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Communications Intern

Piper & Gold Public Relations
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Overview

Interns at Piper & Gold are individuals who are considering a career in public relations, communication or a similar field. Interns will work under experienced professionals, learning through hands-on projects. The Communications Intern will be a member of our team who is interested in writing, social media and media relations. They will work closely with our team and play a critical role in creating communication materials for Piper & Gold’s website and social media channels, and focusing their skillset to one of our largest clients: Capital Area Michigan Works! (CAMW!).

 

About Capital Area Michigan Works!: 

Capital Area Michigan Works! (CAMW!) is an organization dedicated to helping employers and career seekers in the Lansing region. Their mission is to connect with businesses and strengthen our workforce. CAMW! partners with businesses to develop recruiting and retention strategies, and works with job seekers to enhance education and career opportunities. 

 

About Piper & Gold: 

P&G is a boutique agency with elite clients who value our work and time. While we remain committed to our home state of Michigan, P&G is a remote-friendly and hybrid working environment. With CAMW! being located in Michigan, preference will go to applicants looking for a hybrid environment in the Lansing region. The candidate offered this position will be expected to attend events and meetings at CAMW! and will be extended the opportunity to work from CAMW!’s offices.

We value your time and believe only in paid internships. We’re looking for interns who can work a minimum of 20 hours per week, with the possibility of additional hours depending on interest and work available. The starting rate for our internships is $15 per hour. 

At the end of the summer, internship positions will be reassessed based on organizational needs, with the possibility of extensions into the Fall and Winter semesters.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • High school diploma or GED required.
  • Some college coursework in public relations, communication, marketing, or a related field is preferred.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced office setting.
  • An exceptional writer. Must love AP style.
  • Proficient in word processing, computer research and email.
  • Detail-oriented, enthusiastic and resourceful.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Write. A lot. 
    • Press releases:
      • Draft headlines, leads and body content that grabs media attention.
      • Modify press releases and media pitches according to specific target audiences.
    • Op-Eds:
      • Understand the difference in writing tones and how to determine which to use when writing to influence.
    • Additional materials you may learn to write include columns, media features, blog posts, newsletters and more!
  • Social media creation and management
    • Draft and revise social media copy for Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
    • Monitor and respond to mentions, comments and interactions on social media platforms.
    • Schedule social media using Hootsuite and other scheduling platforms.
    • Post social media advertisements.
    • Collect and analyze metrics that can be used to influence future content.
    • Design and plan a social media campaign.
    • Additional opportunities you may learn include creating social media graphics using Canva and Adobe Suite, understanding how to ensure social media materials are inclusive to audiences, and video editing.
  • Media relations
    • Draft email pitches for events.
    • Draft personalized pitches to publications.
    • Build a media list.
    • Collect media mentions and coverage.
    • Organize media mentions into a comprehensive database, like Coverage Book and Cision.
  • Event planning
    • Coordinate media attendance at events.
    • Draft event invitations and promotional materials.
  • Crisis communications
    • Understand types of crises and their unique communication challenges.
    • Study the components of a crisis communications plan, including roles and responsibilities, escalation procedures and communication protocols.
    • Collect key stakeholders and identify their concerns.
    • Draft clear, concise and consistent messages tailored to a crisis.
    • Draft media lists to be used in crises.
  • Additional opportunities
    • Understand various data collection techniques, including surveys, focus groups and analytics gathering.
    • Learn the difference between qualitative and quantitative metrics and how to collect them.
    • Create and maintain positive relationships with dozens of client organizations working in Michigan and beyond to effect social change.
    • Learn alongside your colleagues through education sessions, webinars, workshops and other professional development opportunities.
    • Attend team meetings and client working sessions.


 

Who's going to be a good fit?

  • A current junior — or experienced and ambitious sophomore — college student is preferred. Please include your expected graduation date in the application materials.
  • An exceptional writer with an understanding of AP Style.
  • A polished professional ready to engage directly with client contacts.
  • A resourceful individual with a growth mindset.
  • Someone with a voice and personality that translates to digital content.
  • Someone who’s organized and detail-oriented.
  • Someone who’s independent, accountable and enthusiastic about sharing new ideas.
  • Someone who’s comfortable working in a fast-paced agency environment.
  • Bonus points for previous internship experience!

 

Anticipated start date: May 5, 2025.

 

We'll begin reviewing applications on February 19— applications submitted after will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

 

Check out our blog to learn about the position and how to apply: https://bit.ly/3Q8OGkJ

 

Be sure to submit: 

  • Your cover letter and resume.
  • A link to your portfolio or website, if you have one!
  • At least two work samples relevant to the experience we’re looking for.
    • These will ideally showcase your writing skills and knowledge of AP style. These may be from previous work experiences or internships, work from an extracurricular activity like a volunteer organization, or a project you completed in your classes.
  • Your major and anticipated graduation date.