Journalism Students Report, Produce and Build Skills as Summer Interns
Journalism student Nicole Camacho (left) interviews Karla Toledo while reporting as a Tucson Agenda intern.
For University of Arizona School of Journalism majors, learning doesn’t stop when students leave the classroom. Internships with news outlets, media startups and civic organizations give students a chance to earn university credit while gaining hands-on experience producing stories in professional settings.
This summer, dozens of our students took on various roles throughout Southern Arizona, including reporting on community issues and elections, covering sports news and producing multimedia content. According to exit survey data from Spring 2026, 73 percent of undergraduate journalism students complete an internship while enrolled in our program.
Nicole Camacho, a dual journalism and law major, spent her summer as an editorial intern at Tucson Agenda, where she covered local news and political events.
For one assignment, Camacho interviewed Tucson DACA recipient Karla Toledo following her release from an ICE detention facility.
“It was a national story, so I was excited but also nervous because I knew it was an important topic and I wanted to tell her story the right way,” Camacho said. “Getting to interview Karla and hear her story firsthand reminded me how powerful journalism can be. Seeing the story published made me feel proud and gave me more confidence as a reporter.”
Journalism student Katherine Martinez
In addition to her Tucson Agenda internship, Camacho worked as an election stringer for USA Today in Flagstaff, helping cover local election news and report Election Day polling results.
Katherine Martinez spent part of her summer reporting on issues throughout Southern Arizona for Tucson Spotlight.
One story revolved around Cochise County residents facing delays in accessing benefits and services through the Arizona Department of Economic Security.
The assignment required searching for and cold calling sources, which Martinez said helped her become more comfortable interviewing and gathering information.
“I felt like that was a good beginner investigative story,” Martinez said. “I was forced to come outside my comfort zone, which inspired me to trust my abilities more.”
Working with an editor at Tucson Spotlight helped Martinez to write more concisely. She also learned about new tools for finding reliable information online and conducting background research before interviews.
As an intern at Eye on the Ball, Sandra Kunkel helped produce a sports podcast at Tucson’s iHeartRadio studio.
She reported breaking news, interviewed guests and offered a student perspective on topics discussed during the show. Kunkel also helped design the show’s daily graphics and share social media content.
“I improved my podcasting skills and learned to work with more complicated equipment,” Kunkel said. “It was also rewarding to voice my opinions on what was happening in the sports world while being introduced to like-minded people who share a love for sports.”
Outside of radio storytelling, Kunkel supported outreach efforts, copywriting and social media postings for the annual El Tour de Tucson bicycling event.
Journalism student Sandra Kunkel
Learning by Doing
Following her time at Tucson Agenda, Camacho had advice for other journalism students preparing to take on an internship of their own.
“Say yes to new opportunities, even if they seem a little intimidating,” she said. “You'll learn the most by getting out into the community, asking questions and taking on assignments that challenge you.”
Kunkel shared simple tips for getting the most out of an internship experience: “Be direct and ask as many questions as possible.”
Students can also complete internships during the academic year while earning university credit. The School of Journalism also offers fall and spring internship opportunities, allowing students to gain experience with professional news organizations and other media while school is in session.