ThinkLab College Internship Multimedia Storytelling, Data Visualizations + Journalism

How are people reinventing home and their midstory in this time of flux, particularly in the spaces of struggling middle American cities?

Midstory’s ThinkLab internship is a nine-week, in-person program that invites undergraduate students in the fields of journalism, policy, data science, multimedia production, design and more to work closely with our dedicated nonprofit team to progress the Midwest narrative through multimedia storytelling, solutions-oriented research and on-the-ground programming.

Midstory interns…

  • Pitch, interview for and write magazine-style feature stories
  • Design story graphics and build interactive frameworks
  • Engage in video, audio and other multimedia content production
  • Analyze and visualize data in compelling ways
  • Join teams for solutions-oriented projects on demography, the environment, technology, health, culture, arts, education & more
  • Complete our 1.5-week training in nonprofit, journalism, multimedia, data and storytelling basics
  • Hear from and network with community-wide leaders across the region in a guest speaker series
  • Join immersive field trips to explore Midwest cities like Toledo, Cleveland, Ann Arbor & more
  • Build relationships with over 20 other talented interns each year from across the nation through our cohort model

Midstory is looking for interns in:

  • Policy
  • Multimedia
  • Journalism
  • Art & Animation
  • Graphic Design
  • Data Analysis
  • Science Communications
  • Public History
  • Urban Planning

While Midstory currently does not offer funding for the ThinkLab program, as a 501(c)(3) organization, we are eligible for funding through most of our university partners. For more details on funding availability for your respective university, please email us at contact@midstory.org.

This internship is for you if you:

  • Are a storyteller.
  • Are a strong writer or researcher.
  • Want to make a difference in underserved and often-ignored communities.
  • Want to develop your multimedia storytelling abilities.
  • Can articulate ideas clearly and concisely.
  • Are a creative problem solver and idea generator.
  • Believe in creating powerful research and content that is true and authentic.
  • Aspire to be a journalist, social architect, policy-maker, cultural influencer, designer, filmmaker or writer.

Apply Now:

Please download the application below and remember to provide a resume, cover letter and any other listed attachments. When completed, you can email your application and attachments as PDFs (or multimedia files if relevant) to contact@midstory.org

[Download Application Form](/content/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Midstory-Internship-Application-1-1.pdf "Download Application Form"/index.html)

Summer 2026 Program Deadline:

Priority Deadline: January 31, 2026 11:59 (ET)

Regular Deadline: March 8, 2026 11:59 (ET)

*All Brown/Tufts University applicants must apply by the Priority Deadline to be eligible for funding for the program. Email contact@midstory.org if you have any additional questions or concerns.

About Midstory

Midstory Media Thinkhub is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in March of 2018 by four core members from the Midwest who have received an education from universities such as Harvard, Princeton, and MIT and have since returned to Toledo, OH to begin a lifelong journey for post-industrial communities. With an interdisciplinary approach, the Midstory team dedicates its operations to curating a voice out of the Midwest through research, publication, public engagement, and broadcasting. In the midst of a noisy national canopy, our Midstory is a space of connection and intersection in the American experience. We believe telling these stories will reveal and enrich the cultural narrative of these post-industrial cities, demonstrate today’s revitalization, and draw vital people and movements to uncover the foundations on which future progress may be built.

Midstory does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other protected class. If you have a disability, we’re more than happy to accommodate and make the interview process easier for you.

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MIDSTORY MEDIA THINKHUB

Midstory is a 501(c)(3) educational media thinkhub with a mission to progress the narrative of the Midwest. We work with diverse and interdisciplinary thinkers to envision the future of our region through storytelling & research.

As an educational media organization, we inform, interpret and inspire in and for the Midwest and believe that our region’s challenges can be our greatest asset to drive renewed interest and human capital into post-industrial cities.