Internships offer an exceptional opportunity to jumpstart your career in the Canadian magazine publishing industry. Whether you’re a student seeking a placement to fulfill your internship/co-op requirement or an aspiring journalist aiming to make your mark, consider exploring these re-occuring opportunities below.
Looking for journalism, communications, or media opportunities? Explore current postings on our J-Launchpad Job Listings page.
Not only do internships present a valuable opportunity for individuals at the beginning of their careers, but they also significantly benefit the publication. As an intern, finding your niche and making a lasting impact can be challenging. Listen to insights from industry leaders Stephanie Bai (Macleans), Colin Leslie (Medical Post), Angela Pacienza (Globe and Mail), and Samia Madwar (The Walrus) during our a panel discussion on maximizing your internship experience.
The Walrus Fellowship Program
Every year, The Walrus Fellowship Program trains emerging journalists and media professionals in the art and science of fact checking, editing, and the production process as well as gaining a keen understanding of nonprofit management. This program exists to nurture and develop the next generation journalists, editors, and storytellers who have the skills to produce well-researched, trustworthy, and fact-based journalism.
Canadian Living
Interns at Canadian Living, Canada’s top women’s lifestyle brand, hone their craft, learn about the industry and get real-life work experience in their chosen area—whether that’s editorial, art, style, home or food.
We accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year, except where noted. Apply by emailing your cover letter and résumé to CLinternships@tva.ca, specifying the internship of your choice in the subject line.
Please note: We can only consider students in an academic program requiring internship or co-op experience to graduate. All Canadian Living internships are unpaid, but interns do receive a travel stipend.
EDITORIAL INTERN
Editorial interns work closely with our editors to learn the basics of cross-platform magazine publishing. Responsibilities include posting articles and photo galleries on canadianliving.com (30%), writing short articles and sidebars for print and web (30%), monitoring and scheduling Canadian Living’s social media posts (20%) and other general editorial tasks (20%), including transcribing, fact-checking and primary research.
The successful candidate works well with others, has a keen interest in magazine journalism, always keep a positive attitude and is meticulous. A familiarity with content and social media management platforms, including WordPress and Hootsuite, is a definite asset.
Availability: three to five days a week over a four-month period.
Short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
COPY/RESEARCH INTERN
Copy/research interns work closely with our copy department to fact-check the magazine. Tasks include fact-checking (50%), primary research (25%) and miscellaneous editorial work (25%). Interns are encouraged to pitch story ideas and may write short articles and sidebars for the magazine and website.
The successful candidate is a wordsmith who loves to get things just right, is organized and meticulous and has excellent oral and written communication skills. Previous fact-checking experience is an asset.
STYLE INTERN
Style interns run our fashion closet, which entails cataloguing samples, tracking clothing and beauty products for photo shoots, couriering items back to vendors and maintaining contact lists for style editors (50%). They also fact-check style articles (25%) and write for canadianliving.com (25%). Interns may occasionally attend photo shoots, events and previews.
The successful candidate is fascinated with fashion and beauty, has the ability to work well with others, is organized and detail-oriented and has either schooling or some experience in writing.
Availability: three to five days a week over a four-month period.
Short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
HOME INTERN
Home interns work closely with the home editor to produce content and photo shoots. The role includes updating existing content and producing new content for the website and developing weekly newsletters (about 50%), fact-checking and correspondence (25%) and assistance sourcing for and producing print stories (25%). Interns may occasionally attend photo shoots, events and previews.
The successful candidate has a good knowledge of local and national home retailers, a keen interest in design and decorating and a passion for magazines. A car is not necessary, but definitely useful.
Availability: two to three days a week over a four-month period.
Short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview and portfolio review.
Canadian Geographic
Canadian Geographic is pleased to offer a limited number of internships for students who must complete a placement to fulfill the requirements of their accredited university or college journalism program. Internship program coordinators and qualifying candidates are invited to email resume@canadiangeographic.ca to learn more and apply.
Fashion Magazine: Editorial Intern
About the Position: FASHION magazine offers unpaid internships in several departments: editorial, photo, marketing and sales. Internships in the Editorial department fall into three categories: digital, fashion, and beauty. Job responsibilities and daily duties include assisting editors with print, digital and all-around functioning of the magazine including processing invoices, administrative tasks, phone reception, attending daily news meetings, and more.
Requirements: Only students in an academic program requiring internship or co-op experience will be considered.
Compensation: Unpaid
Time Commitment: Three days a week, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm
How to Apply: Send your resumé, desired start date, and cover letter detailing which internship you’re interested in and why to social@fashionmagazine.com.
Prairie Fire: Practicum in Publishing
Prairie Fire Press has a long-standing commitment to educating youth in the area of publishing. Over the years, this commitment has evolved into a uniquely designed seven-month practicum program that provides a hands-on, intense learning experience in all aspects of publishing with special emphasis on the interests of each student. Each year Prairie Fire hosts one or two students from September to the following May during which time we strive to provide an extraordinary experience.
Demand for the program far exceeds availability of placements. My goal is to expand the program so that we can host at least two students every year, and offer summer employment for 2-4 months at the end of the practicum, which would be of benefit to both the student and Prairie Fire. In order to fund the practicum program we host an annual fundraiser every year called “Speaking Volumes.”
If you would like to help us foster a new wave of publishing professionals, please consider making a donation to the program, and if you would like to know more about our practicum, please contact me. Because we receive so many requests, preference is given to students from Manitoba.
We are grateful to our collaborators at the University of Winnipeg, Canadian Mennonite University and University of Manitoba for sending us so many lovely, talented and willing students.
How to Apply: Contact Janine Tschuncky at prfire@prairiefire.ca
Vancouver Magazine and Western Living Editorial Internship
Practicum Placements (For-Credit, Unpaid)
For students requiring a placement for completion of an academic program in journalism, communications or other media-related program, we offer unpaid, short-term internships to suit your hour requirements.
Please note that these are currently remote positions; successful applicants will need to have access to a computer and internet connection.
Editorial interns work closely with our editorial and art department, and opportunities can be tailored based on interest and ability.
Duties include fact-checking articles, story research, photo research, attending editorial meetings, generating story ideas, email correspondence and administrative assistance for both Western Living and Vancouver magazine, as well as any special editions our brands produce. Editorial interns are also given the opportunity to write stories and sidebars for the magazines and websites.
Applications are always open for these opportunities; please include your prefered time frame and required hours in your email. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume and three non-academic writing samples to Dani Wright, managing editor, dwright@canadawide.com.
Design Internship
Design internships are available for those needing to fulfil practicum or work experience hours for course credit. Please contact Jenny Reed, Art Director at jreed@canadawide.com with a cover letter, resume and design portfolio (under 6MB please).
Toronto Life Editorial Internships
Editorial interns are involved in many aspects of the production of Toronto Life and often subsequently go on to acclaimed work at publications throughout Canada and the US. They receive practical experience in research, shadow-editing and writing. Each intern is encouraged to generate ideas and write for the magazine. A voracious appetite for city affairs is essential.
Only students in an academic program requiring internship or co-op experience to graduate will be considered. Applicants should also have excellent oral and written communication skills, and be extremely creative, highly organized and fanatically attentive to detail.
How to Apply: Qualifying candidates must complete the following application and send it, along with a cover letter, a resumé and, if available, published writing samples, to editor@torontolife.com.
1. Generate three ideas for the print publication or the website. Your proposals should be clearly focused and should indicate why you think these ideas are right for Toronto Life.
2. Write a review of the current issue (about 500 words). We know we’re not perfect, so we expect a critical analysis.
Did we miss one? Send us a note. We’ll update this post as more internships are announced!