Communications/Social Media/Media Relations Intern (Unpaid Intern)

Communications/Social Media/Media Relations Intern (Unpaid Intern)The County of Orange is a collection of dedicated, public-spirited individuals, who together comprise a regional service provider and planning agency committed to maximizing resources and improving the quality of life in Orange County. Our core businesses are public safety, public health, environmental protection, regional planning, public assistance, social services and aviation.Applicants who apply for this internship can expect their application to be seen by various County of Orange agencies including, but not limited to, the County Executive Office, Social Services Agency, OC Sheriff's Department, the OC Health Care Agency, and OC Waste & Recycling.Interns will assist staff in the day-to day activities within a busy governmental agency or department. Students or recent graduates selected for the position perform a range of duties from very basic activities to those requiring higher skill levels and professional expertise.Duties may include:Assisting in the preparation and distribution of press releasesProviding support with social media sitesResponding to questions from the public and community organizationsEvent planning; assisting with department newsletterCreating and updating media talking pointsPosting updates to the department's IntranetCoordinating special projects and community outreachCreating and updating resource materialInteracting with other governmental and community-based organizationsAssisting with video production projects including pre-production setup, lighting, and other post-production tasks using Canva, Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop etc.Learning how to obtain and manage photo and video releaseShadowing video shoots with department heads, county staff and the Board of SupervisorsObserving behind-the-scenes planning and logistics of communication campaignsEducational requirements: Applicants must currently be enrolled in an accredited college/university majoring in public relations, political science, marketing, communications, journalism, media, film production or related fields.

Recent graduates who have completed their degree in one of the above fields are also eligible to apply.Skills and qualifications: Excellent written and oral communication skills; experience in working with Microsoft Office Suite; thorough knowledge of social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook; experience in developing/sharing videos via social media; detail oriented and reliable.Time commitment: Minimum 12 - 15 hours per week for three or more months. Hours can be scheduled in 3 to 8 hour blocks of time during regular business hours (Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.).

Applicants able to schedule the maximum hours/duration listed for the internship typically gain a more in-depth experience.Benefits available to intern: Although this is an unpaid internship that does not lead to paid employment or include employee benefits, students and recent graduates are offered an excellent opportunity to gain extensive experience in managing public relations, marketing and social media campaigns within a large government agency. If selected for a Video Production Internship, intern will gain hands on experience working on impactful and engaging visual communications that reach thousands of Orange County residents and will have the opportunity to contribute to professional video production and may reference the collaboration as part of a professional portfolio.Application procedure: Applicants must attach a cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcripts to their application. In addition, applicants will need to include a writing sample with their application materials.

Applicants interested in video production should mention any prior media or creative experience or why they are interested in the field. Applications that do not include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and unofficial transcripts will not be considered.The cover letter is an opportunity for students to describe career and academic goals, to elaborate upon personal and academic accomplishments, and to identify what type of internship experience they are seeking.