Watchdog 101 workshop
Part of the public engagement and marketing intern's role at the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism will be to help plan events such as the Watchdog 101 reporting workshop for young journalists. Jentri Colello/For the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
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The award-winning Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism is seeking to hire a public engagement and marketing intern for the 2016-17 academic year.

The paid intern will assist the Associate Director in engaging the Center’s audiences through social media, events and other outreach, and working to increase and track the reach and impact of WisconsinWatch.org reports.

Watchdog Awards Mara Lauren
Mara Jezior, the Center’s first public engagement and marketing intern, and Associate Director Lauren Fuhrmann manage social media updates at the 2016 Wisconsin Watchdog Awards in April. Jentri Colello/For the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

The internship will begin in fall 2016 and may be extended for up to a full year.

Eligibility is limited to undergraduate and graduate students who are currently enrolled in or graduating in May 2016 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where the nonprofit and nonpartisan Center is based.

Pay is $11 an hour. The schedule is flexible — about 15 to 40 hours per week during the academic year.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, June 10, 2016.

The intern will be provided office space in Vilas Communication Hall.

Some travel around Wisconsin may be required. Access to a laptop is required.

Strong editorial and social media writing skills, keen attention to detail and an ability to work independently are desired. Excel, WordPress, Adobe, Mailchimp and basic design skills are preferred.

Applicants must submit the following in electronic form to Associate Director Lauren Fuhrmann at lfuhrmann@wisconsinwatch.org:

  • One-page cover letter stating why you should be selected for the position — your passion for public engagement and public service, writing and communication skills, digital media skills, and how this job enhances your career development.
  • Resume including relevant work experience — marketing communication (e.g., advertising, PR, digital media planning) and public engagement (e.g., nonprofit marketing, social marketing, election campaigns, public outreach); digital media skills; awards; GPA and relevant course list; three contacts for reference.
  • Up to five writing samples and/or design portfolio, and links to social media profiles that demonstrate your online presence.
  • Questions may be directed to Fuhrmann at lfuhrmann@wisconsinwatch.org, 608-963-1249, or in the Center’s office, 5006 Vilas Communication Hall.

The nonpartisan, nonprofit Center is increasing the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future generations of investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy. The Center is guided by its values: Protect the vulnerable. Expose wrongdoing. Seek solutions. It focuses on government integrity — particularly the role of money in politics and policymaking — and quality of life issues such as education, the environment, the economy, health and the justice system.

Since July 2009, the Center has produced more than 250 major news reports that have been cited, published or broadcast by more than 350 newspapers, radio and TV stations and news websites in Wisconsin and nationwide. The estimated audience of the Center’s reports exceeds 53 million people. The Center has received 40 Milwaukee Press Club Awards and three finalist citations in the Investigative Reporters and Editors Awards student category. In 2012, the Center’s collaboration with the UW-Madison journalism school won the Associated Press Media Editor’s first Innovator of the Year for College Students award.

The Center’s former reporting interns are thriving in journalism and related fields. They have worked for news organizations across the nation and around the world, including the Green Bay Press-Gazette, WisPolitics.com, USA Today, Voice of San Diego, NBC, Appleton Post-Crescent, The Nation, Yakima Herald Republic, Forbes and The Associated Press.

More details about the Center’s journalistic and financial operations are available at: https://wisconsinwatch.org/about/

The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

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