Spring Paid Intern - Newsroom

This is a Part Time Paid Internship

WLS-TV (ABC 7) I-Team Consumer & News Anchor Intern, Spring 2026

Job Summary:

What You Will Do

Our Consumer Investigative Unit of the I-Team responds to viewers who need help or feel as though they have been ripped off or wronged. The I-Team looks for patterns of complaints attached to certain companies to warn other viewers. We also alert viewers to data and privacy concerns and find stories that have broad warnings, which can help improve people's everyday lives.

The Consumer division of the I-Team also proactively digs for other stories through research and the use of the Freedom of Information Act to uncover wrongdoing and problems which affect consumer's pocketbooks.

The intern will have the opportunity to shadow newscasts during different day parts, which may include weekend mornings. They will practice anchoring on set with the help of the news team and analyze newscasts in the control room to learn how to build a show.

The role of an intern in the Consumer division of the I-Team department will include:
• Assist investigative reporter and producer with researching stories and following up on hotline calls and emails.
• Attend field shoots and interviews with the reporter and/or producer.
• Sit in on the editing of segments.
• Log interviews using Dalet.
• Set up interviews.
• Submit Freedom of Information Act requests for data and help find digital original stories.

Required Qualifications & Skills
• Ability to log interviews, screen calls, and emails
• Previous editorial experience in identifying and developing stories.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills, with a record of successfully handling calls from individuals seeking help from the I-Team.
• Proven track record of taking initiative and completing projects

Preferred Qualifications
• Judgement of what may or may not be an investigation
• Studying journalism or broadcast television in college

Education
• Junior or Senior year preferred

Eligibility Requirements & Program Information

Candidates for this opportunity MUST meet all of the below requirements:
• Be enrolled in an accredited college/university pursuing a degree taking at least one class at time of application OR currently participating in a Disney College Program or Disney Internship.
• Current Disney Interns, College, International, or Culinary Program Participants: You may only work for ONE consecutive year (12 months) in any combination of an internship and/or program.
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Possess unrestricted work authorization

Additional Information
• Able to have a consistent, reliable work schedule throughout the internship
• Fully available from January 2026 through June 2026
• Fully available for the duration of the internship, 18 hours each week
• Able to provide own housing for the duration of the internship program in the Chicago, Illinois area
• Able to provide/have reliable transportation to/from work Chicago, Illinois area

Materials Required:
• A portfolio review is required for this position. For full consideration, please include a link to your portfolio on your résumé. Applications without a portfolio link on the résumé will not be considered a completed application packet and may not be fully considered for the position. Please visit our support site or additional information.