Internship - Spring 2025 (January - April)

C-SPAN; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 12,000 - 15,000; Full time

Job summary

C-SPAN offers internships in Washington, with a focus on political communications and production. Interns pursue a bachelor’s degree and join a small class per department, gaining hands-on, real-life experience across multiple units.

Interns research, write, and assist in production, public relations, and marketing, while learning about Hill procedures, cable industry trends, and online technology. Stipends are provided and internships promote Capitol Hill exposure.

Qualifications

• Must be pursuing a bachelor's degree during the internship semester.
• First priority to rising juniors and seniors.
• Available to work a minimum of three weekdays, eight hours a day.

Responsibilities

• Assist in research, writing and/or production for a specific unit or department.
• Learn camera and audio techniques, and the technical and logistical requirements for field production.
• Assist in public relations and marketing.
• Help develop a daily schedule and coordinate elements for on-air production.
• Learn about business and sales trends in the cable industry.
• Get involved in the development of online technology.

Skills

Bachelor's degree in progress

Research and writing

Communication skills

Education

Pursuing bachelor's degree

Job description

You must be pursuing a bachelor's degree during the semester you would like to intern. First priority is given to rising juniors and seniors. A $1,200 stipend will be paid at the end of a successful internship. Interns must be available to work a minimum of three weekdays, eight hours a day (daytime hours).

C-SPAN interns arrive from colleges and universities worldwide with majors ranging from political science and communications to marketing and American studies. Intern classes are small, between 1 to 4 students per department, providing an opportunity for a hands-on, real-life experience. Interns also have an opportunity to interact with interns from other departments at events and discussions.

Why intern at C-SPAN?

The C-SPAN Internship Program seeks to utilize the talents and education of students like yourself who are interested in communications and politics. During your internship you will become familiar with the workings of a cable television network and you'll get a front row seat to the political process.

What will I do?

You will assist in research, writing and/or production for a specific unit or department, detailed below. This may include learning aspects of print and video production; technical, promotional and public relations techniques or program production.

Depending On Your Interests You Can

• Make Hill runs to research and collect information;
• Learn camera and audio techniques, and the technical and logistical requirements for field production;
• Assist in public relations and marketing;
• Help develop a daily schedule and coordinate elements for on-air production;
• Learn about business and sales trends in the cable industry;
• Get involved in the development of online technology.

Why is an internship at C-SPAN for you? You can:

• Gain media experience through a structured program in the nation's capital;
• Explore facets of the cable industry and politics;
• Learn new skills in production, public relations, marketing and more;
• Earn college credit;
• Get a close-up view of Capitol Hill.

The Departments

• Marketing: Marketing department interns will serve in one of these areas:

Media Relations: Provides C-SPAN programming and special projects information to national and local news outlets to generate press coverage.

• Programming: C-SPAN's programming department includes the following units, which choose, research, shoot and produce the programming for the networks:

American History TV: Every weekend offers American History TV, 24 hours of people and events that help document the American story. Featured are eyewitness accounts of the events that have shaped our nation, tours of museums and history sites and archival speeches from former presidents and other national leaders. We also take you to the classrooms of leading professors and to lectures and symposiums featuring prominent historians.

Book TV: Every weekend features Book TV, a 24-hour block of nonfiction book programming. Book TV brings you a rich variety of topics: history, biography, politics, current events, the media and more. There are author interviews, readings, panels and live coverage from the nation's largest book fairs.

Washington Journal: Daily morning call-in program featuring leading journalists, public policy makers and authors discussing the top public policy issues of the day, from key legislation on Capitol Hill to important developments around the world.

Field Production: Handles audio, lighting and camera operation for events that take place in Washington or on the road and executes set-up and breakdown of equipment.

Program Producers: Develop specific live and taped public affairs programs that air on C-SPAN, C-SPAN2 and C-SPAN3. These programs include Q&A, international programming, politics and special projects.

Programming Operations: This department is responsible for getting C-SPAN's product on the air. The editorial, technical, and information systems staff work closely together to ensure quality, balanced programming.

Editorial: Develops the daily schedule, tracks House and Senate floor debate, and coordinates elements for the final programming that airs on C-SPAN. Script writing, voice-overs, and writing and choosing Capital News headlines are just some of the responsibilities of this unit.

Technical: Works around the clock and is responsible for all the technical aspects of getting C-SPAN and C-SPAN2 on air 24 hours-a-day, including program direction, master control, camera operation, lighting and sound, editing, and on-air promotions.

• Information Systems: Responsible for C-SPAN's information technology infrastructure, including local and wide area networks, servers and desktops and all commercial and custom applications.
• New Media: Develops and implements our strategies in the areas of online services, audio products and other developing technologies.
• C-SPAN Radio: Broadcasts a mix of daily programs similar in style to those found on the C-SPAN television networks, including congressional hearings, speeches, debates and forum discussions.
• Engineering Responsible for the overall technical quality of C-SPAN's products; works with other departments to purchase and repair technical equipment; tracks new technologies and recommends ways C-SPAN can use these technologies to improve our product.