Careers in Journalism and Creative Writing prepares students to launch successful storytelling careers. The program serves students interested in a diverse range of career fields, including journalism, print and broadcast media, book writing, podcasting, and publishing.
College students of all majors and class years can get involved with Careers in Journalism and Creative Writing!
Find Your Voice
Careers in Journalism and Creative Writing provides a wide range of resources to help students navigate these rapidly evolving fields, gain hands-on experience, build a portfolio of clips and writing samples, and connect with experienced journalists and authors. These opportunities include individualized advising, professional development workshops, and networking events.
Learn more about the many exciting career paths in the humanities!
One-on-One Advising
Senior Program Director Benjamin Waltzer brings a wide range of professional experience to the role, and works closely with colleagues across the University, the Program in Creative Writing, and institutions and practitioners worldwide to build a network of opportunities for students.
In advising appointments, students may receive help with developing a portfolio, preparing resumes, composing effective cover letters, and discussing how to use program resources to achieve their unique pre-professional goals. The program can also help students find and secure internships, grants, and employment opportunities.
Hone Your Storytelling Skills
Careers in Journalism and Creative Writing hosts a variety of professional development events throughout the year. Panelists include reporters, critics, published authors, and freelance writers. Recent guests have included journalist Sarah Koenig of “Serial,” author Samuel G. Freedman, poet and journalist Ted Genoways and many more.
Get Experience
UChicago’s Jeff Metcalf Internship Program provides 3,000 paid, substantive internships each year in a wide range of career fields. Careers in Journalism and Creative Writing partners with a diverse set of employers to facilitate internships for students.
Previous Metcalf students have interned at the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, The New Republic, ABC News, CNN, Bloomberg, the University of Chicago Press, and the Hachette Book Group.
Practitioner Program
Careers in Arts, Culture and Entertainment as well as Journalism and Creative Writing maintain relationships with leading practitioners – screenwriters, artists, journalists, novelists, and beyond – who may need student assistants on current projects.
In the case such an opportunity is not readily available, Program Directors also work with students to reach out to practitioners in their field to enquire whether such project-based internships may be possible.
These roles are funded, and in the case a student self-secures an opportunity, they may apply for funding through the program’s granting application process.
Students have worked with novelist Nathaniel Rich, journalist Gideon Lewis-Krause, historian Eve Fairbanks, author Lawrence Wright, comedian Tami Sagher, and more.
Arts & Humanities Bridge Program
Careers in the Arts, Culture, & Entertainment & Careers in Journalism & Creative Writing offers a career support program for graduating seniors! Students accepted into the Arts & Humanities Bridge Program will receive strategic advising and tailored employer events led by our industry expert team members with you whom you will work until you’ve secured a post-graduate, summer opportunity. Through this program employer partners include the Metropolitan Opera, the Chicago History Museum, the New York Philharmonic, UChicago Press, The Graham Foundation of Fine Arts and more. Learn more about the application process here.
Grants
In addition to paid internships through the Metcalf Program, Careers in Journalism and Creative Writing offers grants to fund unpaid internships with employers in journalism, media, creative writing, and related fields. Students can apply for funding to pursue internships that will provide mentorship and valuable professional experience.
Career Treks
Careers in Journalism and Creative Writing offers career “treks” to connect students with employers in some of the world’s biggest media markets, including Chicago, New York, London, and Los Angeles. Recent treks have taken students to visit the BBC, NBC, Bloomberg, The Chicago Tribune, and Hachette Books.
Sign Up
Stay up to date on events, programs, and job/internship opportunities by joining the listhost. Make sure to select "Careers in Arts, Culture, and Entertainment/Careers in Journalism and Creative Writing."
Learn More
For more information, please contact Senior Program Director Ben Waltzer at waltzer@uchicago.edu and Senior Assistant Director Nely Rentas at nrentas@uchicago.edu.