Food Internship Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. Its mission is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Learn more at www.ewg.org.

This is a paid internship. We are seeking a current undergraduate or graduate student majoring in communications, journalism, media studies or a closely related field to support our communications staff. Candidates will have experience working on deadline for a school newspaper or magazine, campus TV or radio station, podcast team, or a prior media/PR internship. 

This internship presents a unique opportunity to learn the ins and outs of media outreach in a fast-moving nonprofit setting and see how stories move from idea to headline in national and local news.

You will be doing true on-the-job training, working with science communicators to maintain the high profile of EWG and its issues in media outlets across the country. We work closely with our interns to customize the experience for their interests, and school and career goals, and we provide substantive feedback throughout the experience. Past interns have seen bylines on EWG’s main website, www.ewg.org and EcoWatch.

This semester, the intern will work to support EWG's efforts to update food chemical laws; advocate for legislation to regulate industrial chemicals like PFAS; call attention to pesticide regulation, and more.

This is a hybrid position. Beginning in fall 2026, staff work in the office 2-3 days per week. Hours are flexible.

Paid • $20 per hour

The communications interns will assist in many of EWG’s projects for 2026, including:

• Food and agriculture: Promoting reports on EWG’s ongoing food and agriculture policy work focused on food chemicals, pesticides, water pollution, conservation and farm subsidies.
• Cosmetics and personal care products: Supporting efforts to remove hazardous chemicals from personal care products and cosmetics and promoting safer alternatives.
• Toxic chemicals: Educating and informing the public to ensure that chemicals are safe for children before they enter the market and that those that are unsafe, like asbestos, get removed from the marketplace.

• Getting hands-on experience and on-the-job training in the communications field.
• Gaining understanding of how an advocacy group engages with media outlets and reporters to raise the profile of its issues and research.
• Learning science communication, media strategy, and digital media techniques.
• Obtaining insight into how a national nonprofit works and what a career in nonprofit communications can be like.

Specific responsibilities will include most, if not all, of the following:

• Tracking and summarizing media coverage, compiling quotes citing EWG.
• Researching and writing articles for EWG’s website.
• Researching media outlets and reporters that might be interested in covering EWG’s research.
• Monitoring topics from EWG and other environmental outlets that reporters and academics are talking about on social media.
• Drafting social media content about various topics for BlueSky and X (formerly Twitter).
• Supporting press events in DC and virtually, such as Zoom news briefings.

• Writing content that will be published on EWG’s website.
• Getting writing feedback from professional editors and communicators.
• Working with highly skilled communications experts who are engaged in the intern’s professional development.
• Playing a part in EWG’s vital environmental and public health mission.
• Garnering references and recommendation letters, given good performance.
• Building valuable professional writing expertise that can be applied to any future career.

• Currently enrolled student who has completed at least one year of coursework at an accredited college or university and is in good academic standing.
• Strong writing skills. A background in writing, from class or previous internships, is ideal.
• Ability to multi-task, work efficiently and independently.
• Interest in any/all of the following: environmental issues, public health, media relations, and/or science communication.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• A passion for or curiosity about mission-driven, public-interest advocacy work. 

• Familiarity with Google Docs and Google Sheets.
• Ability to quickly learn to use online media databases.
• Demonstrated experience working on deadline. 
• Prior experience or coursework related to journalism, communications, social media, or advocacy strongly preferred.

Location: Washington, D.C.

EWG’s commitment to diversity and inclusion:

EWG celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to foster a work environment that supports, inspires and respects all individuals. EWG does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, citizenship, ancestry, marital status, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, matriculation or political affiliation, or any other protected class recognized in any of the jurisdictions where EWG has offices or employees working. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, and compensation and promotion.

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