| Employer | The Cap Times |
|---|---|
| Location | Madison, WI |
| Type | Internship |
| Contact information | kkyle@captimes.com |
| Apply by | March 1, 2026 |
| More details | https://captimes.com/news/community/how-to-apply-for-a-summer-reporting-internship-at-the-cap-times/ |
| Posted on | February 3, 2026 |
Description
The Cap Times encourages college students and recent graduates to apply for its paid, 12-week summer internship program, which provides coaching, mentoring and training opportunities with a team of award-winning journalists.
This internship is a full-time general assignment reporting position. The intern will typically write two or three news articles each week, and may produce fewer when working on in-depth coverage. Interns sometimes collaborate on articles with staff reporters, as well.
The position pays $15 per hour with a 37.5-hour work week. No paid time off is provided. However, the intern may work with their editor to schedule unpaid time off for vacations or trips.
The start date is flexible. Summer interns usually begin in late May or early June. Intern schedules may include hybrid work, such as one-on-one editing at the Cap Times’ newsroom or a campus location, or reporting from a community event in Madison. Interns set weekly work schedules with their editors. Some work may include evenings or weekends.
A laptop is provided. Access to a car is not required but encouraged. Some public transit is available near the Cap Times’ office on Fish Hatchery Road, about two miles south of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.
The most competitive applicants are often journalism students, recent graduates or postgraduates with prior reporting experience. Desired skills include clear writing, excellent communication, proficiency in AP style, cultural competency, and knowledge of Madison and/or Wisconsin.
Previous interns have gone on to work in reporting positions for Bloomberg, Politico, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — as well as the Cap Times.
The Cap Times is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Students and graduates from historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Cap Times is committed to reducing early career barriers for women, people of color, people with disabilities and other journalists who have been underrepresented in newsrooms.
To be considered for the internship, please submit your resume, a one-page cover letter explaining your interest in the position and three samples of your work to News & Investigations Editor Keegan Kyle at kkyle@captimes.com. The application deadline is March 1, 2026.
Pre-employment background and drug screenings apply.
ABOUT THE CAP TIMES:
The Cap Times (formally, The Capital Times) has a rich, deep history in Madison. Today, we are foremost an independent newsroom that delivers local journalism focused on Madison. We produce a weekly print newspaper, but our primary delivery is digital and social media. We are also a source of progressive opinion, and we host excellent events, highlighted by the annual Cap Times Idea Fest each fall. The Cap Times is additionally a major source of philanthropy in the community thanks to the foundation named for our founder, William T. Evjue.
Now is an exciting time to join the Cap Times! Our digital journalism, email newsletters, member benefits and events are becoming increasingly popular in the community. We are continually looking for ways to evolve amid journalism’s transformation, and we want innovative, creative minds to be part of that process here. Our newsroom is filled with passionate journalists who want to help Madison become a better place to live, work and raise families. We offer a fun, team-driven environment to produce local journalism that has an impact.
ABOUT MADISON:
Madison is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States and home to more than 280,000 people, the Wisconsin state Capitol, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a growing biotech industry, as well as a vibrant restaurant and entertainment scene. Located between lakes Mendota and Monona on an isthmus, the city also boasts many opportunities for outdoor recreation on the water, on its many miles of bike paths, and in abundant city and Dane County parks.