NJC is an intense apprenticeship program aimed at aspiring political writers who want to overturn the status quo through fearless and relentless reporting of the truth.
Students spend the bulk of their week working inside newsrooms selected for them based on skills and interests. Potential placements include National Review, The Federalist, Daily Wire, Washington Post Opinion, Newsmax, Daily Caller and more. Mediums range from digital print and broadcasting to podcasts and social media curation.
Every Friday, they’ll gather at YAF Headquarters to receive actionable tips, tricks and tradecraft from some of the top operators in the political media landscape.
NJC students also get to partake in a capstone reporting project through the six-week Investigative-Team training bloc.
The internship is full-time, five days a week, every spring and summer. NJC provides a generous $1500 tax free stipend, plus fully paid housing scholarships for a total compensation package of $10,000 for qualified applicants.
Apply now to see if you have what it takes to make a difference.
Develop the core skills of great journalists: finding stories, conducting interviews, asking sharper questions, verifying information, and writing with clarity and purpose.
From idea generation to publication, students learn how to identify strong story angles, pitch editors, strengthen drafts, and produce work ready for a public audience.
Explore the mechanics of elections, government, lobbying, and public policy while learning how to cover politics beyond the daily headlines.
Master the tools journalists use to obtain information from government agencies, analyze public documents, and turn records into impactful reporting.
Gain experience with video storytelling, digital media, and the evolving ways journalists reach audiences in today’s media landscape.
Learn how reporters build relationships, earn trust, cultivate sources, and develop information networks that lead to original reporting.
Examine emerging opportunities in newsletters, podcasts, video platforms, freelancing, and other independent journalism ventures.
“I thought: we need to have something a little bit different. We train them to be good, solid, substantive reporters as opposed to transmission belts for quotes by politicians. And that’s the genesis of the National Journalism Center.”
-M. Stanton Evans
M. Stanton Evans was a pivotal architect of modern American conservatism. In 1960, at age 26, the Yale graduate drafted the Sharon Statement at William F. Buckley’s Connecticut home—the founding charter of Young Americans for Freedom. It articulated fusionist principles of limited constitutional government, free enterprise, individual liberty, and moral order rooted in tradition, galvanizing young activists who helped propel the movement from Goldwater to Reagan.
As the youngest editor of a major metropolitan daily (Indianapolis News) and an associate editor at National Review, Evans modeled rigorous, principle-driven journalism. He later chaired the American Conservative Union (1971–1977), strengthening the movement’s organizational backbone.
In 1977, recognizing that many journalists lacked grounding in conservative ideas and that Washington coverage often suffered from incomplete understanding, Evans founded the National Journalism Center. Backed by conservative donors, the NJC brought promising young reporters to the capital for training and internships, stressing factual accuracy over partisan spin. Evans directed it until 2002, launching careers of influential writers. The Center endures today under Young America’s Foundation, a lasting institutional legacy of his commitment to strengthening conservatism through better journalism.
No “coffee getters” here. Based on the news outlet you’re placed with, this is the internship to get your first byline, broadcasting gig, or podcast training.
$1,500 monthly stipend with fully paid housing scholarships. Plus, you’ll have a lot of fun.
Off-the-record briefings and exclusive Q&As with top-tier journalists, public policy experts, and distinguished editors.
Author and Senior Columnist at Washington Examiner. AEI Senior Fellow
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