Volunteer With a Nonprofit Newsroom
Tell important stories. Serve readers. Build experience.
Join THRIVE!’s national newsroom or Orange County local desk as a volunteer writer, reporter, editor, researcher, photographer or digital creator. One application connects you with both opportunities.
Choose the newsroom that fits you.
Apply to the national newsroom, the Orange County desk or both. Assignment decisions depend on skills, availability and current editorial needs.
THRIVE! News
Help readers understand consequential American headlines, faith-and-culture developments and major stories shaping the nation and world.
- Government, law, family and education
- Church, religious liberty and cultural impact
- Business, technology, media, arts and sports
- Israel, disasters and major world developments
- Reporting, editing, research and visual storytelling
THRIVE! Orange County
Report the people, decisions, businesses, institutions and community stories shaping life close to home throughout Orange County.
- City government, public safety and accountability
- Schools, colleges, families and neighborhoods
- Businesses, development and local opportunity
- Churches, nonprofits, culture and community events
- Local reporting, photography and audience engagement
Who we welcome.
Strong applicants share curiosity, reliability, humility, clear communication and a commitment to truthful reporting.
College students
Build reporting, research and writing experience while developing portfolio-ready work beyond the classroom.
Emerging journalists
Grow your clips, sharpen your voice and learn how a story moves from pitch through editing to publication.
Experienced professionals
Contribute reporting, editing, mentoring or subject expertise to journalism with public and spiritual significance.
Visual and digital creators
Serve through photography, video, podcast production, social media, fact-checking or audience engagement.
What volunteers may do
- Pitch timely, relevant story ideas
- Interview sources and review public records
- Write original news, features or commentary
- Photograph or document real events responsibly
- Research, fact-check and strengthen drafts
- Work with editors on accuracy, clarity and tone
What you can gain
- Hands-on experience in a working digital newsroom
- Constructive editorial feedback when assigned
- Potential published clips and bylines
- Experience with sourcing, SEO and presentation
- Connections with writers and Christian leaders
- Work that serves readers and advances truth
Important: THRIVE! is a nonprofit news organization. Current contributor positions are unpaid volunteer opportunities, not offers of employment. Assignments, publication, ongoing participation and future employment are not guaranteed. Students seeking academic credit must first consult their school; any credit-bearing arrangement requires separate written approval from both the school and THRIVE!.
How it works.
A straightforward process protects applicants, readers and the integrity of both newsrooms.
Apply
Tell us your interests, experience, availability and whether you prefer national, Orange County or both.
Editorial review
Our team considers mission fit, samples, skills and current newsroom needs.
Conversation or trial
If there may be a fit, an editor can discuss expectations and a possible first assignment.
Edit and publish
Accepted work proceeds through sourcing, editing and final approval before publication.
Shared Volunteer Application
Ready to join us?
Choose the newsroom that interests you in the application. Students without published clips may submit classwork or explain what they hope to learn.
Apply to volunteer with THRIVE!
Fields marked with an asterisk are required. Select the national newsroom, Orange County desk or both.