FALL 2022 UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION

COMMUNICATIONS, NY

The Communications Department of the National ACLU Media Team has openings for undergraduate internships in New York, NY (remote).

The ACLU communications department creates, maintains, and expands message narratives to engage our supporters and other target audiences, to help protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights, and also illustrate the value and impact of the ACLU`s transformational work. Through our messaging, engagement with newsmakers, our written content, creative branding, and visual identity, we encourage support for the ACLU and help to build a more perfect union.

For 100 years, the ACLU has been our nation`s guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it`s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBT community, advancing racial justice, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties and civil rights cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. With nearly two million members, activists, and supporters, the ACLU is a nationwide organization that fights tirelessly in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., for the principle that every individual`s rights must be protected equally under the law, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, and record of arrest or conviction.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

The communications intern will contribute to creating and expanding message narratives and strategic communications that will engage and educate ACLU supporters and other target audiences on a wide array of civil liberties and civil rights issues, including, but not limited to advocacy and litigation around immigrants` rights, voting rights, racial justice, and criminal justice reform. They will play a role in helping to execute communications strategies and storytelling that advance and educate the public on the ACLU`s work.

Note: This internship is primarily focused on overall communications strategy and earned media. Our digital team has internships that specifically focus on social media and multimedia that may also be of interest.

• Time Commitment: This fall internship requires a part-time commitment of 15 or 20 hours per week.
• Internship Duration: Part-time internship are a 12-week period. Fall interns are expected to start September 12 or September 26, 2022.
• Stipend: A stipend is available for those students who do not receive course credit and are lawfully authorized to work. Students who receive outside funding are eligible for a partial stipend to bring their total funding up to the level of ACLU`s stipend amount for that term, if applicable. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit. Below is the stipend breakdown by term:
  • Winter/Spring/Fall: Stipends are calculated on number of hours and weeks worked. The hourly rate is $18.57 for undergraduate students or equivalent experience and $21.42 for graduate, law, and PhD students or equivalent experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Contribute to the day-to-day functions of the communications department, including writing external-facing materials for comms purposes such as drafting press releases, talking points, social copy, and media advisories
• Build media expertise by researching and building lists of key reporters, editors, producers and bookers
• Help increase coverage of ACLU issues and messages by crafting and sending pitches to news media on ACLU priorities and work
• Monitoring news and media trends, including tracking press clips
• Engaging in research projects that can help inform multi-faceted communications plans, which include goals, audiences, messaging, and media relations strategies

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

The internship is open to students who have completed their first year of an undergraduate degree in one of the following majors: Communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or English. Interns should possess the following:

• Strong oral, written and editing skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with others
• Familiarity with news media and online platforms and understanding of trends and best practices in communications, public relations
• Previous experience in the following areas is a plus: journalism, public relations, communications, digital communications, content creation
• Proficiency in Associated Press style is a plus
• Familiarity with media relations software such as Cision is a plus
• A demonstrated interest and commitment to social justice, civil rights and liberties
• Valid work authorization for those seeking a stipend from the ACLU

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.

This posting provides a general but not comprehensive list of the opportunities of the internship. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the posting at any time without advance notice.

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.