Intern Diaries

My Road to the 'Running of the Interns'

From the National Press Club to the Supreme Court plaza, my road to joining “Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace“ as an intern is a journey only an SMPA student could experience.

Intern Diary: Jessica Pitocco at Florence University of the Arts

Jessica Pitocco, JMC '18, reflects on her internship at Florence University of the Arts where she wrote and edited content for the university magazine, newsletter, blog and social media channels.

Intern Diary: Campaigning for AARP

When people hear the company name AARP, they usually think of two things, discounts and old people, when in reality, AARP does so much more.

Intern Diary: Sara Dougherty with Jamestown Associates

During election cycles it is practically impossible to escape the endless campaign advertisements, commercials, and political reporting. Most consider this to be an annoying reality of the modern political atmosphere, but many of us are fascinated by the media coverage of politics and want to learn more about the behind-the-scene workings of media and politics. Jamestown Associates is a private political consulting firm with offices in DC, Philadelphia, Florida, Louisiana, and New Jersey. Most of the Jamestown DC office’s responsibilities include accommodating needs of clients and candidates while in DC and producing campaign video ads.

Intern Diary: Julia Bahl with PBS and the Women's Media Center

I was asked to be a part of “Worth It Work It,” a website dedicated to encouraging women to pursue a career in the media. The founder of the site, Janessa Jackson, a master’s student studying Media & Public Affairs at George Washington, contacted me to speak on a panel focused on Video/TV production. Given my current role at PBS and Women's Media Center, in conjunction with my past experience at BBC, Paramount Pictures, The American Association of University Women, and Feminist Majority Foundation, she thought I would bring a unique perspective to the panel. Thrilled to accept her offer, I shared the stage with three talented, professional women; I was the only student. Each woman brought her own expertise to the discussion, and I centered my platform around the intersection of women, media, and politics and how working for Women’s Media Center, one of the companies who helped produce the film Miss Representation, became my call to action, my ‘aha moment’.

Intern Diary: Chris Evans with White House Digital Media

From the glossy admissions packets to the exciting first year orientation, SMPA students are continually told that their school is only five blocks from the White House.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Intersection of Media and Government

I arrived for my first day as an intern in the Office of Public Affairs at the Department of Justice amidst a flurry of activity, phone calls, and media arrivals. In a brief meeting, the office manager told me that my first day would truly be “baptism by fire,” because the Justice Department was preparing for a last-minute press conference to announce a multi-national effort to disrupt a major cybercriminal network. Although it was just my first day, I was able to assist with the assembly and distribution of press packets, escort reporters to the conference room, and attend the press conference after receiving a quick and thorough explanation of the announcement and basic protocol from a press officer.