This internship is hosted by Asparagus Journalism with funding from the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions.

About Asparagus Journalism:

The Asparagus Journalism Society is a non-profit organization that publishes Asparagus Magazine. Asparagus is an award-winning publication dedicated to telling the large and small stories of how we can live sustainably, from an environmental, social, and cultural perspective. They aim to approach these stories in a way that is intersectional, impactful, firmly grounded in science, but also fun. They publish print issues when we can (always on 100%-post-consumer-recycled paper) and share stories year-round on asparagusmagazine.com and their membership platform, The Green House .

About the role:

The Climate-Smart Communities Reporter will employ solutions journalism principles to document climate strategies implemented in cities and Indigenous communities. Communities around the world are implementing climate solutions, but their successes and failures aren’t necessarily publicized. Journalism produced through Asparagus “Covering Climate-Smart Communities” project will combat climate apathy by showing solutions that work, increasing the likelihood that successful strategies are implemented widely.

Intern responsibilities:

• Identifying climate solutions implemented in cities and Indigenous communities for coverage by the project
• Undertaking reporting about those projects by conducting original interviews with experts and community members as well as other research as appropriate (some funds may be available for reporting travel)
• Drafting articles based on their reporting that meet solutions journalism criteria and working with Asparagus Magazine editors to prepare their articles for publication
• Fact-checking articles written for the project by other journalists
• Creating Google Ad campaigns to increase project articles’ findability

Learning opportunities:

• build research/fact-checking and interviewing skills
• improve writing abilities
• gain behind-the scenes understanding of how independent publications operate

Qualifications:

• The successful candidate will have strong writing and communication skills and a love of storytelling.
• Intern’s area of study could be journalism, creative writing, or any field connected to sustainability, so long as non-academic writing skills can be demonstrated. Students from undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs are all welcome to apply.
• Intern must be a current or graduating student at one of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions institutions: UBC, UVic, UNBC, SFU.
• Intermediate experience with writing beyond the classroom is required, whether as a student or professional journalist, blogger, or for pleasure.
• Intermediate experience in research is required.
• Previous journalism experience and/or multimedia storytelling skills are an asset.
• Basic reporting/interview skills are an asset.
• Intermediate ability to distinguish between authoritative and non-authoritative sources
• is an asset.
• Intermediate understanding of websites and SEO is an asset.

This internship is funded by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), and the successful applicant will have the opportunity to take part in professional development sessions with other members of this year’s PICS cohort.

How to apply:

Please send the following materials to Jessie Johnston, publisher and editrix-in-chief, at editor@asparagusmagazine.com by Thursday, March 19, 2026, with subject line “PICS Internship Application”.

• Include a resume and cover letter
• Include 2 samples of non-academic, non-fiction, prose writing.
  • If possible, one example each of reported and personal/opinion writing would be ideal. This can include writing done for a class, we’re just not interested in writing done in an academic style.
  • If you don’t have these kinds of writing samples, please include samples you think come as close as possible to these requirements.