Breaking into business journalism can be challenging for aspiring journalists, especially when it comes to landing a coveted internship. But the good news is that prior knowledge of business and financial topics isn’t necessarily a requirement, according to experienced business journalists convened by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Business Journalism Task Force on Oct. 19.
The webinar, titled “Breaking in: Internships,” featured a panel with Sabrina Escobar, a reporter at Barron’s who previously participated in The Dow Jones News Fund internship program; Michelle Higgins, assistant managing editor for talent at The Wall Street Journal; Julia Mercado, a talent acquisition specialist at the Financial Times; and Trey Johnson, standards editor at Bloomberg Industry Group. Fawn Johnson, news director at Bloomberg Industry Group, also participated in the discussion, sharing insights into the hiring process.
Internship opportunities
The panelists outlined several internship programs offering journalists opportunities to report, develop skills and gain experience alongside the newsroom staff, from writing stories to working in data visualization. Summer 2028 internships will be available in the early fall of 2027.
Mercado said the Financial Times offers a 10-week summer internship program with opportunities across its newsroom and commercial operations. Newsroom placements include reporting, data journalism, podcast production, newsletters and social media engagement. Interns will be assigned a beat while also attending networking events, workshops and a two-week hackathon that allows interns to collaborate on projects.
At Bloomberg Industry Group, Johnson described having an eight-week summer internship program with opportunities in reporting, data journalism, audience journalism, graphics and video. The newsroom covers areas including Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Government, and interns work in person at the organization’s Arlington, Virginia location. Rather than rotating interns between desks, Bloomberg Industry Group assigns them to specific teams, where they begin reporting and writing soon after joining. Editors provide daily assignments while encouraging interns to develop enterprise stories. Johnson said some interns from the previous summer produced around 35 stories during their placements. The program provides pay and housing.
Higgins explains that The Wall Street Journal offers internships across several desks and formats, including business reporting, markets, personal finance, personal technology, sports, magazine features, visual investigations, graphics and automobile reporting.
Interns work alongside newsroom teams, receive assignments and are expected to pitch their own work as the summer progresses. For aspiring future journalists, these programs offer endless opportunities to develop reporting skills.
Finance experience is not always required
One of the panel’s main messages was that applicants do not need an academic or professional background in business to qualify for a business journalism internship.
Mercado said the Financial Times prioritized core journalism skills, including the ability to pitch stories, research topics, contact sources and develop a story with a broader perspective. She encouraged applicants to connect their existing interests to business coverage.
“Follow the money,” Mercado said, emphasizing that business reporting can extend across a broad range of subjects.
Higgins said the same principles apply to many Wall Street Journal internships: “You don’t need to have a background in business or finance or econ to be an intern with us.” Instead, the newsroom looks for strong work samples demonstrating a mix of breaking news and deeply reported enterprise journalism.
Johnson from Bloomberg Industry Group doesn’t expect interns to arrive with specialized knowledge of legal procedures or business terminology. For applicants transitioning from another beat or a specialized publication, he said that there must be an ability to understand complicated topics and explain them to readers. Johnson said experience covering a technical subject can be an advantage if the journalist can translate complex information into accessible language.
Building a portfolio
Although prior business reporting is not always necessary, panelists stressed that applicants should demonstrate their reporting abilities through clips of published work.
Escobar explained that applicants can build relevant experience by finding business angles in subjects they already cover or care about. For students applying for The Dow Jones News Fund, she explained that the process is different from a normal newsroom application. Applicants submit a resume, transcript, essay and video response. The program’s business reporting track also includes an assessment, for which applicants should prepare by reviewing basic business concepts.
Higgins encouraged applicants to provide context for their work samples rather than submitting links without explanation. She recommended annotating clips with a few bullet points explaining the applicant’s role, how the story developed and what reporting the work required. An applicant might explain how they identified a story idea, interviewed sources, analyzed data or developed a visual presentation. This helps editors understand not only what an applicant published, but also the reporting decisions and effort behind the work.
Tailoring applications to the newsroom
Panelists said applicants should research each organization and tailor their application to the specific internships rather than submitting the same materials everywhere.
Mercado said one common problem is that applicants do not adequately research the publication or the position. She encouraged candidates to familiarize themselves with the newsroom’s work, including its articles, podcasts, social media and other publicly available content. She also said cover letters should only be three paragraphs.
Johnson recommended reading job descriptions closely and organizing resumes so the most relevant journalism experience is easy to find. Applicants should highlight the experience most relevant to the position rather than relying solely on chronological order.
Higgins said a cover letter explains what an applicant would contribute to the newsroom, not simply why they want to work for a prestigious publication. A strong cover letter can also demonstrate an applicant’s writing ability.
For candidates who cannot access publications behind paywalls, panelists suggested looking for podcasts, newsletters, videos, social media posts and other free content. Students can also check whether their university libraries provide access to publications or offer discounted student subscriptions.
Networking and preparing for interviews
Higgins said reaching out to newsroom staff can help applicants learn more about an internship, but contacting someone without a clear connection or purpose may not strengthen an application. She recommended using those conversations to understand the work and expectations of the position.
During interviews, Escobar encouraged applicants to be authentic about their experience and make a clear case for what they can bring to the newsroom.
She even recalled applying to business journalism opportunities herself without having business reporting experience. Rather than misrepresenting her background, she emphasized the skills she has developed and how they could transfer to the role.
Stay consistent and believe in yourself
The panelists acknowledge how competitive it is to secure an internship and the application process can be quite discouraging, especially for students who apply multiple times without receiving an offer.
Escobar encouraged applicants to keep trying and use each application cycle to identify areas for improvement. Students who aren’t selected can seek advice from career services, mentors and other journalists to strengthen their resumes, clips, and interview skills.
Higgins said there is no single path into a newsroom. Although internships and early career programs can lead to full-time opportunities, journalists also enter newsrooms through other routes.
For aspiring journalists, the discussion emphasized that entering the field really requires just a few things: strong reporting, curiosity and a willingness to learn.
