Communications Internship Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Description
Preferred Year in School:
• Rising Junior
• Rising Senior
• Graduate Student
POSITION OVERVIEW:
Get a deep dive in Communications work as the WETA Communications intern for Fall 2026. This is an exciting opportunity for students who wish to get hands-on experience with a broad range of public relations projects and public events within a non-profit, public media environment. A successful Communications intern will have terrific attention to detail, a desire to work on multiple projects with a variety of supervisors, and an interest in public media, history, and/or non-profits. Writing and proofreading talents are very important, along with excellent organizational skills and real enthusiasm for teamwork on events.
The intern will support the WETA Communications team as it develops and execute communications and events that effectively engage audiences in the D.C. area and across the national public media system. This intern will be part of the public relations team working to support films/projects produced by WETA and distributed to national audiences (such as the upcoming documentary series Crime and Punishment from filmmaker Lynn Novick), as well as those created by/focused on the local market (such as the WETA production Signature Dish). The intern will also develop editorial and storytelling skills working on important corporate communications publications and branding projects.
By the end of the internship, interns will have a portfolio of their own projects to demonstrate public relations skills and will have worked with senior managers in promotions, events, corporate communications, and publications.
Please note that this intern will not work directly with NewsHour Productions.
The WETA Communications intern will be an in-office position in WETA's Arlington, Virginia office, with occasional, pre-scheduled off-site event work. Standard administrative work hours for the company are 9-5, Monday-Friday. The internship is expected to be 3-4 days a week onsite, either Monday-Thursday or Tuesday-Friday. The internship is open to candidates able to commit at least 24 hours per week, and the internship cannot exceed 32 hours per week. The Communications team understands that candidates will have a variety of academic demands, pre-committed travel, and other scheduling issues. We will discuss mutually agreeable schedules in the interview process.
All applicants must submit a cover letter and a resume. Applications without a cover letter will not be reviewed. Links to short-form writing or project samples are encouraged.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Support a busy and dedicated Communications team across corporate communications projects, events, and media outreach, including:
• Develop editorial skill by contributing to corporate communications projects, including photo research and editing/proofreading
• Assist with a building-wide environmental design and storytelling brand project
• Build and track audiences for public events to include outreach to organizations and registration/RSVPs
• Work with a team on advance and day-of support for event logistics
• Write and edit blurbs/articles about tv, online and classical music programs for use in media pitching, promotions, and publications.
• Conduct media research, build media lists, and report on media coverage using Muck Rack database
• Organize and categorize photo and publicity assets using the Brandfolder digital assets management system
EDUCATION:
Preferred Major: Demonstrated interest in media, history, arts, theater, humanities, communications and/or public affairs
1-year Recent Graduate from Undergrad or Grad Program.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Understand the public media system and the many opportunities for careers in the field
• Gain broad knowledge and direct experience in a range of corporate communications and media relations roles in working for a major content producer at a leading non-profit
• Apply learned writing, editing and proofreading skills to real-life publications and situations, with your own specific projects to showcase your skills
DESIRED COMPETENCIES:
Proactive organization
Archival/research skills
Writing and proofreading
Collaborative and flexible teamwork
Attention to detail
Plus, bring your special extra skills, i.e. photography, graphic design, languages, talent management, public events, etc
LOCATION
WETA and NewsHour Productions are Washington, DC established media and news organizations. We are a largely local workforce based out of the Campbell Place office in Arlington, VA. WETA and NewsHour Productions value employee flexibility when possible. Most positions based in our Arlington, VA office will be onsite or hybrid, depending upon the role.
COMPANY OVERVIEW
WETA, the flagship public media station in the nation's capital, produces and distributes content that informs, inspires, and enriches lives.
As the second-largest producing station for the public media system, WETA creates programming to explore history, arts, and culture, partnering with acclaimed filmmakers such as Ken Burns and Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. National WETA productions include The American Revolution and Finding Your Roots, among many others. WETA is also home to PBS News, the primary daily, breaking, and special news producer for PBS. Its broadcast productions include PBS News Hour, Washington Week with The Atlantic, Horizons from PBS News, and Compass Points from PBS News, as well as specials, documentaries, and a robust footprint across digital platforms.
Locally, WETA serves audiences across Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, through television, radio, and digital platforms. Audiences access WETA on broadcast channels WETA PBS, WETA UK, WETA Metro, WETA World, and WETA PBS Kids, and digitally through the free streaming platform WETA+. Listeners tune into WETA Classical, the exclusive home for classical music in the Greater Washington area, via radio, online, and the WETA Classical app. Benefits | WETA
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
WETA and NewsHour Productions are equal opportunity employers committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and internships. WETA and NewsHour Productions make hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.