Editorial Intern

Washington Trails Association seeks a volunteer intern looking for an introduction to outdoor writing, research, editing, and/or basic layout. This intern will assist with content for Washington Trails magazine and Washington Trails Association’s web site.

Intern works approximately eight hours per week for approximately 3 months. Office hours are flexible. Some work can be done off site, but we would like interns to be in the office at least half of the internship’s total hours.

This internship can encompass a mix of magazine production projects. Possible projects are listed below. We’ll strive for a balance between the projects of most interested to the intern and those with the most pressing deadlines. 

• Profiles: Interview personalities involved with trails, such as climbing rangers, park and forest managers, wilderness first responders or thru-hikers. 

• Hike Research and Fact Checking: Is it eight miles one-way or round trip? What map goes with this hike? Research the details for the trails and trips discussed in the articles. 

• News/reporting for web and/or magazine. Research and write brief news articles, assist with researching and compiling news reports for magazine and website. Other news stories related to funding, policy, etc. as they come up. Due dates vary, ongoing.

• Editing: Work with editor to copy edit articles submitted by volunteer contributors for length, structure, and readability. Generally, this takes place two to three weeks before publication date.

• Photography: Shoot an assignment for a particular article or WTA communications need. Possible shoots include going out on a WTA work party; shooting gear for a gear review; etc.

• Layout: Work with editor to lay out articles written for magazine in InDesign to be completed one to two weeks before each to-press date.

• Research/write other longer articles/features: Research and write a 1,000-word feature article on a hiking or wilderness related topic. Articles may be featured in a special section, or fall into one of WTA’s regular feature categories, such as Northwest Explorer, Trail News + Views, or A Walk on the Wild Side. Also, the intern could write web features that supplement and correspond to magazine articles. 

• Update the Washington Trails style guide: Is blogable a word and how do we spell it? Is trailhead one word or two? Using notes from various sources (copy editors, former WT style guides, the AP, WTA staff and Falcon style guide) update the Washington Trails style guide so that we have consistent answers to these persistent questions. We also need to create helpful cheat sheets for each volunteer contributor. 

The editorial internship is an unpaid volunteer position. It’s a great portfolio builder, as there are many opportunities for photo credits and to see your work published. Students interested in obtaining school credit should work with their advisors; WTA is happy to provide needed documentation as well as letters of reference as needed. Interns will receive a one-year membership to WTA following completion of their internship and will receive several copies of any issue in which their work is published. 

To Apply

Send a cover letter and a short writing sample. In your cover letter, please indicate that the 8 hours per week for 3 months timeframe works for you or propose a new timeline. Please address your cover letter to Lace Thornberg and send it by email to editor@wta.org or by mail to, Washington Trails Association, 2019 Third Ave, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98121. Deadline for fall is October 15, 2009.

Washington Trails Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin

Washington Trails Association (WTA) is advocacy organization founded in 1966 whose mission is to protect and promote hiking opportunities in Washington state.  In addition to working directly with government agencies and educating hikers about how best to enjoy Washington's natural treasures, WTA manages one of the largest and most successful volunteer trail maintenance programs in the country.  WTA also publishes a membership magazine, Washington Trails, that includes WTA program updates, features, trail-related news, and trip reports.