AI Research, Ethics and Readiness Internship - Fall 2026

OVERVIEW

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide. 

Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

Internship Program Duration: October 5th, 2026 - April 16th, 2027

Application Instructions: Applications close on Sunday, June 14th at 11:59 pm ET.

Intro to Position

As an intern co-hosted by the AI Labs and Research, Archives & Data Strategy (RAD) teams, you will collaborate with a cross-functional group of technologists, product managers and archivists to shape the future of ethical AI in journalism.

This internship consists of two parts. Each part will be hosted by a different team.

AI Labs, October-January 

You will use generative AI to surface archival content for contemporary use. You will partner with RAD to design and prototype workflows that transform unstructured archival data into structured, discoverable assets. Your work will empower newsroom staff to query historical content for current reporting while ensuring all technical prototypes uphold NPR’s journalistic standards.

RAD, January-April

You will help us establish standards for the ethical use of artificial intelligence with NPR's archival content as we build a data infrastructure that remains grounded in journalistic ethics. You will prepare digital collections for machine learning and research approaches that pair AI with human editorial judgment and metadata to find new insights from the archive.

Responsibilities

AI Prototyping & Workflow Development

• Identify opportunities and build functional prototypes that enable reporters and producers to query historical audio for contemporary reporting
• Assist in the development of  automated workflows to transform unstructured legacy media into a searchable, AI-indexed library
• Contribute to the delivery of a technical blueprint demonstrating how NPR can effectively revitalize dormant audio assets for new podcasts or digital series

Data Analysis & Integrity

• Analyze historical data troves to surface evergreen content opportunities and extract narrative leads that support contemporary reporting
• Evaluate AI outputs and discovery tools for accuracy and bias to ensure technical prototypes maintain archival integrity
• Act as a cross-functional partner between AI Labs and the RAD team to ensure editorial utility in all AI-driven prototypes

Archival Data Management & Preparation

• Identify and prepare strategic components of our digital newsmagazine and podcast collections for experimentation with machine learning and generative AI applications
• Assist in the development of effective data structures and preparation methods, documentation, and standards for ethical AI use with archival news content
• Help determine optimal uses of controlled vocabularies in AI workflows with NPR content

This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff are defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR's content, including events.

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

Qualifications 

• Demonstrated ability to experiment, evaluate and work with generative AI tools and technologies
• Familiarity with Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning techniques
• Knowledge of archiving and metadata management best practices
• Analytical skills to extract narrative leads and opportunities from historical data
• Familiarity with code repositories and version control systems, such as GitHub
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage projects with attention to detail, and meet deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for drafting technical documentation and presenting research findings
• Collaborative mindset for working effectively in a remote, cross-functional team and responding constructively to professional feedback

Application Requirements

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Portfolio Link (Preferred)

Education Requirements

• Must be a current student in an accredited degree program or a recent graduate of no more than 12 months from the month of the start of the internship.

Work Location & Requirements

• NPR Remote-Permitted: This is a remote-permitted role. This role is based out of our Washington, D.C. office, but the employee may choose to work on a remote basis from a location that NPR approves. You will have the option of working (a) remotely from a location of your choosing within the United States that is supported by NPR; (b) on-site at an NPR facility, based on the availability of desks and approval from NPR; or (c) a combination of both. Regardless of where you choose to work from, you may be expected to travel to other locations from time to time to perform the duties of your position.

Schedule

• 30-40 hours per week Monday-Friday, during daytime working hours.

Job Type

• This is a full-time, non-exempt internship.

Compensation

Hourly Rate The U.S.-based anticipated hourly rate for this opportunity is $20.00 per hour. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum hourly rate NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Benefits: NPR offers interns a robust package of benefits and resources designed to foster their professional development and support their overall well-being. Interns are eligible to make elective contributions to the NPR 403(b) retirement plan. As an intern, you have access to Transit Commuter benefits through HealthEquity, which allow you to set aside pre tax funds for eligible commuting expenses.  You are also eligible for membership with the Signal Financial Federal Credit Union, giving you access to a range of financial services and resources. At our DC Headquarters, interns enjoy free access to on-site Wellness Center, free fitness center membership, secure bike facilities, garage parking, and onsite cafeteria. Other benefits include the Employee Assistance Program with up to six face-to-face counseling sessions per issue, Global Guardian worldwide assistance, and Business Travel Accident coverage. Additionally, interns working 30 or more hours per week receive holiday pay for 10 observed holidays plus one floating holiday per year and accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave each pay period with no waiting period.  NPR also supports career growth and work-life balance through professional development opportunities, flexible work hours, and telecommuting options.

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

#LI-REMOTE

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application process, please reach out to employeerelations@npr.org.

You may read NPR’s privacy policy to learn about how NPR may handle information you submit with any application.

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