Do you care about media? Are you interested in doing substantive work for a national nonprofit working on media issues? Want to learn the behind-the-scenes work that goes into effectively running a nonprofit?

Free Press offers the country’s premier internship in media reform. A select handful of students every semester are chosen as Free Press “Media Reform Scholars,” and have the opportunity to make a difference in a movement that is both critical and cutting edge.

Research, outreach, policy, development, communications, and operations work is possible during an internship. Interns will also sit in on team and staff meetings to get an inside view into how a national nonprofit functions on a day-to-day basis.

Interns must make a minimum 10-week and 10-hour-a-week commitment. College credit, work study and “commuter stipends” are available.

Free Press offers different internship programs for undergraduate- and graduate-level applicants.

Undergraduate Intern Program in Media Research, Education, and Advocacy

We are now accepting applications for Fall 2008 and Spring 2009.

Free Press seeks interns throughout the academic year, summer and during other school breaks. While Free Press does not normally provide interns with financial compensation, we will consider doing so if the student qualifies for work-study financial aid programs. Free Press does offer verification for academic credit for internships.

Interns at Free Press work in a variety of capacities. Interns gain experience in areas related to media policy, media reform, public education, and media activism. Day-to-day work includes maintaining databases, researching media reform issues, and assisting in updating Web site content (our daily news headlines, media reform organizational databases, and media reform online calendar). We provide a wide array of tasks so interns will end the semester with a good sense of the daily operations of a non-profit organization and the work required for successful public interest advocacy.

Depending on a particular intern’s interests and experience, interns may also assist with special projects including: marketing/outreach and promotional activities, special event management (conferences, issue briefings/summits, public hearings and other forums), research and publication of issue briefings and white papers, writing press releases, and making phone calls to journalists, colleagues and constituents. While interns are never asked to clean, take out the trash, or fetch coffee, interns are often asked to answer phones and handle some routine administrative tasks.

Qualifications: Interns must understand and be comfortable with the nature of Free Press’ work in many areas of media reform, including lobbying, grassroots outreach, advertising, special event management, and Web site creation/hosting. They must be comfortable working in an atmosphere where circumstances are constantly in flux as situations in Washington and elsewhere change in response to the social and political climate. Excellent organizational, management and communications skills are a must. Some knowledge of federal legislative and regulatory processes is helpful but not required. A working knowledge of media issues is highly preferred. Excellent writing and public speaking skills, as well as facility with word processing, spreadsheet, and Internet software is vital.

A successful intern is a self-starter who takes the internship as seriously as they would any new job and tackles each assignment with initiative, imagination, energy, and determination.

How to Apply: In addition to taking care of their university or college’s requirements for securing credit for the internship, applicants should send the following:
- A completed Internship Application Form
- An up-to-date resumé
- An unofficial transcript

Send to:
Lindsy Embree, Communications Coordinator
Free Press
40 Main St, Suite 301
Florence, MA 01062
(413) 585-1533

Questions? E-mail Communications Coordinator Lindsy Embree.

Graduate Internship Program in Media Policy

Free Press is currently seeking graduate-level interns for the academic year and summer. This internship is normally based in Washington, D.C., although we are open to interns based in our Florence, Massachusetts office. Free Press provides a modest stipend for graduate-level interns.

The graduate-level internship program aims to bring advanced students of communications into the policy arena for practical work on issue research, policy development, and constituent organization. The position requires a strong background in and understanding of communications systems, media studies, and public policy. Interns should expect to work independently on specific projects as directed by senior staff. These projects may require interns to research, analyze, and write reports on specific media policy problems or to develop model legislation, communications strategies, or draft a blueprint for coalition building.

Qualifications: Interns should understand and be comfortable with the nature of Free Press’ work in many areas of media reform, including public interest advocacy, coalition-building grassroots outreach, advertising, conference organization, and Web site production. They must be comfortable working in an atmosphere where circumstances are constantly in flux as situations in Washington and elsewhere change in response to the social and political climate. Excellent organizational, communications, and research skills are essential. Some knowledge of federal legislative and regulatory processes is required. A working knowledge of media issues is highly recommended. Excellent writing and public speaking skills, as well as facility with word processing, spreadsheet, and Internet software is vital.

How to Apply: Applicants should send the following:
- A completed Internship Application Form
- An up-to-date resumé
- An unofficial transcript

Send to:
Lindsy Embree, Communications Coordinator
Free Press
40 Main St, Suite 301
Florence, MA 01062
(413) 585-1533

Questions? E-mail Communications Coordinator Lindsy Embree.