Communications InternAt — Riverside County District Attorney's Office

A communications internship at the Riverside District Attorney’s Office is the first step toward establishing a career in media, communications, advertising, branding, direct marketing, and/or public relations. Communication internships provide interns with the opportunity to create content through mass communication channels like print, television, radio, and social media.

Interns will work in a team and are a part of the strategy-building process for the office. They learn to identify the target audience and then build campaigns that will inform the community. Candidates applying for internship positions should be dedicated, hardworking, professional, and well-versed with the basic marketing strategies.

Student interns gain an inside look at how the RivCoDA's Office operates and how the Communications Division creates and manages internal and external communications. Interns may accompany the PIO to court and observe real-time responses to media inquiries. They also receive a behind-the-scenes view of community outreach planning, including the Citizens' Academy and College Academy programs. Interns are exposed to government communication standards, ethical considerations, crisis communication practices, and receive mentorship and feedback from communications professionals. 

Tasks:

Assigned tasks may include:
• Coordinate and assist with the creation of social media content including graphic images, photographs, video, and/or audio.
• Draft content for social media platforms; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
• Monitor, research and identify relevant articles, stories, resources, or other content that is pertinent to our campaigns.
• Help grow the online social networks by increasing followers and interactions.
• Completes other social media projects as assigned.
• Assist in maintaining and updating the digital content calendar.
• Observe the online activity of similar organizations; research and report on social media best practices.
• Complete other communications research projects as assigned.
• Review data on the performance of social media platforms and adjusts plans or strategies to optimize reach and social media ROI.
• Help organize logistics for events and conferences, maintain event calendar.
• Assist in taking photos and shooting video, as needed.
*Activities will be shared amongst members in a team.

Training:

Trainings will be: general employee orientation, weekly training opportunities via webinars and in-person trainings, one-one mentorship meetings, job shadowing, workshops and skill based trainings, literature review, and research opportunities.

Learning Outcome:

By the end of this internship, the student will be able to communicate effectively within a government agency by enhancing their written and verbal communication skills. Have increased knowledge about ethical and legal considerations regarding communicating public information to community members. Interns will learn how to demonstrate organizational and time-management
skills, adaptability in a fast-paced public service environment, and the ability to follow instructions and work collaboratively.