The Tico Times
San Jose | Costa Rica
Costa Rica-009
The Tico Times is an independent English-language weekly covering news, business, tourism, and cultural developments in Costa Rica and Central America. Internships are available for one writer and one photographer with some writing skills. Position provides solid applied journalistic feature and news writing experience as well as an opportunity to build Spanish speaking, comprehension and listening abilities in a cross-cultural context. Four month internship. Strong Spanish skills required for writer position; intermediate Spanish for photographer position.
Internships Details
About the Organization
Independent English-language weekly covering news, business, tourism, and cultural developments in Costa Rica and Central America. The paper (circulation 20, 000) is produced by a small writing and editorial staff (10), plus staff in production, advertising, circulation and other departments.
Job Description
Two Positions: one writer and one photographer. Position provides solid applied journalistic feature and news writing experience as well as an opportunity to build Spanish speaking, comprehension and listening abilities in a cross-cultural context. Main writing and photographic duties are associated with the features section, but all interns get some news experience as well. May involve interviewing in Spanish and English, writing stories, copyediting for grammatical and contextual errors, taking photos, and gathering research materials.
The writing internship is a full-time, working position. This intern writes feature stories and news stories each week. Spanish fluency is a firm requirement, as most interviews and research must be conducted in Spanish. Because the writing intern primarily works for the “Weekend” section (the features section), he or she will have the opportunity to travel throughout the country writing travel stories and hotel reviews. However, most of the intern’s time will be spent in the Central Valley area.
The photography internship requires intermediate Spanish. This is also a full-time position, but with a flexible schedule. The photo intern works for the features section and the news section, and will be able to take advantage of travel opportunities with the writing intern; the pair will work together on many assignments. The photo intern should have his or her own digital camera.
# of Positions per term
1 intern in each position (writer, photographer).
Start Dates
January, May or September (four-month internships only; fixed dates)
Duration of Internship
4 Months: Jan-April, May-Aug, Sept-Dec
Qualifications
Academic Background
Journalism or journalism/photography. Senior or Graduate level preferred.
Skills/Experience
Prefer applicants with some experience living abroad.
Language Ability
For Writer, fluency in Spanish is required (equivalent to completion of 4th year of university coursework or more); For Photographer, 3rd year level or equivalent preferred.
Other Requirements
Employer will conduct telephone interview and requires writing or photographic samples. Include in your IE3 application the following items:
- A cover letter stating which internship you are applying for and explaining why you want to work for The Tico Times.
- A resume outlining your journalism/photography experience and Spanish skills/training.
- At least three writing clips (no more than five) or three feature photos (no landscapes).
- Additional information or items are accepted, but please do not go overboard.
Internship Costs
Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.
IE3 Program Fee
The program fee* for the first term of any internship is $2950 - $3150. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE3 page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.
*The program fee noted above reflects the anticipated fee increase that will go into effect for the Fall 2010 term and will apply to all terms thereafter.
Estimated One-Time Expenses
| Expense Type | Price |
|---|---|
| International Travel | $800-$900 |
| Visa Fees | |
| Recommended Immunizations |
*See Additional Cost Information below.
Estimated Monthly Expenses
| Expense Type | Price/month |
|---|---|
| Housing | $330-$450 |
| Food | $100 |
| Local Transportation | $50 |
| Recreation | $50 |
| Personal Expenses | $50 |
Compensation
$200 USD per month
Additional Expense Information
The Tico Times can offer interns advice regarding housing options but cannot arrange housing. Upon request, the IE3 contact person in San Jose can arrange homestays.
Room and board with a family costs approx. $320 a month. $50-100 more for an apartment and arranging own meals. Intern should budget extra $150-200 per month for incidentals, entertainment, etc.
Additional Information
January, May or September (four-month internships only; fixed dates)
Note Special IE3 Application Deadlines: September 1 (winter/spring internship); January 1 (summer internship); May 1 (fall internship)
Last Updated on Aug 14, 2008