Are you motivated, hard-working, and enthusiastic? Maybe you should think about becoming a VOA intern!
General Information
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Current enrollment at an accredited college or university, though exceptions are occasionally made for outstanding high-school students
Deadline: Rolling (6-12 weeks before desired start date)
Compensation: Voluntary and unpaid (though a transportation stipend is provided)
Credit: College credit is available, depending on student's school
Fields: Engineering, Journalism, Language Broadcasts, Public Relations, Special English, TV Technical Studio Operations,TV to Africa, and Information and Library studies.
Benefits: Provides "real world" experience in a diverse and dynamic international broadcast organization
Interns accepted into the program will be required to submit a security form two weeks prior to their start date. All answers must be typed. Access the form through the following link: http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/SF86_July2008.pdf
* Note to international students: Unfortunately, we are unable to assist in the procurement of United States visas.
Fields: branding, advertising, marketing, graphic design, animation, and production
Duties: research advertising, marketing, and promotional campaigns for different platforms; conceptualize and produce campaign components; plan projects; and design methods to promote the Voice of America and its products
Interests: advertising, marketing, promotions, graphic design, and animation
Requirements: an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a college or university degree program, with creativity; excellent skills in writing and communication; energy and initiative; the ability to multi-task; and the ability and desire to learn
Application: Send resume, cover letter and a brief, ideally pertinent, writing sample to Michelle D. Harris (mharris@voanews.com). Social media experience preferred.
Apply in February-March for Summer internships, in July-August for Fall internships, and Oct.-Nov. for Spring internships.
Technology, Services, and Innovation (TSI)
Fields: broadcasting/Internet technology, computer support, international business planning, project financial analysis, audience/media research, and geographic information systems (GIS)
Duties: tailored to the skill/interest level of the intern, including technical (engineering design or computer programming), analytical (data base research), or business support (international market research) projects (nb. TSI manages broadcast transmission, program delivery, and technical support; TSI internships do not entail any work in the studio with cameras, microphones, etc.)
Interests: engineering, technology, business
Requirements: some engineering, technical, or computer background, strong analytical/mathematical skills, ability to problem-solve
Application: send resume and cover letter to Terry Balazs (tbalazs@bbg.gov)
Note: TSI also offers a few paid summer internships to full-time students (U.S. citizens only) with appropriate technical qualifications.
Language Programming
Fields: Journalism, Broadcasting, Communications, International Relations, Government
Duties: Research and production of daily audio, video programming, series, special reports, social media and mobile (45 languages). Depending on intern’s assigned team, duties may include: research for stories or profiles, news events, features and special topics; camera work; interviews; logging; transcription; organizing footage; collection of b-roll; writing; editing audio/video.
Requirements: Undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a college or university degree program, creativity, excellent research, writing and communication skills, energy and initiative, ability to multi-task and a desire to learn new skills.
Application: Send resume, cover letter expressing desired focus of internship. Please state if you are a native language speaker in any of the 45 languages in which we broadcast. Apply to: VOA-Internship-Program@voanews.com
Learning English
Fields: Journalism radio, television, Internet, social media, teaching
Duties: writing news-related stories using a limited vocabulary for English learners; audio production, web article posting and social media audience engagement.
Interests: current affairs, journalism, English teaching
Requirements: excellent writing, research and social media skills
Application: send resume, cover letter, transcript(s), and two writing samples (news-related or features items) to Ashley Thompson (athompson@voanews.com)
TV Technical Operations
Fields: television studio set-up and operations, broadcast system engineering, videography,
Duties: assisting TV technicians in setting up and operations in lighting, audio, camera control, video tape playback, and floor direction; assisting in the project management, design and installation of broadcasting systems and facilities; assisting mobile camera teams in capturing news events
Interests: general television studio operations, broadcast system engineering, electronic news gathering
Requirements: general knowledge of and interest in television studio production and field camera operation; familiarity with production and technical terms; background and/or study in electrical or electronics engineering or systems project management
Duties: write daily show descriptions for our TV Facebook pages, assist with various video field shoots, edit various projects on Final Cut Pro and DaletPlus editing systems, run teleprompter for live TV shows, videotape logging, topic research, guest recruit, guest greeting, and other duties.
Interests: television production, international and Africa affairs, journalism.
Requirements: research experience, demonstrated interest in Africa and international affairs, communications skills, ability to meet deadlines and to work under pressure.
Application: send cover letter and resume to Roblyn Hymes (rah@voanews.com).
VOA Newsroom
Fields: journalism, international relations, radio & television broadcast production
Duties: assisting VOA newsroom journalists on news, feature stories and special reports, which could include researching, interviewing, collection of B-roll, logging, transcribing, writing and editing. Depending on skill level and initiative, opportunities to write and produce original content for English language radio, TV and web platforms.
Interests: radio, television, Internet, social media, international affairs, broadcast journalism, writing
Requirements: an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a college or university degree program, with creativity, energy and initiative; excellent skills in writing, social media and research; ability to meet deadlines, work under pressure and a desire to learn
Application: Send cover letter, resume and writing sample to newsroom intern director Amy Katz (akatz@voanews.com) with subject line: Internship. Highlight experience that makes you a good candidate. Apply in January-March for summer internships, in May-June for fall internships, and October-November for spring internships. Internships are available in Washington, D.C. and New York City.
Media Asset Management Branch
Video, Audio and Print Library Collections Assistant:
Fields: Library science, Media Asset Management; Archiving; Musicology**
Duties: May include all or some of the following activities: shot-level cataloging of video content; responding to producer requests for video, audio or textual background material; search internal databases, indexes and digital asset management system; search internet or agency subscription databases; assist with circulation procedures; assist with processing stock footage, audio, or music materials into the collection; assist research staff to pull and cue video content; assist with video retirement processes including inventory listings, updating collection data and shelf-reading or applying labels and barcodes; assist pairing script and other associated information with digital assets.
Interests: Media collection management; special libraries
Requirements: graduate or undergraduate study in Library Science, or for special program - musicology.
Application: send resume and cover letter to Pam Commerford, Media Asset Management Branch Chief (pcommerford@voanews.com )
**ForEthnomusicology majors - special opportunity to work with our collection of legacy African Music recordings in the Leo Sarkisian collection. This is a joint project by the English to Africa Service and the Archive and Research Service. Contact Heather Maxwell, Multi-Media Production Specialist, for information on this project: hmaxwell@voanews.com