MPAEF Internships

In 1998 the MPA Education Foundation Board of Directors made the decision to convert existing foundation scholarships into internships at MPA member newspapers. The decision was made in an effort to provide hands-on experience for journalism students. The move is expected to provide more, and better-trained, future employees for Mississippi newspapers.

The internships provide $100 per week as stipends, for from eight to 11 weeks. Newspapers selected to participate in the program are required to pay interns at least minimum wage during the time period. The MPA internship funds are in addition to those wages.

The John O. Emmerich African-American Journalism Internship

Originally established in 1995 as a scholarship, funds were changed to the John O. Emmerich African- American Journalism Internship at the request of the Emmerich family in 1998. The internship honors the longtime editor and publisher of the Greenwood Commonwealth whose family-owned newspaper group includes three daily, two twice-weekly and sixteen weekly newspapers. A student must be an African-American journalism major to qualify for this internship.

The George Keith Memorial Journalism Internship

This internship was established in 1998 to honor George Keith, longtime editor and publisher of The Carthaginian. Priority for this internship is given to a journalism student from Leake County, or a surrounding county (Attala, Winston, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, or Madison).

The Betty and Hodding Carter Memorial Journalism Internship

The Hodding Carter Memorial Journalism Internship was established in 1998 by the Carter family to honor the former editor and publisher of the Delta Democrat-Times who died in 1972. The fund was expanded to memorialize Betty Carter, former publisher of the Delta Democrat Times, following her death in 2000. Priority is given to a student from Bolivar, Sunflower, Issaquena, Sharkey, or Washington county.

General Internships

In 2000, the MPA Education Foundation internships were opened to include high school students who are interested in a journalism career, journalism teachers and newspaper sponsors, in addition to college journalism students. Interns may be hired by the newspapers to work in any area of the operation; they are not limited to the editorial side of the newspaper. The number of internships offered through the MPA Education Foundation fluctuates annually.