Thank you for your interest in interning with Street Sense Media! We are a small nonprofit media center that offers a limited number of unpaid internships for people interested in getting their hands dirty on the front lines combating homelessness and poverty in our nation’s capital.
Street Sense Media operates on a rolling admissions basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply two to three months in advance of when they would like to begin interning.
Internship positions are geared toward, but not limited to, college students and recent graduates (Jump to our high school program). Full position descriptions are linked below. Each internship lasts for three to four months. We value diverse skill sets and experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, especially if you have lived experience with homelessness.
Street Sense Media interns have pursued careers in journalism, education, social work, communications, community organizing, nonprofit management, and more. Here are just some of the companies they have gone on to work with:
Journalism
Apply for the new Michael Stoops Diversity Fellowship and get involved in some of the most exciting work in American journalism today! We are looking for someone who has a deep willingness to learn about homelessness and poverty issues to join us for a semester.
At the beginning of every term, we will select one paid fellow to work alongside our staff of interns and journalists in our newsroom to tackle assignments in one of three career tracks: audience engagement, editorial, and graphic design. See the linked description above for more details.
As an Editorial Intern, you’ll report news in D.C. and the surrounding suburbs: from attending hearings at city hall to visiting homeless shelters to interviewing local celebrities. You will help edit and proofread stories, take photos, update our website, and assist with layout of the publication. You will have the opportunity to leave a real mark with your work.
On top of the reporting and production experience, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with mentors and training opportunities on topics such as interview skills, data visualization, public records, and media law.
View the full position description. Please send your resume, cover letter, and three work samples to [email protected] with the subject line “[Desired Semester and Year] Editorial Intern.”
While we would prefer to have an intern who can cover events and visit Washington, D.C., locations in a socially distanced fashion, much of this internship can be completed remotely.
so impressed by how many of @streetsensedc’s hard hitting pieces are written by editorial interns! 10/10 would hire. pic.twitter.com/3qWNnUYpS0
— Chelsea Cirruzzo 👑 (@ChelseaCirruzzo) August 30, 2019
As an Audience Engagement Intern, you’ll spend your time listening to members of the communities we write about. You’ll use email newsletters, text messages, surveys embedded in our stories, community meetings, and social media to identify unmet information needs and facilitate community conversations. Sometimes you’ll simply provide answers to the questions you encounter. Other times, if the answer is unclear or unknown, you will influence our story assignments or our choice to host a community town hall. You will also research communities we should reach out to and analyze data to help inform our engagement work moving forward.
View the full position description. Please send your resume, cover letter, and three work samples to [email protected] with the subject line “[Desired Semester and Year] Audience Engagement Intern.”
*Note regarding COVID-19: This internship can be a remote opportunity if needed.
Case Management
As a Case Management Intern, you will be responsible for monitoring and organizing client cases in a team–oriented environment. You will be directly involved in the lives of clients and vendors to provide resources and assistance to help achieve short- and long-term goals. You must be highly organized, empathetic, compassionate, nonjudgmental, and eager to help vulnerable adults. You will be under the supervision of the Director of Programs. This position is on-site only. SSM complies with DC government protocols. Additional PPE can be provided if requested.
View the full position description. Please send your resume, 2-3 references, and cover letter to [email protected].
Video Storytelling
As a Video Storytelling Intern, you’ll work alongside the Director of Development and Communications to write, shoot and edit videos that 1) give the men and women we work with a platform to tell their stories and 2) raise awareness of Street Sense Media and our mission — all while adding projects to your professional portfolio. This position will provide you the freedom and flexibility to tell stories that you want to tell. We’re building our video program from the ground up, and we want your innovative ideas to help shape our future.
View the full position description. Please send your resume, cover letter, and 3-5 video samples to [email protected] with the subject line “[Desired Semester & Year] Video Storytelling Intern.”
Communications
Street Sense Media is looking for a talented communicator passionate about elevating the voices of those living without housing and using their stories to engage our community. As a Communications Intern , you’ll work alongside our Director of Development and Communications to grow and engage Street Sense Media’s audience.
View the full position description. Please send your resume, cover letter, and two writing samples (three pages maximum for each) to [email protected] with the subject line “[Desired Semester & Year] Communications Intern.”
Development
As a Development Intern, you’ll help us generate revenue to support our organization’s mission and work. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about non-profit fundraising in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Street Sense Media is looking for a socially conscious individual passionate about elevating the voices of people living without housing and leveraging their stories to create impact. As Development Intern, you’ll work alongside our Director of Development and Communications to grow and engage Street Sense Media’s donor base.
View the full position description. Please send your resume, cover letter, and short writing sample (three pages maximum) to [email protected] with the subject line “[Desired Semester & Year] Development Intern.”
Graphic Design
Street Sense Media is looking for a dynamic Graphic Design Intern to drive our visual communications. Your focus will be editorial and cover page design. However, you will also be called upon for key projects such as materials for our annual fundraiser, and expanding our online presence. You will be asked to adhere to brand standards while simultaneously strategizing to reach a broader audience and continue to develop our aesthetic.
View the full position description. Please send your resume, cover letter, and three portfolio samples (or link to an online gallery) to [email protected] with the subject line “[Desired Semester & Year] Graphic Design Intern.”
We celebrated three outstanding @streetsensedc contributors at the @SPJDC Dateline Awards—which recognize excellence in journalism in the DC metro area.
Congrats to Meg Rogers for her win, and congrats to @reggieblack227 and @_leahpotter for being finalists! pic.twitter.com/TC9AorxIi7
— Street Sense Media (@streetsensedc) June 22, 2020
High School
Content Management interns are hired during high school semesters to work alongside homeless and formerly homeless members of our community. You will assist staff members and college interns with everything related to making the content that we create easily accessible by our audience. This includes web publishing through a content management system, social media, photo editing and search engine optimization.
Please send your resume, cover letter and work samples to [email protected] with the subject line “[Desired Semester & Year] Content Management Intern.”
*Note regarding COVID-19: This internship can be a remote opportunity if needed.
