General Information

Location: Washington, D.C. Eligibility: Current enrollment at an accredited college or university, though exceptions are occasionally made for outstanding high-school students Deadline: Rolling (6-12 weeks before desired start date) Compensation: Voluntary and unpaid (though a transportation stipend is provided) Credit: College credit is available, depending on student's school Fields: Engineering, Journalism, Language Broadcasts, Public Affairs, Special English, TV Technical Studio Operations, and TV to Africa Benefits: Provides "real world" experience in a diverse and dyamic international broadcast organization

* Note to international students: Unfortunately, we are unable to assist in the procurement of United States visas.

Internships By Department

Engineering
Fields: broadcasting/Internet technology, international business planning, project financial analysis, audience/media research, and geographic information systems (GIS)
Duties: tailored to the skill/interest level of the intern, including technical (engineering design or computer programming), analytical (data base research), or business support (international market research) projects (nb. Engineering manages transmission, program delivery, and technical support; engineering internships do not entail any work in the studio with cameras, microphones, etc.)
Interests: engineering, technology, business
Requirements: some engineering or technical background, strong analytical/mathematical skills, ability to problem-solve
Application: send resume and cover letter to Terry Balazs (tbalazs@bbg.gov)
Note: Engineering also offers a few paid summer internships to full-time students (U.S. citizens only) with appropriate technical qualifications.

Language Broadcasts
Fields: radio, television, and the Internet (in 45 broadcast languages)
Duties: vary with each service, but may include writing news stories, assisting in the production of radio and television programs, updating web pages, and performing research
Interests: current affairs, communications, international relations
Requirements: excellent communications skills, research skills, ability to work under pressure, regional interest, language fluency
Application: send resume, cover letter, and writing sample (in specific language) to Janice Albritton (jalbritt@bbg.gov)

Public Affairs (Sorry, we cannot accept any more applications until Fall 2009)
Fields: public affairs, event planning, communications, and writing
Duties: drafting press releases, leading studio tours, cooperating and communicating with outside media, event planning, and promoting different Voice of America projects
Interests: public affairs, international relations, journalism
Requirements: an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a college or university degree program, excellent writing and communications skills, energy and initiative, ability to multi-task
Application: For Fall 2009, send resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Joan Mower (jmower@bbg.gov).

Special English
Fields: radio, television, and the Internet
Duties: writing news and features with a limited vocabulary and reporting on special cultural events
Interests: current affairs, journalism, communications
Requirements: excellent writing skills, flexibility, research experience
Application: send resume, cover letter, and two writing samples to Rochelle Gollust (rgollust@voanews.com)

TV Technical Studio Operations
Fields: television studio set-up and operations
Duties: assisting TV technicians in setting up and operations in lighting, audio, camera control, video tape playback, and floor direction
Interests: general television studio operations
Requirements: general knowledge of and interest in television studio production, familiarity with production and technical terms, hands-on experience in TV studios/control rooms
Application: send resume to Neil Milofsky (milofsky@bbg.gov)

TV to Africa
Fields: television production
Duties: running teleprompter and telephone screening for live call-in shows, videotape logging, topic research, guest recruiting, and other duties
Interests: television production, African affairs, journalism
Requirements: research experience, demonstrated interest in Africa, communications skills, ability to work under pressure
Application: send resume and cover letter to Roblyn Hymes (rah@voanews.com)

VOA Information Services Division
Video Library Assistant:
Fields:Library science, television production, collection development; special libraries
Duties: May include all or some of the following activities: shot-level cataloging of video content; respond to producer requests for video content; search internal database and indexes; assist with circulation procedures; assist with processing stock footage materials; assist with videotape check-in and check-out; re-shelve returned tapes; tape shifting; apply barcodes and labels to tapes; assist research staff to pull and cue video content; assist Tape Distribution crew with runs and related duties; assist with video retirement process including updating collection data and shelf-reading; assisting with re-labeling, sorting, and pairing script and other associated information with videotapes and boxing for shipment.
Interests: Media collection management; Current news and international affairs; special libraries
Requirements: graduate or undergraduate study in Library Science or television broadcasting, detail oriented; good communication skills.
Application: send resume and cover letter to Pam Commerford, Chief of Video Archive Service (Plenz@voanews.com)

Program Acquisitions Assistant:
Fields: Television and or the Internet
Duties: Researching, screening and logging video program selections based on program content; producing and editing new program masters for broadcast; locating and keeping track of programs to be edited, as well as the quality and services control process; following guidelines given for specific programs; overseeing script preparation for a number of acquired programs that are used by VOA language services in television programs.
Interests: Television production
Requirements: undergraduate in television broadcasting; familiarity with production and television technical terms, attention to detail, organizational skills, research experience, communications and writing skills, and ability to work under pressure.
Application:send resume and cover letter to Jorge Bustamante, Chief of Acquisitions Service (Jbustama@voanews.com)

Audio Research Library Assistant:
Fields:Library science, radio production, collection development; special libraries
Duties: May include all or some of the following activities: Respond to producer requests for audio content; search internal databases & indexes; make expert judgments regarding audio content to be scheduled for retirement; pull, label and box retired tapes for transfer; liaise with Audio Services supervisor and staff; prepare database of retired tapes and other materials.
Interests: Media collection management; Current news and international affairs; Special libraries
Requirements: Graduate or undergraduate study in Library Science or radio broadcasting; detail oriented; good communication skills.
Application: send resume and cover letter to Michael H. Gray (mhgray@voanews.com) Chief of Research Audio Branch