The Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute (HRI) invites applications for a Communcations Intern, available for the summer semester
HRI’s Communications Intern will provide holistic communications support to HRI’s team. This person will participate in support tasks for all of the Institute’s public relations, marketing, internal and University-wide communications, media monitoring, content creation, design projects, social media, and website maintenance. The Intern will gain a close understanding of communications and marketing work in the non-profit sector, in addition to in-depth exposure to the Institute’s work overall.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of HRI’s Managing Director and in coordination with the Institute’s Faculty Co-Directors, Project Directors, and Program Manager, the Communications Intern will be responsible for:
- Assisting in HRI’s external and internal communications, including through drafting press releases, fact sheets, alerts, newsletters, informational brochures, and success stories, and contributing to the design of programmatic engagements for Columbia Law students and other HRI constituents.
- Assisting in developing content for the Institute’s annual report, which may require conducting research, interviewing Institute colleagues and beneficiaries, and writing.
- Assisting in developing info-graphics to showcase the Institute’s impact and in selecting photography to complement editorial and social media content.
- Performing research projects on topics including, but not limited to, trends in website structure for similar organizations, social media engagement trends in the field, and thematic organization of human rights work in the donor and grantee spaces.
- Participating and contributing to meetings to develop communication strategies that help advance programmatic and institutional goals.
- Monitoring media coverage related to the Institute’s work, projects, and staff.
- Performing vital research for public relations projects, including sourcing media contacts for focused outreach on key Institute initiatives.
- Providing general administrative support in the area of communications, including occasional copying, creating reports, and taking meeting notes.
- Participating in bi-monthly team meetings.
ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s program in journalism, media, marketing communications, public relations or other relevant discipline at Columbia University or graduated from Columbia University no more than one semester prior to applying for the internship.
- Demonstrated commitment to and participation in human rights, public interest, or social justice issues and activities.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Additional desirable requirements:
- A deep commitment to advancing human rights through research and education.
- Knowledge across multiple human rights issues.
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively and work quickly and well under pressure.
- Experience with managing, editing, and maintaining a website.
- Capacity to effectively use social and other media.
- Experience with info-graphics
- Ability to function independently and to exercise discretion and judgment in sensitive matters.
- Excellent interpersonal, administrative, and organizational skills.
- Excellent computer/technology skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), InDesign, Adobe Acrobat Professional, MailChimp, Google documents, etc.
- Ability to initiate work and follow-through, be part of a collegial team, adapt to changing priorities, and balance competing priorities, and a deep personal commitment and ability to work in mutually empowering partnerships.
We strongly encourage applications from persons educated outside the United States, people of color, women, LGBTQI persons, and persons with disabilities. Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer – Race/ Gender/ Disability/ Veteran.
INTERNSHIP PARAMETERS
The internship runs from May or June to August. This opportunity is unpaid.
TO APPLY
Please submit the following to hri@law.columbia.edu with the subject line “Internship Application”: (a) a cover letter, describing the applicant’s qualifications and interest in the position, (b) a resume, and (c) a writing sample. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls or in-person applications, please.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until May 15, 2019.
