Sports Photo Intern
Location: San Francisco, CA
Compensation: $25/hour
Schedule: 20–40 hours/week, 12-week internship beginning September 2025
Deadline to apply: July 31, 2025
The Sports Photo Intern will support photo needs across the newsroom, with a heavy concentration on sports coverage. They will report to the Visuals Team while working closely with editors and reporters on the Sports desk to help elevate visual storytelling around one of San Francisco's most dynamic beats.
This intern will work alongside industry professionals in our innovative digital newsroom and contribute to breaking news coverage, sports features, community stories, and more. In addition to field photography, they may assist with photo editing and will have opportunities to shadow team members to gain experience in narrative photo editing, visual storytelling, and multimedia production.
This is a hands-on role based in San Francisco, requiring presence in the newsroom or in the field five days per week. Interns must have reliable transportation to cover assignments in the city and the wider Bay Area. Company photography, video, lighting, and computer equipment will be provided.
Qualifications:
Strong photography skills; drone certification is a plus
Previous experience in a newsroom, as a freelancer, or within a professional media environment
A keen eye for visual storytelling and a mobile-first mindset
Familiarity with WordPress, Canva, and/or wire service platforms
Experience creating content for social platforms such as Instagram or TikTok is a plus
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Our internship offers:
Real-world photojournalism experience in a fast-paced newsroom
Regular mentorship sessions with photo editors and visuals leadership
Opportunities to collaborate with reporters and producers in the field
Required materials:
Portfolio showcasing a variety of photojournalistic work—with a strong emphasis on sports photography. This may include action shots, behind-the-scenes moments, athlete profiles, or community-based sports stories. Additional work such as portraits, breaking news, and feature coverage is welcome. Work does not need to be published.
A cover letter explaining why you are interested in the internship and how your portfolio reflects your technical or photojournalistic skills. In the letter, pitch two ideas for a photo essay or multimedia project you'd be interested in pursuing as a photographer—no subject matter is off limits, as long as it's local to SF. Your pitches should explain why the story is relevant and interesting to readers, and how you'd approach it.
The deadline to apply is July 31, 2025. All materials, including references, are due at this time.