2024 Summer Communications Internship

Description

The Center for Science in the Public Interest offers a paid internship program for students in undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical schools, and we also consider postgraduates. These paid internships offer structured work experiences and an opportunity to:

• gain substantial knowledge of science communications through digital tools;
• learn more about effective content organization and digital outreach;
• participate in group meetings and strategy brainstorming sessions;
• obtain general research and communication skills by working closely with science, policy, legislative, and outreach experts;
• meet with staff at all levels of the organization to discuss career roles and paths; and
• assess your own interests and skills.

About CSPI

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, your food and health watchdog, is one of the nation’s leading public health advocacy organizations with a 50-year record of fighting for science in the public interest and working to improve the food environment for all. We’ve led efforts to win passage of many state and local policies to improve school foods, put calories on chain restaurant menus and menu boards, and remove sugary drinks from children’s menus. National policy successes include the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act; Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act; Food Safety Modernization Act; and Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act. More recently, CSPI has also been involved in broader public health advocacy on issues such as scientific integrity, alcohol policy, agency transparency, and the regulation of selected medical products.

About the Internship Opportunity

Under the guidance of and with assistance from CSPI’s Communications staff, this intern will work on an awareness and education campaign for Chemical Cuisine, CSPI’s food additives consumer tool. This work will include producing short educational videos for social media and assisting with improving Chemical Cuisine content and user experience, with the goal of increasing Chemical Cuisine’s user base and functionality. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and produce short-form video content that teaches consumers how to use Chemical Cuisine, about food additives, and ways to avoid harmful ingredients.
• Help to identify and implement updates to web content, primarily on Chemical Cuisine, to improve user experience.
• Assist the team in developing well-written, persuasive materials for digital platforms, including talking points, educational videos, and social media copy.
• Monitor, track, and present an overview of improvements to the Chemical Cuisine consumer tool and the methods and results of the intern’s awareness/education campaign.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, or recent graduate.
• Ability to produce video content from a pitch or written brief, including writing, filming, editing, and revising content for various social media platforms.
• Some experience with backend website administration, including manipulating content in a CMS (Drupal, WordPress, or other), including pasting and formatting pre-written copy, adding tags, and inserting images and embed codes.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage tasks appropriately to achieve project goals.
• Interest in food safety, nutrition, and regulatory systems related to food.
• Leadership, organizing, or community engagement experience is a plus.

What Else You Should Know 

CSPI pays interns $17.00 per hour at the start of the internship. Intern pay will increase to $17.50 per hour effective 7/1/2024. Our 10-week summer intern program is full-time (40 hours per week). We provide two paid holidays (Juneteenth and Independence Day), ½ day Fridays, and up to two days of paid sick leave. The ideal start date is late May/early June, but we will work with applicants if there’s a schedule conflict. The internship is remote (must be in the US), with the opportunity to work from our DC office if desired. 

As a public health organization, CSPI makes efforts to maintain a safe workplace for employees and visitors. We require all employees to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are eligible, and the vaccine is available to them. Proof of vaccination is required during the onboarding process.

CSPI on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

CSPI is committed to including and valuing diverse voices and fostering a culture that ensures all staff feel a sense of belonging and are encouraged to be their best selves. In that spirit, each of us is committed to putting in constant work to live up to our organization’s core values: 

• We are inclusive. We seek to foster an environment where all staff feel a sense of belonging and are affirmed. We are not looking for everyone to think and look the same. We actively welcome and value staff with different experiences, backgrounds, attributes, abilities, and perspectives. 
• We are open. We are honest and direct in how we communicate with each other in order to build trust and integrity within our organization. 
• We are accountable. We acknowledge and assume responsibility for our actions. 
• We are kind. We communicate and treat one another in a respectful, generous, considerate, and compassionate way. 
• We are collaborative. We work together for the common good and shared success. 

To Apply 

Please utilize CSPI's Paylocity Applicant Tracking System to apply for the Summer 2024 Communications Internship. You must submit a resume; cover letter; writing sample of at least 500 words written for general audiences; portfolio or links to at least two videos produced, edited, and/or written by the candidate; and two references. The application deadline is 5:00pm, ET, February 28, 2024.

CSPI is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills and encourages people of diverse ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, disabilities, religions, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, work, and life experiences to apply.