POLIN MEDIA INC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Because of Publisher Mike Thoele’s long-time teaching connection with the University of Oregon School of Journalism, the Tri-County News and the West Lane News sponsor a highly active internship program.

In the program, college students or recent graduates work an unpaid 10 to 12 hours per week during the school year, gaining experience and, in some cases, academic credit. In return, the newspapers provide strong mentoring support and often structure story assignments to match class assignments.
The typical intern commitment is for two terms, or about six months. The papers now carry up to 15 interns per term. In Oregon, no other newspaper of any size hosts as many interns.

While most of the interns are from the University of Oregon, there have been placements from four other Oregon colleges, two California schools and from as far away as the University of Iowa and the University of Pennsylvania.
The Tri-County News is also a host newspaper for the prestigious Snowden Foundation, which places a full-time paid intern in Junction City each summer. The News is by far the smallest newspaper in the Snowden group and the only weekly.

In 2005, a University of Oregon graduate student intern worked with the journalism school and the Tri-County News to do a three-part investigative series as his master’s degree project. The News’ publisher served with two professors on the academic review committee for the project.

Periodically, the newspapers also host an intern or two from local high schools. One of the high school interns has won a national photography award.