Reinhart Richards Journalism Internships
Through the support of Cynthia Reinhart Richards '73, the Reinhart Richards Journalism Interns receive funding and programmatic support to pursue unpaid or low-pay internships in journalism.
About the Reinhart Richards Journalism Internship Program
The 2026 Richards Journalism Internship cycle is now closed. All applicants have been notified.
Journalism is a field of perennial interest among Barnard students. Organizations like The New York Times, New York Magazine, Condé Nast, Bloomberg, Insider, NPR, Slate, and more have hired Barnard students in the six most recent classes of Barnard graduates. That said, many journalism internships remain unpaid; and moreover, the number of students heading into the field is still low relative to the amount of expressed interest and participation in campus publications like Columbia Spectator, Bwog, The Barnard Bulletin, and others.
Reinhart Richards Journalism Interns receive funding and programmatic support (including access to regular cohort-based workshops led by a distinguished journalist) to facilitate pursuit of an otherwise unpaid (or low-pay, defined as sub-minimum wage) internship. Eligible internships may take place at a range of organizations: newspapers, news sources (print, online, televised, etc.), magazines, journals, podcasts, radio, and online and print publishing. Applicants may design their own internship or apply to an existing internship program. A confirmed internship is not necessary prior to submission of an application. Students can direct questions about whether a particular opportunity is eligible to beyondbarnard@barnard.edu.
Currently enrolled first-years, sophomores, and juniors are eligible for summer internships. Academic semester internships are not supported.
Summer Internship Benefits & Expectations
- $6,000 stipend for 10 weeks of full-time internship work (equivalent of 350 total hours) completed between the last day of Spring Semester finals and the first day of Fall Semester classes.
- Presentation of work at the Summer Internship Programs Showcase in Fall Semester
- Required participation in Reinhart Richards Journalism Interns cohort-based workshops and conversations with the Journalist-in-Residence
- Access to subsidized on-campus housing at Barnard
- Access to Beyond Barnard’s programmatic internship support
- Interns are expected to participate in an in-person internship experience
Note that all requirements posted on this website are subject to change, and complete information is always shared with applicants and recipients. Questions can be directed to Beyond Barnard (beyondbarnard@barnard.edu).
2026 Reinhart Richards Journalist-in-Residence
Susie Banikarim is the 2026 Reinhart Richards Journalist-in-Residence. Banikarim is an Emmy Award–winning journalist, filmmaker, and media executive. She writes the “Laurels and Darts” column for the Columbia Journalism Review and is a frequent speaker on media, politics, and pop culture.
Previously, she co-hosted and executive produced the podcast In Retrospect for iHeart and The Meteor. She also directed and produced the 2020 documentary Enemies of the People: Trump and the Political Press as the first filmmaker-in-residence at Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center. The film examines media coverage of the 2016 presidential election and received two Emmy nominations.
Banikarim has held senior editorial roles across major media organizations, including Vice News and Gizmodo Media Group. Earlier in her career, she helped launch Katie Couric’s syndicated talk show, worked on Tina Brown’s leadership team at Newsweek and The Daily Beast, and began her career at ABC News, producing for anchors including Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopoulos, and David Muir.
She is a former Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Edward R. Murrow Award for feature reporting. Banikarim is a graduate of Barnard College and holds a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.
Reinhart Richards Program interns have the opportunity to connect with practicing journalists throughout the summer to help navigate their internship and consider how to leverage the experience to advance their career.
Meet the 2025 Reinhart Richards Journalism Interns
Previous participants in the Cynthia Reinhart Richards '73 Journalism Internship Program include:
- Nori Leybengrub '25, The Anniston Star
- Rachel Iris Yuan '26, The Wave of Long Island
- Tara Terranova '25, Futuro Media
Questions about the program can be sent to beyondbarnard@barnard.edu