Are you an up-and-coming journalist, photographer or designer seeking experience in the field?

The Grid offers four-month editorial internships, three-month  photography internships and two-month design internships all year round. All of the internship programs are full time. Our goal is to give emerging writers, editors, photographers and graphic designers the experience and knowledge they need to launch their careers —and did we mention that our internships are also a lot of fun?

Information on all three programs is listed below.

EDITORIAL INTERNSHIPS

The Grid’s interns are involved in the creation of each issue — through research, writing and generating story ideas. Our interns are expected to painstakingly fact-check each article that goes into the magazine, an enormously important task that will not only ensure the credibility of the publication, but also help improve one’s research skills and eye for details.

Applicants to The Grid’s internship program should have a keen interest in the city, be organized and detail-oriented and possess excellent communication skills. In addition to their weekly duties, interns will attend story meetings and regularly liaise with The Grid‘s writers and editors, who will mentor successful applicants over the course of their term. Sure, it might not pay all that well — OK, it doesn’t pay at all! — but a Grid internship is a fantastic crash course in magazines and the magazine industry. Several of our current editors and regular contributors first came to The Grid as interns.

Application process

Interested applicants should read our internship FAQs and then complete the assignment below, which will provide us with insight into your writing and critical thinking skills, your familiarity with The Grid and your attention to detail. Completed applications and résumés should be submitted to Lara Zarum at lzarum@thegridto.com.

Intern test

1. Write a one-page review of the last issue of The Grid (750 words). Don’t be afraid of offending us — we’re genuinely interested in where you think our strengths and weaknesses lie. Things you could consider include the mix of stories and how the magazine is packaged, the display on the cover, the photos and illustrations, as well as the selection and quality of the stories.

2. Provide three story ideas for any section of the magazine and tell us why each idea is a good fit for The Grid. Your pitches don’t have to be long, but we are interested in hearing why they are right for our magazine. How long would your proposed piece be? Where do you see it fitting in the paper? Why run it now?

3. Fact-check the article below. It’s worth repeating: fact checking is a vital part of what we do. Use whatever resources are available to check everything that can be considered a fact in the article below. (Facts includes names, titles and spelling, as well as the accuracy and context of information.) Provide us with a list of all sources used, as well as a list of all the incorrect information you found:

Verify any facts you can’t find online with Lara Zarum, who can be reached at 416-933-3442 or lzarum@thegridto.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY INTERNSHIPS

The Grid is pleased to offer a three-month, unpaid internship program for emerging photographers. The goal of this program is to offer up-and-coming photographers the opportunity to gain knowledge about the magazine industry, as well as experience shooting for an exciting, fast-paced print publication.

The Grid’s photography interns will be heavily involved in the creation of each issue. They will be responsible for researching, sourcing and generating concepts, and will also be given the opportunity to shoot for the publication.

Applicants to The Grid’s photography internship program should have a strong passion for the city, be extremely organized and detail oriented, and have strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills. The candidate must also have a strong portfolio demonstrating a passion for documentary photography, technical proficiency in digital photography and lighting and the ability to think on the fly.

In addition to their weekly duties, the photography intern will attend story and art department meetings and regularly liaise with The Grid’s photo editor, art department and editors, who will mentor successful applicants over the course of their term. Sure, it doesn’t pay that well—OK, it doesn’t pay at all!—but a Grid internship is a fantastic opportunity to get your feet wet in all aspects of the magazine industry, and build your professional network.

Application Process:

Interested applicants should submit their CV and cover letter as well as a PDF or link to their portfolio for consideration. We also ask that you to send us a sampling of photos/photographers that you admire. This will provide us with insight into your sensibilities and technical skills.  Applications should be submitted to Shelbie Vermette at shelbie@thegridto.com.

DESIGN INTERNSHIPS

The Grid’s new design internship program is an excellent opportunity for emerging graphic designers to gain hands-on experience in the fast-paced, creative and ever-evolving magazine industry.

Successful applicants will gain a wealth of experience in editorial design, such as typography and dealing with editors. Interns will be involved in designing pages, preparing files for press and contributing ideas and photographic concepts.

In addition to their weekly duties, the design intern will attend story and production meetings and become an integral member of The Grid’s art department. Staff will mentor the intern throughout the session. While the program is unpaid, in the end, successful applicants will emerge with stronger design skills and a broader professional network.

Applicants to The Grid’s design internship program should be recent design graduates with strong typographic skills. They should be fluent in In Design, Photoshop and Illustrator and have a passion for magazines.

Application Process:

Interested applicants should submit their CV and cover letter as well as a PDF or link to their portfolio for consideration to Vanessa Wyse at vanessa@thegridto.com. Given a high volume of emails, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.