A College of San Mateo journalism major is among only eight college students statewide selected for a prestigious internship program.

Margaret Baum was picked for the internship after interviews last week in Sacramento with the California Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation.

Eight students from four and two-year college journalism programs will each receive $1,000 from the foundation to work this summer as reporting interns. Only Baum and two other community college students were included with the more experienced four-year students. Fourteen students from 10 colleges applied this year, according to a foundation news release.

“I am really excited about this opportunity,” said Baum, 26, who will work this summer at the San Francisco Examiner. ”The CNPA is very helpful for serious journalism students in gaining the experience they need.”

Baum is executive editor of The San Matean, the college newspaper and website. She received the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club’s Herb Caen scholarship last spring for $1,500 and was honored at a regional journalism conference in November for editorial writing.

The foundation is part of the CNPA, an organization for newspaper owners that supports press rights and provides resources for publishing and journalism education.

Baum is the third CSM journalism student since 2007 to be selected by the foundation.

“This program has been a tremendous resource for our students,” said Ed Remitz, CSM Journalism Professor and Press Club board member. “It is especially rewarding to see students acknowledged for their hard work.”