The mission of the Office of the District Attorney of Orange County is to enhance public safety and welfare and create a sense of security in the community through the vigorous enforcement of criminal and civil laws in a just, honest, efficient and ethical manner.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Interns will assist staff in the day-to day activities within the Public Affairs Unit. Students or recent graduates selected for the position perform a range of duties from very basic activities to those requiring higher skill levels and professional expertise.
Duties vary but may include:
Assisting in the preparation and distribution of press releases
Providing support with social media sites
Responding to questions from the public and community organizations
Coordinating special projects; assisting with department newsletter
Creating and updating media talking points
Posting updates to the department's intranet
Event planning and community outreach
Creating and updating resource material
Interacting with other governmental and community-based organizations
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must currently be enrolled in an accredited college/university majoring in public relations, political science, marketing, communications, journalism or related fields. Recent graduates who have completed their degree in one of the above fields are also eligible to apply.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Excellent written and oral communication skills; experience in working with Microsoft Office Suite; thorough knowledge of social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook; experience in developing/sharing videos and content via social media; detail oriented and reliable.
TIME COMMITMENT
Minimum 12 - 15 hours per week for three or more months. Hours can be scheduled in 3-to-8-hour blocks of time, including nights and weekends. Applicants able to schedule the maximum hours/ duration listed for the internship typically gain a more in-depth experience.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Working in the community gives interns additional skills that include networking while providing resources and educational material to the general public. Time commitments for these events can include hours during the evenings and weekends.
BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO INTERN
Although this is an unpaid internship that does not lead to paid employment or include employee benefits, students and recent graduates are offered an excellent opportunity to gain extensive experience in managing public relations, marketing and social media campaigns within a large government agency.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applicants must attach a cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcripts to their application. Email application packet items to media@ocdapa.org and list “Internship Application – Your Name” in the subject line.
REQUIRED BACKGROUND SCREENING/REFERENCE CHECK
The background screening requires the applicant's full legal name, date of birth, address and U.S. Social Security number. Please note that certain agencies may have longer background processes.
