Digital Media: Local History Intern (Full-Time)

WETA; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

WETA in Arlington, VA seeks a Digital Media: Local History Intern to support Boundary Stones. You will brainstorm ideas, conduct research, and write articles featuring Washington, D.C. area history for online publication.

The role includes creating social media-friendly content and collaborating with the Digital Media team. This full-time internship emphasizes developing narrative writing for a general audience and expanding knowledge of local history while gaining hands-on experience in public

Qualifications

• Excellent writing and research skills.
• Interest in local history and community.
• Ability to translate historical research into engaging content for a general audience.

Responsibilities

• Brainstorm and pitch ideas for Boundary Stones website.
• Conduct historical research using primary and secondary sources.
• Write articles for Boundary Stones website.

Skills

Writing

Research

Public history

Social media content

Education

History

English

Museum Studies

Journalism

Job description

Digital Media: Local History Intern (Full-Time)

Local History interns work within WETA’s Digital Media team to develop content for Boundary Stones, WETA’s local history initiative. Through articles, photos, video and social media, Boundary Stones seeks to highlight the notable events, personalities and happenings that have shaped the Washington, D.C. area’s past.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Brainstorm and pitch article/content ideas for the Boundary Stones website (https://boundarystones.weta.org/)
• Conduct historical research using primary and secondary sources
• Write articles for the Boundary Stones website
• Locate historical photos and videos and determine permissions for use
• Create social media friendly Boundary Stones content such as quizzes and trivia
• Contribute to Boundary Stones social media accounts and participate in larger conversations about local history
• Update the Boundary Stones promotional calendar
• Participate in meetings with the larger Digital Media team

EDUCATION:

Preferred Major: History, English, Museum Studies or Journalism

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Expand knowledge of Washington, D.C. area history including racial and class dynamics, notable events, neighborhood development, influential figures, etc.
• Grow critical thinking skills through thoughtful interrogation of historical sources
• Sharpen writing skills, specifically non-academic, narrative-style prose suitable for a general audience
• Develop a greater understanding of social media voice and techniques by contributing to Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, etc.
• Become familiar with the world of public media

DESIRED COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent writing and research skills
• Careful attention to detail
• Interest in local history and community

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 platformWETA+. 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.