The Economist is inviting applications for its Foreign Desk Internship, offering aspiring journalists an opportunity to write about international affairs from its London newsroom. The paid internships typically last six months and are designed to identify and develop the next generation of Economist journalists.
The opportunity is open to applicants regardless of citizenship, and previous professional journalism experience is not required. Instead, applicants are expected to demonstrate their ability to identify compelling international stories, develop strong ideas and produce high-quality journalism suitable for publication.
Applications for the 2026 internship close on 30 October 2026.
The Economist Foreign Desk Internship 2026 at a Glance
| Opportunity | The Economist Foreign Desk Internship |
|---|---|
| Organisation | The Economist |
| Field | Journalism / Foreign Affairs |
| Duration | Typically 6 months |
| Location | London, United Kingdom |
| Type | Paid internship |
| Work area | Foreign affairs journalism |
| Citizenship requirement | No restriction stated |
| Previous experience | Not required |
| Application deadline | 30 October 2026 |
About The Economist Journalism Internship
The Economist is seeking interns to join its foreign desk, where they will contribute to journalism covering international affairs.
The internship is intended to go beyond providing temporary work experience. According to The Economist, the aim of the programme is to identify future Economist journalists.
Interns will therefore have an opportunity to develop their writing and reporting skills in a professional newsroom environment while gaining exposure to the editorial standards and processes involved in producing international journalism.
The internships are typically six months long, are paid, and are based in London.
Who Can Apply?
The opportunity is open to people interested in developing a career in journalism and foreign affairs.
Importantly, The Economist states that anyone is welcome to apply regardless of citizenship or any characteristic unrelated to the job.
Previous professional experience is also not necessary. This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to aspiring journalists who can demonstrate strong writing, research, analytical and storytelling abilities through their application materials.
Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to identify important stories and explain why those stories would be relevant to an international readership.
What Applicants Must Submit
The application process places significant emphasis on the applicant’s original journalism ideas and writing.
Applicants must produce three ideas for articles that they believe would be suitable for publication in The Economist.
For two of the ideas, applicants must prepare a short pitch. Each pitch should consist of one paragraph proposing the story for an editor to consider commissioning.
For the third idea, applicants must submit a completed 600-word article suitable for publication in The Economist.
Applicants must also provide:
- A CV.
- A cover letter.
- Two short article pitches.
- One completed 600-word article.
The completed article and the two pitches are particularly important components of the application.
How to Approach the Writing Task
Applicants should carefully consider the type of international journalism produced by The Economist when selecting their three ideas.
The pitches should demonstrate the ability to identify a meaningful foreign affairs story and present a clear reason for an editor to commission it.
The completed 600-word article should demonstrate strong writing and the ability to develop an international affairs topic within a concise format.
Applicants should pay particular attention to:
- Originality of the story idea.
- Relevance to international affairs.
- Clear and concise writing.
- Strong analysis and storytelling.
- A compelling angle.
- Accurate research.
- The ability to communicate complex issues clearly.
The Economist notes that the original article and two pitches are the most important parts of the application, meaning applicants should devote substantial attention to these materials.
AI Use in the Application
The Economist has provided specific guidance regarding the use of artificial intelligence.
Applicants must not use AI to write their pitches or finished article.
The organisation does allow applicants to use AI to assist with certain aspects of research and preparation, but the actual work submitted as part of the application must be entirely the applicant’s own.
Applicants should therefore ensure that their pitches and completed article reflect their own research, thinking, reporting and writing.
Who Is This Opportunity For?
The internship could be relevant to aspiring:
- Foreign affairs journalists.
- International affairs writers.
- Political and economic reporters.
- Investigative journalists.
- News writers.
- International correspondents.
- Journalism students and recent graduates.
- Writers seeking newsroom experience.
Because previous professional experience is not required, the application materials themselves provide an important opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their potential.
Benefits of the Internship
Successful applicants will join a professional London-based newsroom environment and gain practical exposure to foreign affairs journalism.
Key features include:
- Paid internship.
- Approximately six months of experience.
- London-based newsroom placement.
- Opportunity to write about foreign affairs.
- Exposure to professional journalism and editorial processes.
- Opportunity to develop skills relevant to a journalism career.
- Potential pathway towards becoming an Economist journalist.
The Economist describes the programme as a way of finding its journalists of the future, making the internship particularly relevant to individuals seeking to build a long-term career in international journalism.
Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted by 30 October 2026.
Candidates should allow enough time to develop their three story ideas, write the two pitches and complete the 600-word article before submitting their applications.
The Economist has indicated that competition for the programme can be substantial. A recent recruitment cycle reportedly received more than 1,400 applications, highlighting the importance of submitting thoughtful and original work.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare their:
- CV.
- Cover letter.
- Two one-paragraph article pitches.
- One completed 600-word article.
Applicants should ensure that their writing submissions comply with The Economist’s AI-use requirements and are entirely their own work.
Official opportunity: The Economist – Paid interns on the foreign desk
Final Takeaway
The Economist Foreign Desk Internship 2026 offers aspiring journalists a paid, typically six-month opportunity to gain professional experience writing about foreign affairs in London.
With no previous experience required and no citizenship restriction stated, the programme is open to a broad range of applicants. However, candidates should expect strong competition and should give particular attention to the required two story pitches and original 600-word article, which The Economist identifies as the most important parts of the application.
Interested applicants should prepare their materials carefully and submit them by 30 October 2026.
