Salish Sea Endowed Tahlequah Internship for AY 2025/26
About the Internship
Looking to make a splash in the world of environmental public relations, earn course credit and get paid? Join us as a paid PR intern with WWU’s Salish Sea Institute and University Communications (UComm). You’ll be working with a team of veteran journalists, PR, digital marketing professionals, scientists and public policy experts to publicize the expansive work and achievements of Western’s Salish Sea Institute and supporting WWU communications efforts overall.
This is a paid internship (compensation $20.50/hr) averaging about 10-hours per week over 2-3 quarters (work not expected during intercession). The internship will receive six credits for journalism 430.
Responsibilities
The intern will specifically support the Salish Sea Institute publicity by executing on a variety of media relations and strategic storytelling tasks set by the Director of the Salish Sea Institute and the Office of University Communications. These include but may not be limited to number of mined stories, article generation, proactive pitches, media contacts, coverage results, media monitoring, and contributions to Ucomm-led publications.
Day-to-day responsibilities typically include:
Story drafting, copyediting support, and other production work
Interviews of story subjects – in person, on video, through smartphone video recording or via email
Contributions to messaging, story angle, and PR pitch development
Events coverage
Support of social media content development and posting
Coverage tracking for PR performance measurement
Support WWU Office of University Communications initiatives and storytelling as assigned
Qualifications
You’re eligible to apply if you are:
A third or fourth year WWU student majoring in Journalism, Public Relations, Communication or Marketing; and
Meet prerequisites for Journalism 430 (6 credits)
You’d be a preferred candidate if you have any of the following experiences or qualifications:
Experience working or volunteering for media organizations, event companies, marketing or related
Engaged in community or environmental projects
Enrolled in the Salish Sea Studies minor or have taken SALI coursework
Able to share 2-3 writing samples from work done outside the classroom, e.g. news releases, articles, speeches
Apply by June 6:
Send a cover letter and your resume to salish.sea.institute@wwu.edu, cc: news@wwu.edu
Cover letter should address the following:
a. Why do you want this internship?
b. Explain your experience working for a student publication at WWU or if you have not done that, please tell us about your experience in any kind of publication or related organization
c. Time and availability for an internship for the 2025-2026 academic year (please be as realistic as possible about your availability)
d. Confirmation that you are a 3rd or 4th year WWU student with a major in Journalism, Public Relations, Communication or Marketing
e. Confirmation that you are registered or will register for Journalism 430 in the 2024/25 academic year.
Get your application in ASAP, we're accepting them until June 6. Start date and working hours would be agreed upon with chosen candidate and begin within the first week of Fall Quarter 2025.
The Departments
About the Salish Sea Institute
The Salish Sea Institute communicates not only the challenges but also the opportunities and solutions for protecting and restoring the Salish Sea. In order to increase our impact, we need to continually increase awareness of our work and expand our reach. “Marketing” the Salish Sea Institute requires a multifaceted approach that combines traditional and digital strategies to reach a diverse audience interested in environmental and management issues.
The Salish Sea Institute also teaches about the Salish Sea from a multi-disciplinary angle through the Salish Sea Studies minor. There are opportunities to communicate more broadly about the minor, how it instills a “sense of place” within students and helps them prepare for a variety of jobs in the region.
About University Communications
Part of University Relations and Marketing, the University Communications team’s primary purpose is to promote and protect WWU’s reputation. The office’s primary responsibilities include:
Conducting media relations on behalf of the university, including proactive pitching, managing press inquiries, crises, and other issues affecting WWU
Developing and producing WWU’s primary publications, including Western Today and Window, among others
Ownership of the university’s official social media channels, including strategy, content, and conversation monitoring
Storymining, research discovery, and amplifying WWU academic, institutional, and community stories
The responsibilities of this internship are closely anchored to WWU's strategic pillars, messaging, and priority story areas including:
Access and inclusive success
Public-impact research
Economic and cultural contributions to the State of Washington
Sustainability and environmental stewardship