Gamma-Liaison
New York, NY
Gamma-Liaison is a worldwide photo news agency. It acts as the agent for photojournalists, who cover news events in the U.S. and abroad and send their negatives to the agency. The agency normally sells one-time usage of the photographs to magazines, newspapers and other media. Though some of its photographers work on a free-lance basis, the majority work exclusively for Gamma-Liaison.
Professional staff
The U.S. staff comprises 30 people, 10 of whom are part of the international department. Seventy-five professional photographers, based in major cities overseas, cover events. In the past year, 10 professionals were hired. U.S. citizens and foreign nationals are employed overseas.
Qualifications
Gamma-Liaison seeks photographers who have five years experience as photojournalists and have had their work published. Knowledge of foreign languages and experience abroad are required for overseas work.
The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, CA
The Los Angeles Times provides regional, national and international news for the greater Los Angeles community. It maintains 23 international bureaus in major cities throughout the world.
Professional staff
The U.S.-based staff includes 380 writers and reporters, 40 of whom were hired in the past year. There are 25 foreign correspondents, of whom 3 are new. One already worked for The Times; two were hired from outside.
Qualifications
Foreign languages are preferred for overseas assignments; Spanish, Russian and Asian languages are listed as the most important.
Training program
A one-year training program, the Minority Editorial Training Program (METPRO), is available for minority college graduates interested in journalism. Applicants should have at least a BA degree and be able to demonstrate writing and other skills necessary for a career in journalism. Prior journalistic training, however, is not required. Trainees receive a weekly stipend, housing and medical benefits. The program does not necessarily lead to jobs with The Times, although The Times assists trainees in finding suitable jobs elsewhere. Deadline for application is in June.
Internships
Academic-year internships and summer internships are available to students who have completed their junior or senior year of college or are recent graduates. Previous newspaper experience, especially for summer interns, is highly desirable. Academic interns may receive credit for their work and must work a minimum of 16 hours a week. They are paid an hourly wage. Summer interns work full-time and are paid a weekly salary. Deadlines for applications, which should include a cover letter, resume, four references and at least eight samples of published work, are November 1 for the spring term, August 1 for the fall term and February 1 for the summer. Interns mainly work on the suburban, sports or photography sections of the paper. Those interested in other sections (or other cities)-with the exception of international, which takes no interns-should write to the editor of the appropriate department.
National Public Radio (NPR)
Washington, DC
NPR is a noncommercial, satellite radio system. A nonprofit, private corporation, NPR provides programming, distribution and representational support services to 304 radio stations. It produces "All Things Considered," "Morning Edition" and a variety of performance programs, including classical, operatic, symphonic, jazz and dramatic presentations.
Professional staff
There are 350 professionals based in the U.S. and 1 overseas correspondent in London. U.S.-based correspondents travel overseas to cover world news and features. During the past year, 96 professionals were hired.
Qualifications
NPR seeks college graduates and, preferably, applicants possessing advanced degrees. One to three years of previous radio experience is necessary for employment. Knowledge of languages is not necessary.
Internships
Paid semester and summer internships are available for college juniors or seniors and graduate-school students. Interns work on programming, editing, research and writing projects.
The New York Times
New York, NY
The New York Times, published every day, covers national, international, cultural, business and regional affairs. The foreign news desk, in New York, supervises and monitors the foreign correspondents and edits stories from abroad.
Professional staff
The Times maintains a professional news staff of 745. The full-time overseas staff consists of 36 correspondents. They are based in Argentina, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Thailand and the U.S.S.R., and at the United Nations. Some correspondents are bureau chiefs, others are stationed in the bureaus; all travel widely to cover news developments in their regions.
Qualifications
A college education is considered desirable but not formally required. Expertise in specific areas, such as the Far East, or in technical or business fields is useful. The Times does not hire recent graduates from journalism school unless they have had previous experience, nor does it require applicants to have a journalism degree. Five years experience on a major U.S. daily newspaper is normally required for employment as a reporter. Knowledge of a foreign language is preferred for journalists aspiring to serve as foreign correspondents.
Training program
Each year 30 college graduates are accepted as news clerks, who have an opportunity to write news stories and try for a job as a reporter-trainee after a year to year and a half. About 1 in 10 succeeds.
Newsday
Long Island, NY
Newsday is a regional, national and international newspaper serving the Long Island and metropolitan New York region.
Professional staff
Newsday employs 400 professionals in the U.S. and stations 4 correspondents, in Mexico City, Cairo, London and Beijing. The paper hired 25 professionals for jobs in the U.S. in the past year.
Qualifications
Newsday seeks applicants with at least three to five years experience on a daily newspaper. Some of that experience should be on a daily that has a circulation greater than 200,000. Many writers and reporters have journalism degrees, although News day is more concerned with experience than with formal degrees. Those currently based overseas have had from 1 to 12 years previous overseas experience, worked for Newsday as domestic reporters for 3 to 8 years and are fluent in at least 1 foreign language.
Internships
Newsday maintains one of the most extensive summer internship pro-grams in the country, hiring 32 interns each summer. College students who apply for the paid internships must pass a test given by the newspaper and must have some college or professional journalism background. Interns work on reporting, copy editing, research or photography projects.
