Rebele Journalism Internship Program
Rowland and Pat Rebele Journalism Internship Program
Stanford University alumnus and former Stanford Daily editor Rowland “Reb” Rebele and his wife Pat established the Rebele Journalism Internship Program in 1986. The Rebeles generously funded this program in support and encouragement of aspiring journalists and community newspapers with regional and national circulation. The Rebele program has given hundreds of Stanford students opportunities to learn about communities they covered, about journalism as an institution, and about themselves as people. Many Rebele internship alums have gone on to important roles in journalism.
Eligibility
Applications are restricted to Stanford University students. Students who graduated may apply for an internship in the quarter following degree conferral.
Students are expected to engage full-time with internships. Rebele interns must inform the Rebele program director about other Stanford-funded stipends they are scheduled to receive during the Rebele internship.
International students on an F-1 or J-1 visa should consult with Bechtel International Center to confirm eligibility and work authorization requirements.
Eligible internship organizations include newspapers and newspaper-adjacent news organizations. Links to some eligible news outlets are provided below. Magazine, broadcasting, or public relations internships cannot be funded through the Rebele Internship Program. If in doubt about the eligibility of a news organization for Rebele funding, please contact the Rebele Internship Program Director.
Internships must be in-person unless approved by the program director. Summer 2027 internships must begin before August 1, 2027.
Students interested in interning at news outlets that are working to reduce news deserts or to support democracy through local and community news coverage may find leads through organizations such as Local Independent Online News (LION) or the Institute for Independent News.
Application
Students should contact the editor or the person in charge of the eligible news outlet’s internship program and provide any internship application materials directly to them. Once the internship is secured and the terms are set, students apply for Rebele funding by completing the Rebele Internship Application form (a login to Google with your Stanford email is required), which must include the internship supervisor’s name and email address.
Applicants should have some experience in journalism post high school. This could include coursework in communication - especially journalism - or work experience related to journalism.
The Rebele Internship Program Director will 1) verify student’s eligibility, 2) verify eligibility of the news outlet, and 3) verify with the student’s internship supervisor that the student will receive adequate mentoring. A contract email will be sent to the applicant and the internship supervisor with the terms of the Rebele internship asking for email approval from both parties. The application process will be complete once both the intern and the supervisor have responded to the contract email confirming that they agree to its conditions.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis (there is no deadline), though funds are limited. The maximum number of Rebele internships a student can receive over their time at Stanford is four.
Current Stanford Daily staff (except seniors) may consider applying for a Harry Press Stanford Daily Award for summer internship funding instead of Rebele internship funding.
Application for Rebele internship funding
Students should note that Rebele interns cannot receive academic credit for a Rebele internship.
Stipends for full-time internships 2026-27
Students are expected to engage full-time with internships. Stipends at Stanford University are issued as a means of support to defray expenses while students pursue extracurricular activities to enhance their education. Stipends are not given as payment in return for hours worked.
8 week internship, $7,000
10 week internship, $8,750
12 week internship, $10,500
For MA Journalism students only
MA Journalism students are eligible for part-time Rebele internships during academic quarters to support their voluntary engagement in a journalism internship opportunity, up to one per quarter. Student and news organization eligibility requirements are otherwise the same as full-time internships (see above). Students will work with the host organization to determine the specific details (e.g., level and type of engagement) associated with the internship. The application and approval processes are the same as for full-time internships (see above). The stipend for an approved part-time internship during an academic quarter is $3,000. Stipends at Stanford University are issued as a means of support to defray expenses while students pursue extracurricular activities to enhance their education. Stipends are not given as payment in return for hours worked.
After the internship
At the end of the internship, students are asked to email the Rebele Internship Program Director a letter to the Rebele Family thanking them and describing their internship experience, including links to 3-5 journalistic work samples from their internship. All letters and samples are shared with the Rebele Family.
Examples of eligible news organizations in California
Bay City News, Bay Area The Desert Sun, Palm Springs East Palo Alto Media Center Half Moon Bay Review/Pacifica Tribune J. The Jewish News of Northern California Lookout Santa Cruz Los Angeles Daily Journal Mission Local, San Francisco Monterey County Weekly Orange County Register Point Reyes Light Redding Record Searchlight Sacramento Bee Sacramento Observer Santa Barbara Independent San Jose Mercury News San Luis Obispo Tribune Santa Monica Daily Press San Francisco Chronicle SF Gate
Examples of eligible news organizations outside California
Colorado News Collaborative The Daily Herald (Everett, WA) The Dallas Morning News, TX Houston Chronicle, TX Indian Country Today, AZ McClatchy Miami Herald, FL Minneapolis Star Tribune New Mexico in Depth, NM The Olympian, WA The Seattle Times Street Sense Media, DC Tampa Bay Times, FL
First Amendment Coalition
The First Amendment Coalition (FAC) is an award-winning, nonprofit public interest organization dedicated to advancing free speech, more open and accountable government, and public participation in civic affairs. The Mission of the First Amendment Coalition is to protect and promote freedom of expression and the people’s right to know. The Coalition is a non-profit, nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization serving the public, public servants, and the media in all its forms. Its constituency reflects an increasingly diverse society. The Coalition is committed to the principle that government is accountable to the people, and strives through education, public advocacy, litigation, and other efforts to prevent unnecessary government secrecy and to resist censorship of all kinds. (Board of Directors, August 18, 2008)
The Rebele FAC Internship - NOTE: FAC will not be accepting interns in 2026
Interns will work with FAC staff on a range of projects by researching and drafting letters to public officials, position papers and public comments about policies or laws that affect newsgathering, access to public information or First Amendment issues. Interns also have a chance to build investigative reporting skills by conducting research and using open-government laws to obtain information. The focus will be on researching California and federal legislation, local ordinances or policies, and court rules that affect freedom of press, speech or assembly, or access to government records and meetings. Additionally, there is an opportunity to develop essential journalism skills by tracking critical developments in the news, seeking access to public records, conducting interviews and writing about topics of interest to journalists and others. The right candidate will be interested in journalism, law or advancing the rights of journalists and the public to access public information. Applicants should be current undergraduate or graduate students interested in journalism or public policy surrounding issues that affect newsgathering and access to public information. Read more.
To apply, send a resume or CV and a brief note of interest to First Amendment Coalition Executive Director David Snyder, FAC@firstamendmentcoalition.org.
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