Home > About SPJ > SPJ Headquarters > Employment Opportunities

Employment Opportunities with SPJ

COMMUNICATIONS POST-GRADUATE INTERNSHIP

The Society of Professional Journalists, the largest and most broad-based membership association for journalists in the nation, is seeking a candidate to fill its yearlong Communications Post-Graduate Internship for media, writing, marketing and public relations efforts. The ideal candidate should be a recent college graduate (bachelor’s or master’s) with prior internship or student media experience in communications and/or journalism. We're looking for someone to help put SPJ in the media spotlight and assist in growing the organization and serving Society members.

PRIMARY DUTIES:

• Working with SPJ’s board and staff to create and distribute internal and external messages.
• Managing, maintaining, building and expanding SPJ’s social media presence.
• Assisting in marketing and promoting all of SPJ’s products and services.
• Organizing media inquiries, interviews and helping to prepare board members and leaders for media opportunities.
• Providing editorial content for all of SPJ’s communications vehicles, including its website, member magazine (Quill) and weekly e-newsletter.

The full-time position, based in Indianapolis, includes competitive salary, excellent benefits and paid leave.
The search will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Application deadline is 5 p.m. Eastern, April 29, 2011. The anticipated start date is Aug. 1, 2011, and will last one year from the start date.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:

There is no specific education or discipline requirement, though the position is ideal for a person just graduated from a bachelor’s or master’s program. Past interns have come out of undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, communications, public relations and public policy/public administration. The degree you hold is less important than your ability to perform the essential tasks and willingness to learn new skills. A geology major with outstanding writing, social media and communications skills can indeed beat out a mediocre journalism graduate.

JOB-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Experience using social media and ability to keep SPJ audiences engaged and informed through multiple digital communications channels.
• Knowledge of the journalism industry and the current issues facing its practitioners.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize projects.
• Must be a self-starter who brings ideas to the table and is able to assist other staffers when needed.
• Demonstrate effective writing skills, often translating legal, ethical, freedom of information and diversity issues into meaningful messages for the public to understand.
• Assist volunteer leaders in organizing public statements and securing speaker opportunities as needed.
• Ability to post content to our website and engage journalists and the public through relevant social media platforms.
• Experience in public policy, the legislative process and/or political campaigns is desirable.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn about the journalism/communications field in a non-profit setting.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates should send a cover letter, résumé, 3-5 writing samples relevant to this job description and three professional references via email to Executive Director Joe Skeel with subject line Communications Post-Graduate Internship. No telephone calls, please.

You may also send links to related samples and information you think may illustrate your qualifications for this type of work. Examples include marketing plans, videos/podcasts you’ve produced, your personal blog on digital journalism trends, etc. Show us what sets you apart from the pack. Be unique and creative.


ABOUT SPJ:
The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. SPJ is dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, and based in Indianapolis, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed public, works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists, and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

The Society of Professional Journalists is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. SPJ will apply its diversity mission to hiring with a written policy and approach to:

— Actively seek diverse candidates
— Advertise broadly
— Craft job descriptions to be inclusive
— Include diverse candidates within the interview pool