nyu journalism cover letter

Resumes and Cover Letters

Preparing a dynamic resume and cover letter can set you on the right track to getting your dream job. Learn how to craft documents that make you stand out to potential employers.

The goal of your resume is to effectively communicate your qualifications to prospective employers. In many cases your resume will determine whether or not you are granted an interview. The resume by itself, however, will not get you a job. If it gets you in the door, then it has served its purpose.

Review the Resume Guide & Samples for basic tips and information about what to include on your resume. (To view this document you must be logged into your NYU Home / Google account with your NYU Net ID and password.)

Cover Letters

The cover letter is your opportunity to shine by filling in the blanks from your resume. A well-written cover letter can pique the curiosity of the employer and motivate him/her to carefully read your resume. Be sure to include a cover letter every time you send a resume.

Review our Cover Letter Guide & Samples to learn how to write a winning cover letter. (To view this document you must be logged into your NYU Home / Google account with your NYU Net ID and password.)

Thank You Letters

Thank you letters should be brief and should be sent within 48 hours of an interview to reiterate your interest in the position and to show your appreciation for the interviewer's time. Emphasize the skills that you have and demonstrate how they relate to the position. Remember to state what you can do for the organization, as opposed to what the organization can do for you. 

Review our networking guide for a sample thank you letter to learn how to leave a positive impression on a potential employer.

Journalism (MA)

Program description.

The NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute offers an online master’s degree in journalism as well as traditional graduate programs and concentrations in ten targeted areas of study.

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the  general application requirements , which include:

• Academic Transcripts
• Test Scores  (if required)
• Applicant Statements
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation , and
• A non-refundable  application fee .

See Journalism for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

Concentrations, cultural reporting and criticism, news and documentary, magazine and digital storytelling, reporting the nation and new york, business and economic reporting, science, health and environmental reporting, podcasting and audio reportage.

Students take 36 to 44 credits for the Master of Arts degree, depending on the concentration which has been chosen. Depending on the concentration chosen, up to 20 credits of electives may be taken. Possible electives include any courses in the Institute (if prerequisites are met) or any graduate-level course in another department or school at NYU if approved by that department or school and by the Journalism Institute. Internships and Directed Reading are considered electives. Internships cannot be taken for credit until at least 20 credits have been completed. Up to 12 credits for a 36-credit program may be transferred from another institution (if approved by the program director and the dean’s office). All applications for transfer credits must be made within the first year of matriculation. The program requires at minimum three regular semesters of full-time study (fall, spring, fall), although part-time students are accepted. It is not always possible, however, to offer part-time students a complete selection of courses each semester. Some, but not all, courses are available at night.

Students in the Cultural Reporting and Criticism concentration are equipped with a broad background in cultural and social issues, as well as with the reportorial and analytical skills needed to write on the arts, popular culture, the media, human rights, political controversies, and social groups and milieus. The program teaches a wide array of types of writing, including the review, the critical essay, the longform reported piece, and the polemic. Nine courses, for a total of 36 credits, are required. Almost all students complete at least one internship. The CRC concentration is deeply collaborative, and stresses close working relationships between professors and students and the creation of a supportive intellectual community.

Students may enroll in a different capstone course with permission of the Director of Graduate Studies. In any of these courses, students will complete a deeply-researched work of critical journalism of at least 3,000 words in length.

Students in the News and Documentary concentration learn short-form and long-form journalism for traditional and nontraditional media. From the first class, News and Documentary students are immersed in shooting, editing and learning to report with pictures and sound as well as words. They learn form, structure, and storytelling by working in the field with a partner and, eventually, by themselves. The Reporting I course begins with the basics of short-form stories covering an ethnic neighborhood in New York. Students then move on to magazine length and finally produce a 30-minute documentary that they shoot over the summer and edit in Advanced TV.

The capstone project for the News and Documentary Concentration is a 30-minute documentary that the student generally shoots over the summer after the first year and then edits as part of the Advanced TV Reporting, JOUR-GA 1175 Advanced T.V. Reporting course.

The Magazine and Digital Storytelling concentration is premised on the belief that mastering the traditional skills required to produce great journalism will remain essential in a constantly evolving media culture. We offer a wealth of reporting and writing classes and the program also enthusiastically embraces new technologies, with an emphasis on story-telling through video and photography. Magazine students try their hands at every type of journalism—deadline driven hard news stories, profiles, in-depth features, personal essays, opinion articles, critical reviews, and reader-service pieces. The magazine concentration requires students to take nine courses (36 credits) over the course of three semesters.

Reporting the Nation and New York concentration prepares students to cover local and national issues using a variety of mediums. Each semester includes an intensive series of writing and reporting courses, and journalistic seminars and production classes. Students can also take an interdisciplinary course to provide them with a deeper understanding of a significant issue. The concentration stresses deadline reporting, agility with various mediums and deep, thorough reporting. There is also a multi-platform reporting trip to an underserved community every fall. Students also create content for the concentrations award winning website pavementpieces.com . An internship with a city publication or broadcast outlet takes place between the second and third semesters. This is a 37-credit concentration with a total of 10 courses leading towards an M.A.

Capstone project is completed as part of the Investigative Reporting. As the culmination of this course, the student will complete a significantly reported piece of approximately 3,000 words or a deeply reported multimedia project.

Business and Economic Reporting concentration requires 44 credits over three semesters and an intervening summer. The curriculum is split between courses in the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and courses at NYU’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.

The capstone course for this concentration is Longform Narrative, JOUR-GA 2046 Long Form Narrative . In this course, students produce a 3,000-word-long feature article of publishable quality.

Science, Health and Environmental Reporting concentration at NYU is a 10-course, 38-credit program, including nine required courses and one elective. Founded in 1982, SHER is a globally renowned program operating in the world capital of science communication. The program’s 400-plus alumni have diverse backgrounds and beliefs and work in many types of digital, print and broadcast media in 25 countries. What unites them are two deeply held convictions: science is too important to leave only to scientists, and journalism is too important to leave only to the scientifically illiterate. A key focus is reporting, writing and editing features and news for online sites and magazines, but students also dive into all forms of modern journalism, from books and long-form narratives to video and audio stories, podcasting, editing, data visualizations, blogs and social media. Entrepreneurial skills, including self-marketing, are also emphasized throughout the SHER sequence, as is investigative science journalism. SHER students also operate their own news site, Scienceline.org .

The capstone course for this concentration is Science Writing, JOUR-GA 1180 Science Writing . In this course, students produce a 3,500-word-long feature article of publishable quality.

The Podcasting & Audio Reportage concentration is a 36-credit program which allows students to acquire deep skills in the audio medium, within NYU’s Journalism offerings. Beyond the requirements of the concentration, which cover the primary skills for the audio journalist, students have 12 elective credits. Students may take advantage of the many strengths of the NYU Journalism Faculty, taking courses across a diverse range of topics from investigative reporting to writing about food.

Sample Plan of Study

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

• Learn how to transform their passions into well reported, thoroughly researched forms of journalism.
• Learn how to seek out sources and report story subjects locally, nationally and internationally.   
• Learn how to conceive of, report, structure and produce ambitious short and long-form narrative stories, whether in print, audio, and/or video.
• Learn to work ethically, treating their subjects with respect and maintaining high intellectual and moral standards.
• Develop critical thinking skills, independence, and creativity appropriate to the role of journalism in a democratic society.

NYU Policies

Graduate school of arts and science policies.

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages .

Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page . 

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NYU Journalism Career Services

Investigative climate reporter.

Posted On: November 8, 2023

Journalism Job

Media Organization: Proof News

Company description.

Proof is a nonprofit news organization led by Pulitzer-Prize-winning investigative journalist Julia Angwin, launching in 2024. Proof is dedicated to pursuing data-driven, scientific investigations in the public interest. Proof is multiplatform, looking to infuse truthful, transparent, trustworthy information into the media ecosystem. We are committed to investigations that provide our audience with transparency into all the data, assumptions, and methodologies underlying our findings.

Proof is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, we ensure equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, or liability for service in the United States Armed Forces.

Job Description

Proof is hiring a data-minded investigative reporter for a six-month contract to investigate the climate impacts of the Internet sector. The reporter will investigate data-driven answers to questions like, are Big Tech companies accurately counting their carbon emissions? Have carbon offsets really cut down on industry emissions? And, how do we quantify the energy costs of AI? The goal is not to explain different sides of policy questions, but to follow a scientific process for reaching defensible, transparent conclusions.

The journalist will be expected to produce three separate investigations and accompanying detailed methodologies. The reporter will work jointly with an editor to produce video scripts describing the investigative findings. Your roles and qualifications:

Ideal candidates will have a minimum of three years experience investigative reporting. Background in covering climate and/or Big Tech preferred but not required. Candidates do not need to have had a formal role on an investigative team, but should be able to point to investigative and enterprising work experience.

Proficiency with and affinity for data and data analysis is crucial. Climate is a data-heavy topic and to be successful in this role requires a fearlessness and creativity about assembling and analyzing complex data sources. Familiarity with writing scripts and appearing on camera is also preferred but not required. Contract details:

—Term: Six-month (January-June 2024), independent 1099 contract with specific deliverables. —Compensation: $2,000 per week (based on an estimated 35-40 hours per week). —Location: remote but available during United States EST working hours.

To apply please email [email protected] with a resume, cover letter containing a short statement about why you’re interested in the position, as well as 3-5 samples of previously published work. Questions? Email [email protected]. The deadline to submit an application is Dec. 8, 2023. We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis.

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Journalism cover letter example

They say a journalist is a machine that converts coffee into copy. The hours are long, the pay is low, but the satisfaction is eternal. Notice that the Justice Department didn’t bring down Richard Nixon — the Washington Post did. 

Journalists write the first draft of history. They keep us informed, entertained and outraged. They are educated, intelligent, witty and nosy — they’re in the business of asking questions that are none of their business. They have long memories, short fuses, and a low tolerance for lies.

Journalism has undergone changes like few other professions, from the ink-stained wretches of the 19th century to the radio reporters of World War II to the network stars of CNN to the self-appointed blogger outing bad behavior on his block in the 2020s.

The advent of the internet sent print journalism into a tailspin not long after the year 2000. In the two decades since then, newspapers have seen massive layoffs, huge cutbacks and dizzying consolidations, and some have closed forever as the masses turned to online news sources. Broadcast news remains viable, but the days when you had to wait until 6 p.m. to find out what was going on in the world are forever gone.

Journalism in the 21st century is more democratic than ever — anyone can become a journalist, depending on how you define the word. Yet “old-school” journalists interested in the time-honored tradition of cultivating sources, reporting stories, pursuing investigations, and publishing or broadcasting the news should take heart from the fact that there are more venues, channels and platforms available to them than ever before. 

Did you ever see a news website that had no use for writers , editors, photographers, videographers, designers or artists? That website would be a totally blank page. The delivery vehicles have changed, but the need for content creators is greater than ever.

Which brings us to our current topic — how to get a job in journalism. In the old days, you might get your start by being a “copy boy.” Nowadays, you’re going to need a resume and a cover letter. 

You’ve come to the right place. Resume.io is a leading global provider of cover letter templates, online tools, as well as professional, occupation-specific cover letter examples to prepare them. And yes, many of our writers are (or used to be) stone-cold journalists.

For guidance on how to prepare your resume, consult our all-purpose guide on “How to write a resume.” But you’re going to need a proper journalism cover letter to go with it, and that’s what this article is about. The journalism cover letter example at the top provides a useful model.

What we’ll address here:

Why a journalist needs a cover letter

• How to structure your cover letter
• How to design an irresistible cover letter
• How to write a persuasive cover letter

Common mistakes to avoid

Let’s fire up the coffee pot and get started.

Most good journalists are good writers, even if they work as photographers, artists, designers or online producers. It’s rare to excel at anything in journalism without being a good writer, and we’re going to assume that’s what you are.

So you need to showcase your writing skills — and when applying for a job, there’s no better way to do that than in a cover letter. 

To be brutal, it would be insane to apply for a journalism job without a cover letter. It would be like entering a cake-baking competition without a cake. 

For a journalist, a cover letter literally demonstrates your skills at doing your job — being personable, making connections, telling stories, drawing conclusions, changing minds. It’s like a mathematician being asked to write an equation, or a chef to prepare a dish — it’s precisely what you do best. 

Even if you want to be a dog groomer, you need a cover letter — you can’t just demonstrate your skills by sending the employer a dog you groomed. But in journalism, you can and you must demonstrate your skills by sending a well-written, well-argued, well-designed cover letter proving from the get-go that you’re good at what you do. 

A recent survey of hiring managers found that one of the top reasons job applicants were ignored — in all fields — was their failure to include a cover letter. It’s an expected part of any job application, and if you don’t include one, you’re shooting yourself in the foot.

Best format for a journalism cover letter

If you’re a print reporter, you know the importance of structure — the lede, the nut graf, the body, the kicker. They say news stories are made up of notes, quotes and anecdotes, but they’re organized according to a coherent structure. 

Good journalism cover letters don’t happen by accident — they are deliberately structured to deliver the desired results. Follow this cover letter structure to make sure your story doesn’t lose its way:

Cover letter header

Cover letter greeting.

• Introduction
• Body of the letter
• Conclusion and call to action

This cover letter example for a journalism application will give you a starting point for your own letter:

Dear Mr. Hatherley,

Receiving my Story of the Year award from Dawson Heckham at the Sports News Awards made me understand just how much impact our words have on the soccer industry and its fan base. People love discussing sports, but they equally love reading an opinion and thinking through how their thoughts might differ.

Sports journalists help fans to relive those moments of magic through the medium of words, and with an average of 47.5m annual views of my articles, I hope that my six years at Soccer Media made an impact. A Senior Reporter position at a national publication would allow me to bring my unprecedented player and coach insights to a wider audience.

As a former academy soccer player and top college draft pick (while studying for a journalism degree), many of the biggest players have been my peers. My close relationships give me access to the stories behind what happens on the pitch. Anyone can understand that a goal is scored, but I explore the emotions behind the goals. I have broken some of the biggest soccer stories from the past years:

• Five exclusives exploring the development and player transfers of Miami United.
• Lead reporter for the soccer draft from 2017-2019, interviewing the future stars.
• My international expose around the agent bribery scandal won story of the year.

Prior to my journalism career, I worked for a leading MLS club as an assistant in their PR department for two years, running their blog as well as coordinating their press relations. I was one of the first in the industry to cultivate a successful social media presence.

I enclose a portfolio of my most popular articles for your interest and would welcome the opportunity to share my passion for the sport of soccer.

Travis Jenner

The top of your page must contain a header with your name, profession, address, phone and email. Omitting this info would be like printing a blank business card — nobody is ever going to know who you are, what you do or how to reach you.

Journalists understand the importance of good design, and that’s the second function of the header. When done right, it’s an attractive design element that makes the letter look good at a glance, before anyone has read the first word. This might mean a splash of color and/or creative use of typography, layout and white space. It should give the page an eye-pleasing look at arm’s length, prompting the reader to want to look closer.

Take a look at some of the free cover letter templates at resume.io to get an idea of what well-designed headers look like. Download one of these, enter your personal info, and you can save yourself a lot of trouble trying to design your own header.

Give your resume and cover letter a matching look

Your resume and cover letter should use the same fonts and formatting styles, and colors if any, so that’s it’s obvious they were designed by the same person and were meant to go together. 

This gives you a “visual brand” and shows that you pay attention to detail, you understand the importance of coherent design, and you aren’t just randomly experimenting with new fonts and styles. It also makes the hiring manager associate a certain visual style with your name.

“Dear John” is perhaps the most famous letter greeting ever, suggesting an imminent breakup, but yours can open the way to happier endings. “Dear Mr. X:” or “Dear Ms. Z:” are the traditional ways to open any business correspondence, including a journalism cover letter, and you should generally follow this format unless you have a good reason not to.

One thing is for sure: If your cover letter starts off with “Dear New York Times,” you are doomed. Whether you’re a film reviewer, an Africa correspondent or a digital graphics guru, you’re dead in the water if you haven’t even bothered to figure out which department to address your letter to, let alone who heads it. 

Do everything in your power to find out who makes the hiring decisions for the job you want, and address your letter to that person. If no names are listed in the job post you’re responding to, use your superpowers as a journalist to find out. If web sleuthing fails, try the old-fashioned telephone — just call and ask.

Cover letter introduction

It’s time to write your lede, which is the most important part of any story because it comes first. Every day, millions of people scan news stories in print and online deciding whether to read them by glancing only at the first paragraph. If it grabs them, you’re in; if it doesn’t, they’ll move on.

You may need to devote more effort to your first paragraph than to the rest of the letter combined. Every good story needs a strong beginning, middle and end. If you’re only good at the middle and the end, you’re in trouble, because nobody will get past the beginning.

Do not open by saying “I’m writing this letter…” — the reader already knows you’re writing this letter. Do not say, “Please consider this letter my application for…” — just start writing the letter. Use active, provocative, interesting language that makes the reader want to keep reading. 

Here’s an example of a journalist cover letter intro that really grabs attention:

Cover letter body

The best anecdotal lede fizzles out if you don’t get to the meat of the story soon. Some editors insist on a “nut graf,” one paragraph that describes the story in a nutshell, before it jumps to an inside page. 

The same is true of a journalism cover letter — once you’ve hooked the reader, you need to get down to business pretty fast. Think of USA Today, where most stories that begin on the front page have to end there too. 

In most cases, a cover letter should be a maximum of 400 words, contained to one page, and that requires extreme brevity. 

In the body of your letter, the central two or three paragraphs, you must present the “nutshell” of your case — why your experience, skills and passions make you the ideal candidate for this job. 

Experience is always key, so you must describe what you have done in this field to prove your chops. Don’t just describe where you worked or for how long, but tell stories about challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Be specific, using facts and figures wherever possible.

Sports journalists help fans to relive those moments of magic through the medium of words, and with an average of 47.5m annual views of my articles, I hope that my six years at Soccer Media made an impact. A Senior Reporter position at a national publication would allow me to bring my unprecedented player and coach insights to a wider audience. 

Cover letter conclusion

You want to end with a bang, not a whimper. You might offer a brief recap of what you’ve already said, and you might thank the reader for his or her time, but you must propose some kind of call to action. This can be as simple as saying that you’re looking forward to a response, or that you would be delighted to talk further about the skills you could bring to the table for the employer you’re targeting. 

End on a confident (but not arrogant) note, looking forward to continuing the conversation you’ve started. 

Cover letter sign-off

Close with a simple “Sincerely,” “All my best,” “Best regards,” or whatever sounds right, and then type your full name below that.

To see all of these structural elements in an actual one-page letter, take a look at the journalism cover letter sample above.

Cover letter for a journalist with no experience

A cover letter for a journalist with no experience requires a slightly different approach. It’s a tougher sell, but everyone has to start somewhere. If nobody could ever get a job without experience, then nobody on earth would have a job. 

To write a cover letter if you’re a journalist with no experience, emphasize any credentials you have that are relevant. Include links to stories/photos/artwork you’ve produced, even if you were unpaid. Accentuate your successes, no matter how modest. Focus on your education more than your experience. Talk about your passion for journalism, even if your credentials are slim, and sell yourself with your writing skills.

If you’re still in school, or you’re looking to change careers to go into journalism, simply say so. Remember that once upon a time, the editor you’re writing to had no experience either.

How to write a persuasive journalism cover letter

No journalist succeeds by writing something that nobody wants to read, and the same is true of writing a cover letter for journalism. You have to find your target audience, and in this case your target is a hiring manager looking to hire a reliable professional.

So you have to try to get inside this person’s head a bit. What are editors looking for? They’re looking for professional, competent journalists who can consistently deliver newsworthy stories. They’re not looking for self-important prima donnas who think they’re God’s gift to journalism. You need the editor to like you and to want to work with you. Nobody wants to hire somebody they don’t like.

So, not unlike a reporter working your sources, you need to try to fit in, to walk and talk like the people you’re trying to influence. You need to use a little psychology to “read the mind” of the people whose help you need, and to demonstrate that you belong in their world. A cops reporter we know once agreed to be tased in the middle of a police station, on video, with all the cops gleefully watching, and he was their hero from that day forward. 

Always remember that in a cover letter for journalism, you’re not trying to explain to anyone what you need or what you want. You’re trying to convince editors that they need you (or at least that they would benefit greatly from you on their team). 

If you look at the journalism cover letter sample above, you’ll see that the author is neither demanding a job nor begging for one, but demonstrating that he offers value to the news organization he seeks to represent. 

According to the great newsman Joseph Pulitzer, the three biggest imperatives in journalism are “accuracy, accuracy, accuracy!” Here are some mistakes you can’t afford to make:

• Typos, misspellings, bad grammar and other writing errors. Simple English mistakes in a one-page journalism cover letter can be instant disqualifiers.
• Cover letter clichés and lazy language. If you use trite, hackneyed phrases, like saying you “think outside the box,” this proves the exact opposite — that you are not an original thinker and that you just borrow your ideas from others.
• Copy-paste letters sent to all: Every journalism cover letter should be unique and tailored to a specific employer, discussing its specific needs.
• Terrible design: If your cover letter for journalism looks awful at a glance, with ugly fonts too small to read, tiny margins or other design flaws, few editors will take you seriously.

Key takeaways

• Journalists play a key role in informing, persuading and entertaining the public, and despite the massive upheaval in this sector in recent years, the world will always need journalists.
• For journalists seeking jobs, a well-written, well-designed resume and cover letter are an essential part of any job application.
• Like a well-structured story, a good journalism cover letter adheres to a well-designed framework.
• To write a successful application letter for a journalism position, you need to get inside the mind of the editor and deliver what that person wants to read, not just what you want to write.

You can avoid a multitude of errors by starting with a cover letter sample from resume.io, using a pre-formatted, pre-designed template where the structure and design are already done. All that’s left for you to do is to write the letter.

Here are other creative cover letters to inspire you:

• Freelancer cover letter sample
• Writer cover letter sample
• Public relations cover letter sample
• Social media manager cover letter sample

Free professionally designed templates

Career Services

Find Your Job

Advice, Access, and Connection

NYU Journalism Career Services staff provide guidance and advice to students and alumni during every step of the process. Here, students receive personalized career counseling customized to their background and interests as well as resume and cover letter help, invitations to exclusive networking opportunities, and access to comprehensive internship and job boards. Schedule a meeting with one of our counselors:

• About Career Services
• Career News
• Credit Internship Course

For Employers

Job/Internship Board

• Career Resources

Craigh Barboza

Career Services Specialist

Email: [email protected] Phone: 212-998-3837 Office Hours: Thursdays (Room 647) 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Other times by appointment only.

Sylvan Solloway Carrera

Director of Career Services

Email : [email protected] Phone : 212-992-7995 Office Hours : Wednesdays (Room 656): 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Other times by appointment only.

Master’s Class of 2018-2019

*based on data found for 94.4% of graduates

landed jobs, paid fellowships, internships, or freelance work after graduation

work in journalism, while 16% are working in media-related jobs

held internships while at NYU

of those students were hired by their internship company

Internship Opportunities

Students at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute study their craft in the media capital of the world and have access to internships at top news organizations. Career Services emails students and posts new opportunities on our extensive job boards daily, and our counselors work to match students with the best opportunities available.

VISIT JOB/INTERNSHIP BOARD

NYU Journalism students receive exclusive access to a host of networking events where they meet and mingle with leading industry professionals—including many NYU Journalism alumni now working in the field. During the 2020–2021 academic year, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, events have moved online and include recruiter information sessions available via Zoom.

Visit Events Page

NYU Journalism students are curious, bold, and engaged, and 84%* of those entering the workforce held media internships while at NYU. Most NYU journalism students who intern do multiple internships during their time studying in New York City, with an average of 2.5 internships per student.

*Data based on 300 (BA and MA) graduates from class of 2019.

POST YOUR JOB/INTERNSHIP

Having the opportunity to intern during the normal semester is what helped me more than anything else in my career. Because I was in the heart of New York City, there are so many places to intern during the spring, the fall or the summer semesters. NYU career services helped me find internships that were a good fit. Take advantage of NYU career services! Sylvan and Craigh are really helpful.

Ashad Hajela

BA 2019, CT Public Youth Justice and Race Reporter

Career Services in graduate school is just as important as the classes you take. NYU has stellar Career Services that continuously provide internship opportunities during school, job opportunities near graduation and they're always available for advice and consultation when making job decisions.

Reuben Jones

MA Class of 2014, Washington Correspondent at Spectrum News

I really appreciate NYU's journalism career fairs and opportunities to meet and network with real hiring managers in the industry. I made my first connection with an Associated Press hiring manager at an NYU journalism career fair and it helped me to get a better sense of what the organization was looking for, and helped me later on land a job with the Associated Press.

Amanda Morris

BA 2017, Journalist, Disability reporting fellow for the New York Times

I picked NYU Journalism because of the access being in the city and the program provided. It gave me access to resources to jump start my career. I was able to connect with mentors through the NYU meet and greets. Those mentors worked at the major networks in the city which led to internships while I was at school and a continued genuine bond.

Phylicia Ashley

BA 2016, Reporter at ABC Affiliate WFTV - Channel 9 Eye Witness News

Journalism Cover Letter Examples

A great journalism cover letter can help you stand out from the competition when applying for a job. Be sure to tailor your letter to the specific requirements listed in the job description, and highlight your most relevant or exceptional qualifications. The following journalism cover letter example can give you some ideas on how to write your own letter.

or download as PDF

Cover Letter Example (Text)

Evett Penaluna

(735) 829-0295

[email protected]

Dear Shalaya Mero,

I am writing to express my interest in the journalism position at The New York Times Company, as advertised. With five years of dedicated experience in journalism at Reuters Group Limited, I have honed my reporting, writing, and analytical skills, and I am eager to bring my expertise to your esteemed publication.

During my tenure at Reuters, I have been committed to delivering high-quality, impactful journalism. I have covered a wide range of topics, from international politics to financial markets, and have consistently demonstrated an ability to distill complex information into clear, engaging narratives. My work has required a meticulous approach to fact-checking and a commitment to ethical journalism—principles that I know align with the values of The New York Times.

I am particularly proud of a series of investigative reports I led that unveiled systemic issues within the global supply chain. This work not only garnered significant reader engagement but also sparked discussions among policymakers. I believe such outcomes underscore the power of journalism to effect change and inform the public—a responsibility I take seriously.

The prospect of joining The New York Times is especially exciting to me because of the opportunity to collaborate with a team known for its excellence and to contribute to a publication that has been a bastion of quality journalism for more than a century. I am confident that my background in international news coverage, along with my ability to adapt to new beats and my passion for storytelling, would make me a valuable addition to your team.

I am enthusiastic about the possibility of discussing how my experience, skills, and ambitions align with the goals of The New York Times. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to further discuss how I can contribute to the legacy and future of your publication.

Warm regards,

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The New York Amsterdam News

Data and investigations reporter.

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The New York Amsterdam News ( AmNews ) is looking for a full time Data and Investigations Reporter to join our Blacklight Investigative Unit . This is a position based in New York City that requires considerable attention to detail, personal initiative, and a startup attitude. This role offers the successful candidate a unique opportunity: to work with a legacy Black-owned news organization to support the essential work of supporting our democracy and informing our citizens.

About the AmNews

The Amsterdam News is one of America’s most influential and oldest continuously published Black newspapers, published for 114 years in Harlem, New York City. Since 1909 the Amsterdam News has been a leading voice of the Black community in New York, the largest in the nation, and has worked to magnify the issues that most deeply impact communities of color in New York, the United States and around the world.

About the position

This is a three year, grant funded, union position with the possibility of a longer duration based on funding availability. The position is supported and jointly edited by ProPublica, which launched the Local Reporting Network in 2018 to help create vital, investigative journalism in communities where such stories would otherwise not be done.

The Data and Investigations Reporter is an ambitious and detail-oriented member of the AmNews Investigative team. You’ll hit the ground running, be unafraid to break news and be a highly motivated self-starter who displays personal integrity and is comfortable working both independently and collaboratively.

You will produce data centered reporting for our Beyond the Barrel of the Gun project which seeks to examine the root causes of, impact on and solutions to gun violence in Black and Brown communities and our Black to Nature initiative focusing on the impact of climate change on communities of color and our connection to the natural world. You will also have the opportunity to work on other long form and/or investigative projects which are data focused.

In this role, you will:

• Produce written, data centered investigative stories and/or visualizations that are deeply reported and intersectional. Your goal will be to produce data-based journalism through the lens of how the issues you report on impact communities of color while also centering the voices and lived experiences of those impacted by policy and events. Your focus will be the New York City area but those stories may also sometimes extend to coverage outside that area. In addition to being assigned stories including, but not limited to, climate change, gun violence as a public health emergency, and COVID-19, you will generate your own story ideas, including for long form projects.
• Meet regularly and collaborate on reporting with the AmNews Editorial team including the Investigative Editor, Publisher, Managing Editor, News Editor, and other reporters as well as editors and journalists from Visuals, Data, Research, Engagement and more at ProPublica.

A strong candidate will have all of the following:

• 5+ years of experience in journalism, preferably with a background in covering the New York City region and/or Black and Brown communities
• Experience in writing data-centered or -driven stories and/or investigative journalism
• Superior collaborative, verbal, and written communication skills
• Experience with virtual work environments (both technology, tools and personal skills) and the ability to work independently and remotely
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage a portfolio of source relationships with little supervision
• An accountability mindset which powers your reporting

The superior candidate also may also have many of the following:

• 3+ years of experience in data journalism
• Multimedia reporting experience (photo/video/audio/podcasting)
• Experience in data visualization
• Experience in creating and using public records requests in your reporting
• Experience finding, cleaning and analyzing data sources
• A strong social media presence and experience in using social media to engage readers and promote your journalism

Compensation and Benefits for this position includes:

• Annual Salary of $80,000
• 100% Employer Paid Health Care
• Union membership
• Paid Vacation + 13 named holidays
• Generous Sick Leave/Personal Time
• Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Transit Check Program
• Flexible Spending Plan
• 401K and pension

This is a remote position based in the New York City area.

To apply, send an email with attachments in PDF format and include:

• A thoughtful cover letter, detailing your work and life experience that make you a great fit for this role
• Links or attachment to at least three examples of your previous work. Feel free to provide some backstory or more information about the stories in your cover letter
• Contact information for two references for whom you have worked or worked with

Send your email to [email protected] with “ Data and Investigations Reporter ” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. ET on August 20, 2024 . We hope to hire as quickly as possible for an October 1 start date.

The New York Amsterdam News welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. We offer equal opportunity in employment for all qualified persons and prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, disability unrelated to job requirements, genetic information, military service or other protected status.

Advertisement

‘Largest political cover-up’

‘Gaslighting and lying to each of us’

‘Border Czar’

‘Far Left Democrats’

‘Unfit to serve’

‘Proof of life’

‘All the best’

‘Who is running the show?’

‘Less competent’

‘Where is Joe Biden?’

‘Best interest’

‘25th Amendment’

‘Wood chipper to democracy’

‘Coup’ and ‘Cover-Up’: How the G.O.P. Is Reacting to the Harris Candidacy

By Karen Yourish and Lazaro Gamio

While elected Democrats have been quick to rally around Vice President Kamala Harris after President Biden’s announcement that he would leave the 2024 presidential race, a vast majority of prominent Republicans have treated the development with suspicion or scorn.

A New York Times analysis of statements by Republican senators, representatives and governors found that their reactions to Ms. Harris’s presumptive candidacy and Mr. Biden’s withdrawal clustered around several themes, including the opinions that Mr. Biden must resign or that the events of the past few days amounted to election subversion or a bloodless coup. Recent polling suggests nearly 9 in 10 Americans believe Mr. Biden’s decision to step aside was the right one.

Several officials also suggested that Mr. Biden — who had been in Delaware recovering from Covid-19 but returned to the White House on Tuesday — had gone missing. A greater number made statements attacking Ms. Harris’s record, while a small handful posted positive or supportive comments. Emphasis in these quotations was added by The Times to highlight common themes in the statements.

65 called Mr. Biden’s withdrawal a coup or said it amounted to election interference.

‘This is a coup of a puppet regime.’

‘While President Trump took a bullet for our democracy, the progressive democrats are taking a wood chipper to democracy by shredding the will of 14 million primary voters.’

‘Now the Democrats are rigging their *own* elections.’

These statements have tended to argue that Mr. Biden’s decision to end his candidacy was not his own, was not democratic or both. Many have mocked Democrats for positioning themselves as “ defenders of democracy ” in contrast to Republicans, following attempts by former President Donald J. Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Some of this language began to bubble up among Republicans even before Mr. Biden announced that he would drop out. During the Republican National Convention last week, Chris LaCivita, a top adviser to Mr. Trump’s campaign, described the pressure on Mr. Biden to withdraw as an “attempted coup.”

97 said that Mr. Biden must resign or be ousted , or that he is unfit for office.

‘Today I’m demanding the Biden Harris cabinet invoke the 25th Amendment . If Biden isn’t capable of being a candidate, he’s not capable of being President.’

‘If Joe Biden is unable to serve another term, then he must resign right now. If he’s unfit to campaign, he should not have the nuclear codes — it’s that simple.’

‘If Joe Biden is unfit to run for re-election then he’s unfit to serve the remainder of his term.’

Statements along these lines have primarily argued that if Mr. Biden is not able to run for a second term, then he is unfit to continue to serve now. Many said he should step down from the presidency. Some have gone further, suggesting that the 25th Amendment should be invoked to remove Mr. Biden from office.

76 speculated about a high-level conspiracy in the White House about the condition of Mr. Biden’s health.

‘Kamala Harris was complicit in a massive coverup to hide and deny the fact that Joe Biden was not capable of discharging the duties of the office.’

‘The American people should fire every single politician that has been gaslighting and lying to each of us about Biden’s capability to lead our Nation. Kamala Harris is as culpable as Biden’s senior staff and family in this scheme to subvert democracy.’

‘Democrats have been complicit in the largest political cover-up in history.’

These comments have, without providing evidence, accused Ms. Harris and other top Democrats of a cover-up to hide the state of Mr. Biden’s physical and mental fitness.

18 asked, ‘Where’s Biden?’ or implied that the president had gone missing.

‘Where is Joe Biden? Who is running the show? ’

‘Americans are asking: Where is Joe Biden? ’

‘For the third time today, I’m asking Joe Biden to provide the American people with proof of life .’

Mr. Biden was self-isolating with Covid-19 at his family’s Delaware beach house when he made the announcement that he would step aside from the 2024 presidential race. These comments drew attention to his lack of recent public appearances, in some cases even calling for a demonstration that Mr. Biden was still alive. Mr. Biden returned to Washington Tuesday afternoon and is set to give a televised address this evening.

143 made other statements, mostly attacking Ms. Harris’s record.

‘ “ Border Czar ” Harris has NOT done her job to secure the border.’

‘Kamala Harris leads the Far Left Democrats ’ pro-crime, anti-victim agenda.’

‘Cackling Kamala is widely considered less competent than dementia-impaired Joe Biden.’

Dozens of Republican officials made more typically political statements, including criticizing Ms. Harris as a candidate. One common line of attack, positing that Ms. Harris failed as a “border czar,” is misleading . (Some Republican candidates have already begun to run ads like this one , drawing attention to some of the more liberal positions Ms. Harris has taken in the past, particularly during her failed 2020 presidential primary campaign.)

And 9 made positive or supportive comments about Mr. Biden’s decision.

‘Fran and I wish President Biden and the First Lady all the best as he serves out the remainder of his term and in the years ahead.’

‘I understand and respect President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection. While we have political differences, I appreciate his lifelong service to our nation, which he dearly loves.’

‘I respect President Biden’s decision to act in the best interest of the country by stepping aside in the 2024 presidential election.’

A few Republican officials wrote kindly about their relationships with Mr. Biden or sent him well wishes.

In the table below, see which Republican elected officials made which types of statements, as of Tuesday night.

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