Communications Intern - Summer 2026
About The Position
The MacArthur Justice Center (MJC) has an available 10-12-week communications internship opportunity in its Washington, D.C. office this summer. The Communications Internship requires a weekly committment of 40 hours per week. Who We Are: MJC is a national nonprofit civil rights organization. We advocate with people who have been harmed by America’s criminal legal system, seeking to vindicate their rights, elevate their story, and hold people with power accountable. We do this primarily through cutting-edge litigation and advocacy across the country, on end-to-end issues in the criminal legal system, from policing, to prosecutorial discretion, to rights of indigent defendants, to mass incarceration, to prison conditions, to wrongful convictions and the death penalty. For more information on our work, visit Who You Are: You are a champion for human rights and are passionate about achieving justice for people who have been harmed by the criminal legal system. You are a true believer in the power of storytelling, public relations, communications, and marketing to change hearts and minds, which in turn, change the laws and policies that affect people’s lives. You are ready to put your excellent writing skills, social media obsession, strong work ethic, and problem-solving skills to work. What You’ll Learn: Reporting to the Communications Director and working closely with the Communications Manager, you will get firsthand experience working alongside a growing communications operation that serves the organization’s offices and programs across the country. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about how MJC leverages strategic communications to reach our litigation, advocacy, and change goals.
Requirements
- Excellent writing and editing skills
- Familiarity and experience with social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Suite, including Word and Excel
- Basic graphic design experience, particularly with Canva, or an interest in learning
- Self-starter who approaches assignments with curiosity, creativity, and openness to feedback
- Open to learning new things, growing in the role, and receiving feedback as part of ongoing development
- Good time management and ability to work within deadlines
- Ability to work well both independently and as part of a team
Nice To Haves
- Experience with WordPress is a plus
Responsibilities
- Supporting the planning and execution of media outreach activities, including researching target reporters and tracking engagement and follow-up needs; draft or refine media outreach materials (press releases, media advisories, pitches, etc.), as needed.
- Conducting research on criminal legal system issues to support digital content, social media posts, and messaging development.
- Monitoring and tracking earned media coverage, and updating media hits tracker.
- Drafting and updating website content, newsletters, and digital resources.
- Supporting the creation of educational and outreach materials for public and media audiences.
- Participating in Communications team meetings, providing clear notes and supporting project coordination.
Benefits
- Communications Interns are expected to apply for any funding available from their schools. If an intern is either ineligible for or does not receive funding from their school, MJC will provide a stipend for each full week of participation up to $736 per week with a commitment of 40 hours per week, offset by any external funding.
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
