Communications Intern

Job Description

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly the most vulnerable. The BPHC envisions a thriving Boston where all residents live healthy, fulfilling lives free of racism, poverty, violence, and other systems of oppression. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of antiracism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

OVERVIEW

The goal of this internship is to provide a supportive learning experience for students entering the public health workforce. We don't expect you to meet every piece of the criteria in this job description. Our hope is that our intern can see themselves in this role, cares about the work of the Boston Public Health Commission and is eager to learn skills and grow into a leader.

We are looking for an outgoing, highly motivated undergraduate or graduate student to join our Communications Team, as an intern at BPHC. The ideal candidate has a passion for Boston and meeting its residents where they are at, through effective and creative health communication strategies. You may also be someone who is interested in public health, health education, or working with community. This internship is a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience in health communications and working for a local health department.

As intern, you will be responsible for the creation of various internal and external communications materials, support of media relations, and active participation in meetings and events. The Communications Associate you will be working with will be able to provide support and guidance on all sub-projects. We will also leave space to brainstorm together, or you can develop some tasks of your own. We want to ensure that you get what you need from your time with us, and ensure you have the opportunity to gain a variety of skills to utilize in your future career.

If you have any questions about this internship, please email our Communications Associate, Isabella, at ibellini@bphc.org .

RESPONSIBILITIES

We will work with you to finalize a list of responsibilities that balance your strengths, areas of interest, and the needs of the Communications Team. Below are some assignments you can expect in this role:

• Monitor and compile press coverage across various media outlets and log the most relevant. You will learn how to analyze press coverage and maintain a comprehensive media archive.
• Capture and note-take key information, action items, and next-steps for various meeting types. You will learn how to take high-level notes and how to apply them to assets.
• Craft clear, concise, and compelling talking point documents for office leadership that embody the voice and views of leadership and the Commission. You will learn to create strategically aligned communication materials that effectively target the intended audience and reach strategic goals.
• Participate proactively in regular team meetings by actively listening, insightfully contributing and collaborating, and advancing team discussion. You will learn how to actively participate, articulate ideas, and engage on a team.
• Support internal communications by developing and maintaining clear communication channels and implementing efficient information management systems. You will learn how to optimize workflow through sustainable organized systems that promote collaboration across bureaus.
• Support media relations by assisting with media inquiries, facilitating interviews, and contributing to press releases, among other press-related communications. You will learn what goes into fostering relationships with stakeholders.
• Provide feedback and insight for opportunities to improve the scope of the internship and provide recommendations for enhancing the internship program's effectiveness.