Meet Summer 2026 Interns: Fresh Talent Shaking Up Local Reporting

0:00It's April 27th. This is Durham News Today, AI-powered stories from your city. The news and observer just dropped the lineup for their summer 2026 interns and fellows, H. Sharpe Journalists joining teams across. Metro, politics, business, sports, visuals and audience. These folks will dive into everything from state legislature beats to local triangle stories, bringing fresh energy right alongside the staff. To stand out with special programs, Ronnie Butts is back on politics through Maclatchee's HBCU Development Internship, which hooks up historically, black college students with paid summer gigs and post-grad jobs. Then there's Lou Bowles, a science fellow from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, studying entomology at the University of Missouri. These interns hail from top schools like Northwestern, UNC Chapel Hill, and NC Central, with solid chops from editing student papers, freelancing, and leading campus news outlets.

1:01Many are already award winners or editors in chief, plus they've got skills in everything from photojournalism to election coverage. There's set to write stories for both the news and observer and the herald son, getting hands-on training from pros at the papers and Maclatchee. No doubt their diverse backgrounds and politics, science and sports will shake up the coverage. Keep an eye on those violins this summer. These rising stars are about to level up local reporting with new voices and bold takes.