The Legislative Gazette Internship In Public Affairs Reporting
For more information, contact the Legislative Gazette Internship Coordinator at (518) 486-6513 or editor@legislativegazette.newpaltz.edu
To initiate the application process, please download, print, and return the application form and two recommendation forms, below:
Frequently Asked Questions about Internships
How will an internship at the Legislative Gazette benefit me?
What are the components of the internship?
How many semesters?
What is the admissions process?
How many credits will I earn?
Who are my academic advisers?
When and how can I qualify for the program?
What is living in Albany like?
What are Gazette Alumni doing today?
What do Gazette Alumni have to say about the political science component of the internship?
How will an internship at SUNY’s Legislative Gazette benefit me?
A semester internship at The Legislative Gazette prepares you to work for a daily newspaper or in other meaningful communication positions straight from college. How? You’ll be reporting on the bustling, influential political arena of the third largest state’s capital, in Albany, New York. You’ll attend press conferences and ask the governor of New York questions. You will work alongside reporters from The New York Times and NBC. You’ll have phone calls returned from powerful policymakers. And your reporting will provide facts that will help these policymakers shape legislation. Consequently, your resume and portfolio of news clips will stand out in a crowd of job applicants. You can expect to gain extensive newsgathering and news writing experience. After all, you and your fellow interns are The Gazette’s staff reporters. You’ll probe for answers at press briefings and report on the machinations of state Senate & Assembly committees and state regulatory agencies. You’ll conduct interviews, unearth leads, attend relevant meetings and write the stories. From tax laws to environmental issues, from health policies to farm supports, you will have the opportunity to report on the prevailing, often controversial, issues that face large states. You will witness government in action.
What are the components of the Internship?
We won’t deceive you. This may be the most challenging semester of your academic career to date. You’ll be required to balance a full workweek, complete a series of academic tasks and live independently in Albany. But, you’ll exit the program with tangible tools: sharp reporting & writing skills, and an acute, analytical mind. You’ll have a better understanding of journalism, state politics, and yourself. You will also have been given an unequaled opportunity to hone your skills in journalism, Web reporting, blogging, photojournalism and video-to-Web coverage.
The internship consists of 35 hours of fieldwork per week, coupled with an equally important, rigorous academic component in journalism and political science. As a working reporter, you will be assigned several news beats that pertain to the multifaceted interests of a large state government, its committees, its agencies and those organizations that lobby at their doors. You’ll make sense of complex government activities and write your news stories with the assistance of a professional journalist/editor. Every week, you’ll write an analysis paper examining an issue or incident you encountered that week. Every three weeks, a five to eight page report will be due on a book of a journalism/political science nature. The report must include a book summary, a comparison to your field experience and a critique of the author’s work. Also, you’ll attend a weekly political science seminar and discussion, and be guided through Albany’s legislative maze by a professor of political science & communication.
Final grades are based on your portfolio of academic & professional work, your reporting & writing skills, your professional demeanor and your participation in discussions.
How many semesters?
The Gazette is now offering three internships each year. The fall semester starts around Labor Day and runs for 16 weeks. The spring semester starts at the beginning of January and runs for 25 weeks so that interns are able to cover the entire legislative session, from the governor’s State of the State to the mad dash to vote on bills following the adoption of a new state budget. There is no added tuition fee or academic workload for students in the spring term. The extended term will allow for added training in reporting and writing. The Gazette also offers a summer program that starts in late June or early July and lasts approximately seven weeks.
What is the admissions process?
Students must fill out an application and submit their college transcripts, writing samples and a short letter of interest to be considered for the internship. Students are responsible for working with their advisers and professors to determine the exact number of credits they can receive. The Legislative Gazette will be willing to supply syllabi and speak with your college advisors to aid in this process. Students with questions should contact James Gormley by e-mail at editor@legislativegazette.newpaltz.edu or by phone at (518)486-6513.
How many credits will I earn?
Successful completion of the internship program earns up to 15 credits for the fall and spring semesters. Student participating in the summer semester will receive up to 9 credits. Individual colleges determine the exact number of credits a student will receive.
The program also offers a financial stipend of.
Who are my academic advisers?
Dr. Alan S. Chartock, SUNY Professor of Political Science & Communication, and Executive Publisher and Project Director of The Legislative Gazette.
James Gormley, Editor of The Legislative Gazette.
When and how can I qualify for the program?
To qualify for an internship at The Legislative Gazette, a student must have reached one’s junior year and have at least a C plus average (2.5 grade point average). Courses that are good preparation for a Gazette internship include: an advanced newswriting course; reporting on public affairs and government; feature or human interest writing; press & government or media & politics.
Students must fill out an application and provide recommendations from two academic sources to be considered for an internship.
What is living in Albany like?
Albany offers affordable housing, cultural attractions, entertainment events, great shopping facilities, restaurants, public transportation, and is only 2.5 hours north of New York City. The city, along with being the state’s capital, is home to at least eight colleges and has all the familiar trappings of a college town.
What are Gazette alumni doing today?
Alumni have become reporters, editors and columnists at medium and large metro daily newspapers and national newsmagazines. Some alumni work for trade, business, and other special interest publications. Others have moved into public relations with private firms, or work in press relations for legislators or government agencies. New York Post Columnist Andrea Peyser is an alumnus, as is Pulitzer Prize winner Alex Storozynski, a former member of the editorial board at the New York Daily News.
What do Gazette alumni have to say about the political science component of the internship?
Some of the verbatim student comments on the end-of-semester course evaluation forms have included:
“This class is an excellent tool for anyone going into politics or journalism.”
“Dr. Chartock not only teaches us about state government, he makes (us) think analytically.”
“This course inspired my curiosity more than any class I have ever taken.”
“It has given my career some direction.”
“I enjoyed the class and gained much insight into the political process.”
“I have learned more about state government than I learned all through high school and college”
“(Dr. Chartock) made the subject interesting and enjoyable, which helped me to learn much more than I have in any other college course.”
