Marjorie Deane internships at The Economist and Financial Times are designed to provide paid work experience for promising journalists or would-be journalists, who would like to research and write about finance and economics. Three-month internships are available at The Economist; placements at the The Financial Times may last up to six months. The schemes are opened to new applicants each year, usually in the autumn and/or spring.

Links to the advertisements for these positions, when applications are open, can be found on our news page. If you wish to receive an email alert when an internship opportunity sponsored by the foundation is next advertised, please fill in this form here.

Alumni directory

Antonia Cundy (Financial Times, 2020)

“The Marjorie Deane internship is an incredible opportunity to work in the beating heart of one of the best newsrooms in the UK. Right from the start you are treated like a proper FT journalist, and given the responsibility and independence to pursue your own interests while learning on the job how to report on corporate news. All the new jargon might seem intimidating at first, but it won’t for long! In the six months of my internship I wrote front page news stories, interviewed major CEOs across multiple geographies, wrote for other sections of the paper including my first Opinion piece, and also made friends and connections I’m confident I’ll keep throughout my career.”  

Maria Wilczek (The Economist, 2018)

“I joined the Economist as Marjorie Deane intern in late 2018. Over the past three months I worked with my anonymous heroes and wrote over a dozen print pieces for a number of sections, including Finance, Business, Europe, Britain, and the Americas. I am immensely grateful to the Marjorie Deane Foundation for making this possible.”

Alice Fulwood (The Economist, 2018)

“I was a Marjorie Deane intern at The Economist in early 2018. I am delighted to be back from late November as a full-time business correspondent. I am forever grateful to the Marjorie Deane foundation for giving me the opportunity to have this experience.”

Colby Smith (The Economist, 2018)

“The Marjorie Deane Foundation’s internship programme offers an unparalleled experience for young financial journalists looking to hone their reporting and writing skills. It was a pleasure collaborating with a number of journalists and editors across a broad spectrum of subject areas, from emerging markets to employment law. There is simply no better way to get your start in journalism.”

Camilla Hodgson (Financial Times, 2018)

“Applying for the Marjorie Deane internship was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The scheme is immensely valuable for aspiring journalists and those looking to specialise in finance in particular (there are a lot of terms, numbers and concepts to get your head around), but I think any aspiring journalist would get a lot out of it. I spent six months in the Financial Times’s newsroom on the Companies and FastFT desks, both of which were fast paced and full-on learning experiences. In that time I covered breaking news stories, wrote analyses and features, spoke to chief executives at FTSE companies and got my first front page—as well as a thousand other things—and I am now on the Financial Times’s graduate trainee scheme.”

Myles McCormick (Financial Times, 2018)

“The Marjorie Deane scheme is one of the best opportunities out there for young journalists. It places you at the heart of the Financial Times newsroom and gives you the chance to work on some of the most important stories of the day right from the outset. I did my internship in 2018 and spent it working with the energy team, reporting on everything from bust UK utilities to the politics of international oil prices. I now cover the US energy sector for the FT, based out of the New York office.” 

Eric Monkman (The Economist, 2017)

“The original Bagehot once admonished us not to “let in daylight upon magic.” He was referring to the monarchy, but his words could apply to anything impressive and mysterious. I have long been impressed by The Economist’s team of anonymous journalists and editors. There was a mysterious quality to how they consistently produced an interesting and informative weekly summary of the world’s events. Indeed, I suspect The Economist achieves this effect in part through its lack of bylines and its consistent “voice”.

As a curious reader, I decided to defy Bagehot and find out how The Economist does it. (After all, he also said “The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do”). Thinking it would be fun to work for a newspaper that I take so much pleasure in reading, I applied for the Marjorie Deane internship, not expecting that I would get it. And I didn’t. I had to apply several times before even getting on the shortlist, and then once more before finally learning that all my efforts had finally paid off. I was accepted for the position, beginning in August 2017 and working until the end of October.

I can say that, in this case, “letting in daylight” did not lead to disappointment. I was impressed by the level of thought and research that went into the production of articles. It was a joy to attend and take part in the regular discussions about what positions The Economist should take and what should be included in the paper were a joy to attend. Best of all was the friendliness and warmth I received from my colleagues. They helped me develop as a writer and remain my good friends.

I would like to thank Marjorie Deane and her namesake foundation for giving the opportunity to work at The Economist.”

Cat Rutter Pooley (Financial Times, 2017)

“As an ex-City lawyer trying to break into journalism, the Marjorie Deane fellowship meant the FT could take a chance on me. Despite having limited writing experience, I got thrown in to covering everything from features on fund managers to helping with breaking news on a special live blog. It’s been challenging, intellectually stimulating and great fun: the best possible start to a career in reporting.”

James Yan (The Economist, 2016)

“I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation for giving me my start in journalism. As a young trainee in the New York bureau of The Economist, I wrote about topics as diverse as long-dated government debt and Donald Trump’s border wall. I interviewed the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, attended press conferences in Manhattan and made reporting trips to rural Virginia.

The Marjorie Deane programme equipped me with the requisite nous, creativity and confidence to thrive in my subsequent role as The Economist’s staff correspondent in Hong Kong and Beijing (2018-2021). While in China, I was privileged to write two dozen lead articles on Chinese politics and business for our flagship weekly print edition. I am now an MBA candidate at Stanford Graduate School of Business. I will always look back fondly on my time at The Economist.”

Elizabeth Winkler (The Economist, 2016)

“The internship was an amazing learning experience for me, a crash course in financial journalism, as I had previously only written on politics, books, and culture. I wrote about 15 articles across the paper during my stint, covering subjects from Breitbart’s business model to China’s changing credit culture to supply-chain finance to gender-budgeting. I also did a few pieces for other sections (United States, Europe and Books).”

Yuan Yang (The Economist, 2015)

“I got my first opportunity to work as a journalist through the Marjorie Deane Foundation’s sponsorship, without which I wouldn’t have been able to afford to live in London and work as an intern for The Economist. It’s an invaluable opportunity for early-career journalists, and through it I met a wonderful community of journalists who I still run into around the world, now that I’m based in Beijing with the Financial Times. I would definitely recommend applying, even if you don’t have a “traditional” journalism background. I was an economist by training and this proved a great background for writing up columns about development economics!”

Callum Williams (The Economist, 2013)

“My first journalism experience was at the business desk of the Guardian. After spending some time in America, I was awarded an internship at The Economist during my Master’s course in economic and social history at Oxford University. I am incredibly grateful to the foundation for offering me this fantastic opportunity.”

Andrew Bowman (Financial Times, 2012)

“The programme is a fantastic opportunity to learn about financial journalism through hands-on experience. It provides a good grounding in reporting on companies and markets, but you’re also encouraged to branch off and pursue your own story ideas. I wrote on topics ranging from sovereign debt in sub-Saharan Africa to British dairy farmers. Help and advice is always close at hand from some of the best editors and journalists in the trade.”

David Keohane (Financial Times, 2011)

“Joining the FT on the Marjorie Deane programme was a wonderful experience. Within weeks of arriving in London I found myself reporting on emerging markets for the beyondbrics blog — interviewing reserve managers, CEOs, bankers and, very publicly, a Russian politician who had even less English that I had Russian – before eventually moving to the markets team to cover UK equities. It was the best possible start to a career in journalism and I would recommend it to anybody.”

Ajay Makan (The Economist, 2011)

“Every Wednesday, on the 14th floor of a tower in St James’s, a group of journalists gather for lunch in a boardroom overlooking central London. As a living embodiment of The Economist, it is perfect.

First there is tradition—an apparent holdover from the days before mobile phones, Wednesday lunch was started by section editors to keep reporters close on the day the week’s newspaper is put together. Then there’s the democratic atmosphere—everyone from editor to intern serves themselves and eats, balancing plate and possibly wine glass, on knees, with or without a napkin in support. Finally there’s the classicism of the menu—always one meat, one fish, and a token vegetarian option, with plentiful salad, fruit and two very rich desserts on the side.

But my first lunch experience was a daunting trial rather than a living museum piece. Exceptionally intelligent people sat talking about the future of space exploration, variants of Chinese state capitalism and, to my relief, football. I gingerly found a seat, tried not to drop my food or chew with my mouth open, and listened. By the time I was ready for dessert, I realised there was not much to be scared of, and took two slices of cake. Despite the intellectual atmosphere, The Economist has an incredibly warm informality and collegiality. Doors are open, offices shared, chatter is amiable and boisterous.

If you are invited to intern you will find yourself blogging from the first day, immediately invited to contribute to “Free Exchange”, just like any other economics correspondent at the paper. You have free rein, and I wrote on everything from the politics of succession at the IMF and Republican duplicity in the US budget debate, to arcane clauses in Greek sovereign bonds and also less serious matters.

Writing for the paper is more competitive, but, as a result, more rewarding when it happens. It can be hugely challenging. In my second week I was asked to write the “Economics Focus” on academic perspectives on privatisation. Combining academic rigor with an accessible style was tough, and I needed more than a bit of editorial hand-holding, but I survived. Although based in the Finance and Economics team, there’s a chance to pitch stories all over the place, and I managed to write for the Business and Britain sections during my time as an intern. Editors were unstintingly receptive to pitches, suggesting alternatives that might be explored, rather than dismissing ideas out of hand.

My short stint is now finished, and I am off to write about markets for the Financial Times. As someone whose previous experience before was mainly in television news, it has been a great learning experience to write for The Economist. It has also been fascinating to see such a grand institution from the inside. Its quirks are plenty, but the very few moments of frustration are easily outnumbered by the times they made me smile. I count myself very lucky to have been given the chance to intern here by the Marjorie Deane Foundation.”

Henry Mance (Financial Times, 2010)

“The award was a great opportunity to learn and contribute. I was posted to the beyondbrics blog, covering the rise of emerging markets, from Indian billionaires to Chinese school children. New ideas were always welcome, and getting the hang of financial reporting was an enjoyable challenge.” [2018]

“The internship is a great opportunity to learn and contribute. As an intern, you have the chance to shape part of the news agenda—flying from issue to issue, mixing deliberation and speed. I nearly fainted at my first sight of a market report; thanks to the internship, I´ve come a fair way since.” [February 2011]

James Shotter (Financial Times, 2010)

“Since joining the FT on the Marjorie Deane programme, I have had the chance to write about a huge variety of fascinating topics – from the Arab Awakening to the Eurozone crisis to pandas – met presidents and spy chiefs, business titans and eminent economists, and spent time working in both London and Berlin. I cannot imagine a better introduction to journalism.”

Matina Stevis (The Economist, 2010)

“I was born and raised in Athens, Greece, where I returned to work after completing a BA in Modern History and Politics at Oxford. In 2009 I decided that I´d spent too much time outside Britain and returned to do a two-year MPA in Public Policy at the London School of Economics.

The first of the two years presented me with excellent professional opportunities in London: as my native country was teetering on the edge of fiscal abyss, I was doing interviews for British and international television networks as a Greece expert. Most importantly, though, I got the chance to work at The Economist as a Marjorie Deane intern.

The experience was excellent: I spent three months among some of the brightest people I have met, learned a lot about a lot, published articles in the paper and online, researched topics I never thought I´d be interested in and saw from the inside how one of the most important publications in the world is produced. The internship has left me not only better-educated and more professional but also more inspired and dedicated to this line of business.”

Sahil Mahtani (The Economist, 2010)

“I was looking through my application for the Marjorie Deane internship, and apparently I described The Economist as Guy de Rothschild described his bank—as “gently prolonging the nineteenth century.” It is the paper´s great virtue, even if the baron intended more to jab than to flatter. Writing for it has been the peak of my (admittedly short) journalistic career.

I had a few earlier stints in the profession, but nothing approached the intellectual breadth and curiosity of this one. I am grateful to the Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation for giving me a chance to write for The Economist. Plenty of interesting people came my way, including a Nobel laureate and a few scruffy billionaires. A glorious London summer did not hurt.

As I write, it is still financial journalism´s day. Public appetite is high for clearly-reasoned pieces with ethical sensitivity, and is unlikely to abate. Writing from this perch has been fantastic and I am sure it will only get more interesting in the coming years.

Adam Creighton (The Economist, 2009)

“Having experimented with a bit of journalism while reading for an MPhil at Oxford, I returned to Australia in late 2008 with an urge to keep writing. Anonymous editorials weren’t enough to whet my appetite; I yearned to try the real thing, full-time. I was grateful to the Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation for giving me the opportunity to go to London and write at the world’s most prestigious weekly, The Economist.

Over six months in 2009 I wrote around 20 articles on finance, economics and books. I had a great time, made great friends and sat through the famous weekly editorial meetings. And who can complain about working in St James’s? I even got to interview a Nobel Prize winner.

Now I’m working in Sydney as a Senior Adviser to Australia’s Opposition Leader. The writing skills I picked up at The Economist, and the confidence I gained in pursuing articles, have proved invaluable. Best of all, a successful stint at The Economist leads to a lifelong connection. I still write the occasional book review.”

Laura Cameron (The Economist, 2007)

“When I wrote my application essay to the Marjorie Deane internship programme in the spring of 2007, I riffed on Alan Greenspan´s infamous remark about ´irrational exuberance´, speculating tongue-in-cheek that the inflated stock market was the result of financial executives taking mind-altering substances. Shortly after my internship in London, I moved to New York to study for an MA in journalism at Columbia. By that point, the global financial system had begun to unravel.

On a reporting trip, I ventured down from the quiet Morningside Heights neighbourhood to a beleaguered but bustling Wall Street. I spoke with two young traders who, as it happened, described a trading floor drug culture in vivid detail. This is one of the many stories I have chased during this fascinating time to be covering the economy.

Thanks to the Marjorie Deane internship, I started out in financial journalism as the field was entering its heyday. For better or worse, it looks like that the financial crisis will continue to provide a rich vein of inquiry for the foreseeable future.”

Alan Rappeport (The Economist, 2006)

“My Marjorie Deane experience started in the summer of 2006, just as whispers were growing louder that America´s housing market bubble was about to burst. I had just completed a post graduate degree at the London School of Economics, sponsored by Marjorie´s foundation, and was anxiously excited to see how my new knowledge would translate into financial journalism. Even more, I wanted to meet the anonymous scribes behind my favourite magazine—or newspaper, as I quickly learnt.

I spent much of my first day in awe of the view from my office in The Economist building and wondering how I got there, less than two years removed from reporting on local news at a small paper in New Jersey. Without a true beat, I combed the web for quirky story ideas, and found myself writing about everything from the emergence of an online “Pigou” club that was pushing for higher petrol taxes to the World Bank´s foray into faith programmes in emerging markets and the demise of the Leica camera. One week I even grilled Alan Krueger, a famous economist, about the finer points of instrumental variables.

But the best part of the internship was my colleagues. I shared an office with the media editor, who was an aggressive reporter and handled sources better than anyone I´d ever met. The scholarly economics correspondent down the hall taught me more about the dismal science than I had gathered during my time at the LSE. And my editors always managed to turn my wordy American-style copy into elegant prose, infusing it with that Olympian tone I could not always muster. By the end of my stint I felt at home at The Economist, even sharing a pot of tea with its editor while discussing the Leicester City football club. (No small task for someone whose definition of football features first downs and field goals.)

Four years later, I use skills I picked up that summer every day. As a writer for the Financial Times in New York I´ve got a different view now, reporting on the aftermath of the financial crisis and a fragile economic recovery. Thanks to the Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation, I´ve been well prepared to cover the story.”