about the role & INTERNSHIP


ESPN’s Universal News Group (UNG) works to gather, vet and disseminate news for every ESPN platform. It works closely with reporters, digital editors, show producers and our event production staffs, monitors wire services, responds to breaking news, pays attention to social media and aims to make sure every story, no matter where it’s told, is accurate, contextual and timely.

What You Will Do 

As a UNG Intern, you will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience producing different forms of news content for ESPN’s digital platforms, daily news and information programming on linear television, like SportsCenter, and working directly with reporters in every sport. You will also learn about different areas of the business through observations. This internship provides an opportunity to experience many aspects of what our news team does daily. You will report to a Coordinating Editor on the news team and support the team by:

    • Editing news stories for ESPN.com, ESPN App, Bottom Line, Social, Event production and shows like SportsCenter, Get Up, NBA Today, NFL Live, etc. 
    • Helping to write and edit scripts with reporters and producers in the field.
    • Working with digital sport editors to understand coverage philosophies and the evolving digital storytelling landscape
    • Spending part of your internship working alongside daily show editors on shows like SportsCenter
    • Observing multiple areas of interest at ESPN during a period of the internship

Additional Information 

    • The program dates are June 3rd, 2024 through August 9, 2024
    • Subsidized housing will be available at a nearby location for those who qualify. Interns will live in a 1 or 2 bedroom suite with roommates and will be responsible for a weekly housing payment
    • Work Environment: This is an onsite internship based in Bristol, CT at ESPN Headquarters
    • Interns will work 40 hours per week throughout the internship and must be fully available
  • Experience in sports media, preferably in digital content creation 
  • Knowledge of sports, including current athletes and teams 
  • Familiarity with basic news-gathering skills (AP style, publishing systems, digital newsgathering techniques, search engine optimization, etc.) helpful 
  • Strong grammar and writing skills 
  • High level of familiarity with ESPN programming, digital platforms, and studio shows 
  • Ability to research and pitch news story ideas 
  • Ability to work in fast-paced environment that requires assignments to be completed quickly
  • Must be a current AAJA Member
  • Must demonstrate a dedication to the AAJA Sports Task Force’s mission to elevate the voices of Asian Americans in sports
  • Must be enrolled in an accredited college/university taking at least one class in the semester/quarter (spring/fall) prior to participation in the internship program
    • OR must have graduated from a college/university within 6 months at time of application posting 
    • OR currently participating in a Disney College Program or Disney Professional Internship
  • Must be at least 18 years of age 
  • Must not have completed one year of continual employment on a Disney internship or program
  • Must possess unrestricted work authorization
Apply by February 15, 11:59 PT

The deadline to apply is February 15, 2024 11:59 p.m. PT. Finalists will be informed in March.

Please reach out to support@aaja.org and include in the subject line “Sports Task Force / ESPN Internship” if you have any questions.

AAJA Sports Task Force Logo

The AAJA Sports Task Force encourages future Asian American sports journalists through mentorship and scholarship opportunities. At times, sports issues lead newscasts and make headlines across traditional news outlets. What is often lacking in this coverage, and sports journalism in general, is the perspective of Asian Americans. This AAJA Sports Task Force scholarship is one way to turn the tide. Find out more about the AAJA Sports Task Force on Facebook or Twitter.

ESPN logo

ESPN, Inc. is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring the broadest portfolio of multimedia sports assets with over 50 business entities. The company is based in Bristol, Conn., with approximately 4,000 employees (approximately 8,000 worldwide).

Scholarship Recipients and Press By Year
Past ESPN/AAJA Sports Task Force Internship Recipients

2021

Paulina JengPaulina Jeng is an experienced video journalist and producer, skilled in both on- and off-camera video content creation as well as audio, digital, and print production. “Earning [the ESPN internship] through a special selection process initiated by the Asian American Journalism Association (AAJA), I had the unique opportunity to integrate myself as a segment producer on our daily Snapchat shows. Outside of my daily work on the Snapchat team, I also gained knowledge about other ESPN operations through rotations with the DTCI, Editing, and ESPN China teams.

2020

Jackson Safon is a student at the University of Southern California studying broadcast and digital journalism. “My internship at ESPN provided me a great opportunity to learn major parts of the television industry and I’m continuing to learn this semester with my internship at The Ringer. […] I received experience in my field of interest while also being able to pick the brains of established professionals across ESPN,” Jackson says. He currently works as a video intern for The Ringer and as a producer/editor for USC Annenberg Media.

Privacy Policy

Application information will only be used internally by AAJA to promote student opportunities and for program evaluation and planning. In the application form, please indicate whether you would like to be notified of further student opportunities from AAJA, including scholarships, grants and additional journalism training. AAJA will only share your application information with appropriate ESPN selection staff.