Hamilton One-Year Photojournalism Internship (Temp Full-time)

Metroland Media is a dynamic media powerhouse, delivering vital news to millions of readers across Ontario. We publish six award-winning daily newspapers – including the Hamilton Spectator and Waterloo Region Record – alongside 27 websites covering communities from Ottawa Valley to Niagara and Parry Sound to Toronto.

We don’t just report the news; we strengthen our communities. Our newsrooms fuse the expertise of our trained journalists with first-party data and local insights, keeping citizens informed on the issues that matter most.

Join us to learn from seasoned journalists and make a real impact in Ontario.

Our Commitment to Diversity
We strive to be a leader in building and cultivating an employee community framed around fairness, support and opportunity. We believe that what makes us different, makes a difference . And as a team, the diversity of our backgrounds, interests and experiences is what enriches our work, and our workplaces. We welcome all, and we strive for an inclusive culture that allows individual growth and shared success.

Job Description

The Hamilton Spectator is looking for an emerging photojournalist who combines traditional photojournalist grit with digital agility. While the focus of this role is photography and videography, this person will also possess writing and reporting skills to be able to produce complete stories.

This is a year-long paid internship based in Hamilton. You will work alongside full-time staff, earn bylines, photo and video credits, and produce high-impact work from the start. Early morning, evening and weekend work will be required.

Details:

• Duration: One-year contract starting Monday, Sept. 14, 2026.
• Location: Positions are based out of Hamilton
• Salary: $40,494.18 (Unifor Local 87-M)

Qualifications

This internship is for an early-career photojournalist with some journalism experience – previous internships or roles in a range of organizations, freelance or non-traditional outlets.

The successful candidate will be a creative photojournalist who can cover a wide variety of assignments, including news, sports and feature portraits. Many assignments will require text, still images as well as video. You should be an enthusiastic and curious emerging journalist ready to bring new perspectives and strong news judgment to your work at The Spectator.

The Spectator is a hybrid work environment. You will be expected to work from home, the Hamilton office and in the community for assignments.

You must also have your own gear, a valid driver’s licence and access to a vehicle for this job.

Application requirements:

To apply, upload a single PDF in the resume field to our online portal containing:

• Your pitch (cover letter): In 100 words or less, tell us what you bring to The Spectator. Why you? Why now?
• Resume: Include your email, phone and current city
• A link to your portfolio for photo and video:
  • Links/clippings must be accessible (no paywalls)
  • We want to see published photo and video journalism, not homework. Work from campus newspapers or independent/community outlets are welcome; unpublished work for class grades is not.
  • Examples that demonstrate reporting and writing skills

Application should demonstrate:

• Experience using Photoshop and Photo Mechanic
• Photo and video journalism experience outside school assignments and a demonstrated commitment to journalism as a career
• Strong writing and reporting skills
• Strong interpersonal skills

Deadline to apply: August 3, 2026

Additional Information

Torstar Group of Companies is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free recruitment process ensuring equal access to employment opportunities for candidates, including persons with disabilities. In compliance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario Human Rights Code we will endeavour to provide accommodation to persons with disabilities in the recruitment process upon request. If you are selected for an interview and you require accommodation due to a disability during the recruitment process, please notify the hiring manager upon scheduling your interview of your requirements.

This posting is for an existing vacancy. Our Applicant Tracking System (ATS) uses AI for initial screening and assessment; however, all final selection decisions are made by our Hiring Managers.