PUBLIC AFFAIRS INTERN
USDA Forest Service
Atlanta
Employment: One position, about 8 weeks each (320 hours) from April to mid-August
Exposure: Students will be exposed to a variety of tasks and experiences in Public Affairs in a federal agency’s regional headquarters. STEP students will work alongside employees who perform administrative duties, publication development, traditional media relations, social media, internal communications, executive speech writing, communication coordination, legislative affairs, issue management, strategic planning, and executive advice and counsel.
Areas of work: Likely tasks will include general administrative support duties, such as office duties, organization and cleanup; general office work, including collaboration and coordination; and more specialized tasks, such as researching and writing letters, key messages, and success stories or feature articles; updating websites, and completing a comprehensive update of the region’s media contact list.
Skills needed: Organizational skills, interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, and basic computing skills, including familiarity with Word 2007. Additional skills in database and content editing software for web sites are a plus.
Possible work products:
- Updated media contact list for Regional Office
- Updated internal and/or external websites, including a tracking and storage system
- Written materials, such as letters, photographs, key messages, success stories or articles
Possible activities: Site visit(s) to National Forest to assist with Public Affairs project(s) or ongoing work; attending special events or meetings with internal or external groups; and peer-to-peer learning with unit employees in Atlanta, Forest Service employees throughout the 13 southeastern states and Puerto Rico, and possibly with agency employees throughout the United States.
Contact: Maxwell Silvera, Public Affairs Specialist, msilvera@fs.fed.us, 404.347.7243