Q: I know it's a little late, but I finally started to apply at for my second summer internship. I've tried calling a couple papers to find out when the deadlines are and two Knight Ridder papers said they were not sure if they were hiring interns because of the sale of Knight Ridder newspapers.

    Is summer 2006 going to be extra hard to break into internships, especially Knight Ridder ones? If so, any recommendations for others?

Ryan

A: This may be one of the unreported stories of the current malaise in the newspaper industry.

We have read how more than 2,000 jobs were cut in 2005, but internship reductions are not tracked as keenly. That's because they are short-term propositions and can be reduced between seasons without hurting anyone in particular.

Still, a lack of internships makes it harder for people to start their careers. The class of 2006 is at a disadvantage.

The word back from recruiters shows this:

• Knight Ridder, now up for auction, has suspended scholarships (with accompanying internships), internships it paid for at some of its paper, an entry-level specialty journalism program and year-long "rotating internships: that sent participants through three newspapers in a year.
• Some Knight Riddder newspapers have reduced their internships or are delaying offers until they have more clarity about the company's ownership.
• The Knight Ridder-owned Duluth News Tribune has suspended its popular "Bernies" internship program, named after former publisher Bernie Ridder. There were 10 interns in the program last year and hundreds applied for 2006, but have been told that the internships are off.
• The Oregonian's web site says it has suspended 200 internships for financial reasons.
• Newsday, which used to have six to eight interns assigned to New York City, has reduced coverage there and may reduce internships for that reason.

Several recruiters I talked with said their papers will have as many interns as last year. None said their programs are growing.

So, it will be extra hard.

I would expand my geographic range, look in high-demand positions such as business reporting or copy editing and I would explore new media.

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