Communications InternshipAt — City of Downey

Interns will assist staff in the day-to-day activities within a fast-paced 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.

• Assisting in the preparation and distribution of press releases
• Providing support with social media sites
• Responding to questions from the public and community organizations
• Event planning; assisting with department newsletter
• Creating and updating media talking points
• Posting updates to the department's Intranet and calendars
• Coordinating special projects and community outreach
• Creating and updating resource material
• Interacting with other governmental and community-based organizations
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Training:

-one-on-one mentoring
-Job shadowing
-Provision of work samples
-Workshops and trainings
-Professional development training
-Skills training
-Training on drafting professional press releases
-Training on professional communication & outreach methods

Learning Outcome:

By the end of the academic internship students will be able to successfully:
-Will have developed written and verbal communication skills: Crafting clear and compelling messages for various audiences.
-Learned how to Draft and Publish Press releases
-Gained skills in Social media management: Creating and executing social media strategies, engaging with audiences, and monitoring online conversations.
-Developed knowledge of public relations in a municipal agency: Developing and implementing PR campaigns to enhance brand reputation.