What's this about an Online Chat?
There are two online chats to answer questions on the newsroom's Summer Internships Program scheduled in October on washingtonpost.com: The first is 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8 with Post interns Monica Hesse, Jonathan Mummolo and Ethan Robinson. The second is at noon Wednesday, Oct. 10 with Post Executive Editor Len Downie. Before the chats, you can follow these links and submit questions or comments in advance; afterwards, they'll take you to a transcript of the discussion.

In September and October 2006, The Post sponsored two online chats about the Summer Internship program. Transcripts of those chats can be found here.

How do I apply?
Click here for information about requirements and the application process.

Is there an age requirement?
Applicants must be a college junior, senior or graduate student on November 1, 2007, the date by which applications must be postmarked. There is no age requirement.

Can a foreign citizen apply?
Foreign citizens can apply for internships. If chosen, they must provide the documentation required by the INS to work in the United States.

Are interns paid?
Yes. It is our policy to pay everyone who works for us, including interns. For summer 2006, the salary was around $825 per week.

On which staffs do interns work?
Reporting interns regularly work for the Metro, Financial, Style, and Sports desks. In addition we select an intern for the Photo, News Art, News Desk(design, layout) and Editorial Page staff. Copy editing interns, including one chosen through the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund editing program, are assigned to the National, Foreign, Metro and Financial desks. Most years we have a Kaiser Media Fellow to report for our weekly Health section.

What do interns actually do?
Our interns write articles, edit copy, take photographs, design pages and produce graphics. We treat them as staff members during their 12 weeks of employment.

What orientation and training programs are scheduled for interns?
During the first week, we have a welcome lunch to introduce interns to senior editors, a daylong bus tour of the Washington metropolitan area and computer training. We also have seminars on surviving the summer, legal and libel isssues and newsroom online operations. Weekly lunches with senior editors and reporters as guest speakers enhance understanding of The Washington Post and the industry. In recent summers, lunch speakers have included Washington Post Company Chairman Donald Graham; Publisher Bo Jones, former executive editor Ben Bradlee; Executive Editor Len Downie; and Assistant Managing Editor Bob Woodward.

What experience do selected applicants have?
Our internship program is competitive, with more than 430 applications received for the 2007 summer program. Most of the summer interns have had previous internships at non-campus daily newspapers, in addition to working on their college publications.

Does The Washington Post have internships at any other time of the year?
No.

Does The Washington Post assist in finding summer housing?
We can point you. Classified ads and apartment listings are the place to begin looking for housing. We give each intern a subscription to The Washington Post for six weeks before internship. craigslist is a good resource. In addition, we ask staff members about rooms for rent and forward all notices of housing opportunities to the interns. Ultimately, interns must make their own housing arrangements.

Do interns need cars?
It is very helpful if reporting interns have a car available for their use during the internship. All interns must provide their own transportation to and from work.

How soon will I hear whether I've been selected?
Final selections will be made by late December and notification will follow.