Stevens-Harkin Honorary Policy and Representation Intern (Winter/Spring 2019) – NPR

Description:

Want to learn about the inner workings of a busy government relations department? NPR’s Policy & Representation team seeks highly motivated and organized applicants with an interest in public radio, grassroots advocacy, and public policy. We are a very small team of lobbyists and public engagement professionals. The Stevens-Harkin Honorary Internship is designed to provide broad practical exposure to advocacy and the legislative/regulatory process, focusing on issues facing public broadcasting, from federal funding and spectrum allocation to copyright reform and music licensing. The internship is named in honor of former Senators Ted Stevens and Tom Harkin, two steadfast champions of public radio through their long Senate tenures.

College and law school students are welcome to apply. Course credit may be obtained by arrangement with individual colleges or law schools.  During the summer, interns are expected to work full time, 40 hours per week for 10 weeks.  Spring, fall, and winter internships can be on a part-time (at least 15-20 hours per week) or full-time schedule.

Responsibilities include:

• Research and support for station outreach efforts;
• Supporting online grassroots and social media advocacy efforts, including drafting Facebook posts, tweets, and blog posts;
• Research, analysis, and writing to support our advocacy projects, legislative work, and regulatory filings.
• Attend congressional hearings and other events on issues that affect public broadcasting and local public radio stations;
• Prepare materials to supporting meetings and events on Capitol Hill, before federal agencies, and involving other stakeholders and policymakers, including background memos, PowerPoint presentations, and collateral materials;
• Special projects and general administrative tasks as needed.

Qualifications:

• Applicants should be adept at multitasking and prepared to handle a vast array of spontaneous tasks (including research projects and occasional trips to the Hill).
• First-rate research, analytical and writing skills required.
• Conversant on social media, especially Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
• A strong understanding of federal government administration; previous experience on Capitol Hill or a political campaign a plus.
• A familiarity with NPR programming and local public radio stations a plus.
• Law students or undergraduate political science and communications majors preferred.
• Applicants must be proficient in the Microsoft Office suite.
• The “X Factor”: public radio nerd, political junkie, music lover, creative thinker, tenacious problem-solver.

Application Info:

Applications must include:

• a cover letter;
• a résumé;
• one or two short writing samples;
• names and contact information for three references (reference letters are not required), at least two of whom should be familiar with the applicant’s analytical, research and writing skills;
• an unofficial college or law school transcript.

 Application:

Interested applicants can apply here.