of both USA TODAY and the Freedom Forum, was a pioneering champion for diversity, equity and inclusion, and we are proud to continue to support his legacy with this work.”
The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting and Gannett, working together for a second year, selected an intern to work with USA TODAY’s investigative team. The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting is a news trade organization at University of North Carolina’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media in Chapel Hill dedicated to increasing and retaining reporters and editors of color in the field of investigative reporting. This intern is also a part of the Freedom Forum cohort.
“We are excited to be collaborating with Gannett and USA TODAY for a second summer. This internship offers a pipeline for young journalists to develop investigative skills that they can carry into a future journalism career. Offering opportunities like this is just one way that we can continue moving the dial towards establishing a more equitable and diverse field in investigative reporting,” said Christine Lee, Ida B. Wells Society Program Coordinator.
Gannett is also participating for a second year in Meta’s HBCU Summer News Fellowship program to support up-and-coming talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. USA TODAY and the Tennessean are each paired with a Fellow to enhance news coverage and innovate storytelling across Facebook and Instagram.
“Bringing new voices to the table is critical to the future of journalism. Gannett is playing a meaningful role in this process by welcoming students from HBCUs into newsrooms at USA TODAY and The Tennessean, for a fresh perspective of the world around us through storytelling on Facebook and Instagram,” said Brahaani Mamo, News Partnerships, Meta.
