Online Communications Internship
The Online Communications department combines creative multimedia with technological savvy to promote the CAP's mission across the Internet. CAP and its sister organization, the Center for American Progress Action Fund, publish a range of original content, websites, digital newsletters, and blogs. Several smaller teams—Editorial, Art and Design, and Web Development—make up the department.
Experts in the policy shops compose our reports and columns, which then go to our Editorial team for polishing and posting on the web. The Art team designs reports, infographics, programs, editorial art, and all manner of printed collateral. In addition, Online Communications produces a large CAP's numerous high-profile events; we also produce video and audio content covering those happenings. The Web Development team manages the content management system behind the website and builds sites for special projects and initiatives.
Typical day-to-day duties include attending and covering events for the website; monitoring the news and piching ideas for the website; researching, playing with, and implementing web 2.0 tools such as mash-ups, and flash maps and timelines; assisting with online outreach efforts; and helping with website updates.
Online Communications has openings for 3-4 interns. You need not be master of any of the skills below, but there is room for creative, self-motivated interns to specialize, work across disciplines, and design their own projects. Working in the department provides a window into all facets of how a non-profit harnesses web technology to connect audiences with progressive content.
We are looking for students with any of the following abilities:
Journalism/Writing/Web Editing: The Editorial team produces daily content highlighting CAP research that is relevant to the current news cycle. We also publish coverage of our regular high-profile events. Work can include research on the CAP's policy stances, tracking legislation and news media, and covering congressional hearings. Because all of this material ends up on the website, experience with HTML or a Content Management System is a plus. Interns with newspaper or magazine experience are encouraged to apply. A background in politics is not necessary.
Online Marketing: Help promote the CAP, and specific reports and products in particular, on other websites, including social networking sites and blogs. Continually test new forums and technologies to build the audience for the Center.
Video and Multimedia: The newly formed team produces original, message-driven videos and covers live
events. They use both DV and HD cameras, an advanced lighting kit, Adobe CS3 and
Apple Final Cut Studio software and innovative online distribution techniques.
An intern should have strong Mac-based post-production skills, experience
as a camera operator, and a strong interest in supporting any aspect of video
production, for both original video segments and live events. This may include
script editing, interview booking, camera set-up, camera operation, editing,
transcoding, web posting, archiving, and DVD authoring.
Art & Design: The Art team has a steady stream of design and layout work with which experienced interns can assist. Experience with Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator is a must.
Web Development: The Web Development team is constantly expanding the scale and capabilities of the Content Management System running behind the americanprogress.org and americanprogressaction.org websites. The team works with departments across the Center to distribute email newsletters, conduct online campaigns, and build satellite websites.
This list represents some of the current activities in the department, but projects and priorities can change quickly. Interns can expect to hone their existing creative skills and develop new ones while disseminating progressive ideas in a fast-paced environment.