The Youth Media Alliance (YMA) has created a new internship program for emerging producers in the kids space.

The Steven DeNure Children’s Content Internship, launched Monday (April 24), provides a production company or broadcaster working in English or French children’s programming with $4,500 to run a full-time, 12-week internship program.

The goal of the program is to place emerging producing talent with established children’s content producers to develop skills in “content strategy, development, writing, production, or marketing,” according to a news release.

The selected mentor company must match the amount, with interns receiving $9,000 over the course of the program for 12 weeks of work, at 40 hours a week.

YMA may provide financial assistance to cover travel and/or registration expenses, if travel is determined as “in the best interests of the intern,” said release.

Approximately one to two companies will be selected for the program each year, and it is expected to run for the next three to four years “while funds remain available.” Applications for the first year are due by May 15.

Eligible companies must be a YMA member and based out of Canada, and will be responsible for hiring an intern if selected. Interns must be students or recent graduates of a post-secondary institution, and cannot be a family member of an employer.

Applications that “support interns from equity-seeking groups, including Indigenous, Black, people of colour, neurodiverse, LGBTQIA+, and persons with disabilities” are encouraged, said the release.

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