The
University of Rhode Island
Department of Journalism
Public
Relations Internships
The internship is a vital component of the Public Relations major. We have strong ties to local, state and regional organizations, with demand for interns outpacing the number of students qualified for placements. In addition, a number of national internship opportunities are available. These are quite competitive, but what have you got to lose in applying?
You are encouraged to pursue internships that you are interested in and that will best advance your career plans. Our advice: Treat the search for an internship the way you would treat the search for a job. Find the place(s) you would like to work and go after an internship there. The worst that can happen is you will hear "no thanks."
As we get requests for interns, the information will be posted below. The Journalism Department's Internship Directory can help you, as can the internship list maintained by Communications Studies. It lists organizations and companies that have accepted students in the past. You also should watch the bulletin board outside the Journalism Department office for information about internship possibilities. Check Career Services regularly And individual faculty members also are happy to help you in your search for an appropriate placement.
All internships must be approved by the Public Relations coordinator (Dr.Luebke). Thus a completed application is required before you can register for PRS 491. The course requires you to attend a weekly seminar in addition to the hours you spend on the job. (Three-credit internships require a minimum of 120 hours; six-credit internships require a minimum of 240 hours.) Plan for this seminar when you schedule classes and internship hours; no exceptions will be made. There are special procedures for internships carried out during the summer; contact Dr. Luebke for details.
It is also possible to earn PRS 491 credits as part of a semester-long internship through the Office of Internships and Experiential Education, as long as you meet the prerequisites for PRS 491. Contact Regina Bell in Communication Studies for more information.
The following organizations have had URI interns recently or have contacted us about available internships.When available, students' reports about their internships are linked to the description.
|
Placement
|
Description
|
Contact
information
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| Volunteer Center of Rhode Island | Check out the VCRI website for a list of organizations seeking interns. Great way to find PR opportunities in the nonprofit sector. | Audra Dolan (URI journalism grad) by email or by calling 401-421-6547. |
| Roger Williams Zoo (Providence) | Opportunity in the Public Relations and Marketing department for a junior or senior; responsibilities may include drafting press materials, assisting with mailings of press releases and other publicity materials, assisting with maintenance of media database systems, filing media clippings and generating clippings reports; assisting with planning & preparation for special events, etc.; excellent writing, communication and organizational skills required, along with the ability to work well in teams and to operate independently; familiarity with MS Office applications are required; knowledge of MS Access, Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver are a plus. | E-mail a cover letter, resume and writing sample to pressroom@rwpzoo.org by Oct 7.Correspondence may be addressed to Laura Dunn, Public Relations Specialist, or Bonnie Ellis, Marketing Manager. |
| CELSNEWS (campus) | This is a news website for the College of the Environment and Life Sciences; opportunity for someone who is interested in science writing and PR; primarily writing feature stories | Rudi Hempe, CELS News Site Editor, via telephone at 874-4968 or 401-212-6168 (cell) |
| Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center of Rhode Island (Providence) | To work on PR, marketing and media projects; must be an excellent writer with a strong academic record; interest in social policy, social change and prevention education is a plus | Angeline Martyn, Director of Communications, via email at amartyn@satrc.org or via telephone at 401-421-4100 |
| KVH Industries (Middletown) | Provides exposure to the corporate communications environment in a high-tech international company; opportunity to write press releases, work on company newsletters, conduct media research and surveys, and more; must have strong writing and computer skills and be proficient in Microsoft Office | Corporate Communications Department via email at media@kvh.com |
| R.I. Department of Transportation (Providence) | Position in Office of Communications; duties include research, working with local media, assisting with special events and press events, assisting in speech writing, computer and web site work; must have excellent writing skills and good organizational skills | Dana Alexander Nolfe, Chief Public Affairs Officer; 401-222-1362 ext. 4450 |
| Blue Cross/Blue Shield Rhode Island (Providence) | Opportunity to work in health care industry; duties include tracking media, creating clip reports, writing and editing, assisting with PR plans; strong writing and people skills required; flexible hours | Human Resources at 401-459-5186 |
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