Summary
Over the past four years, Democracy onAir has been working with over 50 interns majoring in government, global affairs, communications, and the information sciences to develop the US Democracy onAir network of 50 state governance and elections hubs. The US Democracy Network serves as a model network for other countries. Former interns are now working on creating networks for other countries such as the India Democracy Network.
Student interns will be supported by our Democracy onAir team if they choose to integrate their internship with courses for credit, class projects, capstone projects, and research work. Most work is done online and unpaid. Some of our recent interns have continued working with Democracy onAir in management positions.
The internship is intended to be a learning experience as much as it is a work experience. Inter will deepen their knowledge of democratic processes especially as it relates to their country’s federal and state governance. Interns will also gain a better understanding of contemporary politics and issues, whether they are local, regional, or national.
Contact internships@onair.cc to submit your resume and cover letter about what intern position you are interested in and why.
OnAir Post: Interning with US onAir
Why Become a Intern?
The primary internship benefits beyond helping to support US and global democracies are intended to be career-enhancing and fit your interests & strengths w/ our opportunities.
- Learn about current issues, governance, & elections
- Develop your communication & technology skills
- Improve your collaboration & leadership abilities
- Interact & network w/ politicians and their staffs
- Visibility in your field; potential contact with thought leaders, organizations, and potential employers
- Career opportunities with Democracy onAir
- Have a post about yourself with PDFs and videos and place in the Hubs where you want to discovered
Internship Opportunities
Interns can engage in one or more of the following roles described below.
Post Curator
- Identify and publish up to date and relevant News items such as articles, commentary, videos, livestreams, and more.
- Learn how to create a post and curate information and news items regarding an Issue you are interested in.
- Gather and post information on Candidates and Representatives in congressional, state, and local districts.
- Gather and post information on Committees and New Legislation federal, state, and local legislatures.
Post Moderator
- Add New Topics for discussion in forums.
- Moderate Forum Discussions in posts on multiple topics.
- Communicate Feedback to Politicians and their communications staff about the public’s questions, suggestions, and endorsements.
- Create One minute Educational Videos … and shared on social media and onAir such as Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.
Aircast Participant
Aircasts are Zoom meetings with a host, featured guests, student discussants, and an online audience livestreamed to the public and archived as YouTube videos in this Hub and YouTube channels. Be a aircast Host, Director, Discussant, and/or Producer who oversees the livestreams and video production for aircasts on:
- Issues you are interested in and relevant for your state e.g. this aircast on Climate Change and Governance.
- News and issue-related aircasts like this one on ranked choice voting.
- Online interviews with state and congressional representatives e.g. this interview with Don Beyer.
- Produce aircast on state and congressional committees e.g. this interview with members of the VA General Laws Committee.
Event Coordinator
Assist with organizing in person events such as our Meet Your Candidates nights in the fall during elections (e.g. this MYC night at GMU) and Meet Your Representatives in off election years (e.g. this Congress Day).
- Organize these events working with university sponsors, politicians, and participating student, civic engagement, and external organizations.
- Organize and moderate the town halls.
- Be a videographer to capture the event and a video editor to summarize the event.
- Lead the outreach effort to promote these events
Networker
- Outreach to students and the public via university communication vehicles and social media;
- Set up and oversee a university onAir chapter to organize interns at a university and engage other student and public volunteers to assist interns with the above roles.
- Apply to create a Student onAir registered student organization.
