Intern, Science Writer (6 months) (Media)

To Apply: Please submit RESUME along with two news writing samples.

WHY JOIN AGU?

Our employees are our most valuable assets! You will feel welcomed and supported from the moment you join our team, and you will take part in strengthening and evolving our workplace culture.

We offer work-life balance- We are a remote-first organization, with flexible work hours.

WHO WE ARE?

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) supports a global community of more than half a million professionals and advocates in the Earth and space sciences. 

Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU aims to advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events, and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net-zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C., and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct.

This is an exciting time to work at AGU. Every day we approach our work with a sense of purpose, and we look for others who share that passion and desire for a career with impact.

 WHO YOU ARE?

At AGU we are looking for individuals who want to learn something new every day, who welcome a challenge, and are motivated to achieve results in a fast-paced environment. You will be a proactive and creative problem solver who enjoys collaborating across diverse teams.

AGU's strategic communications and marketing (SCM) program advances AGU's global reputation as an authoritative voice for the Earth and space sciences. AGU media relations supports these goals with timely outreach to journalists about breaking research from AGU's scientific meetings and 24 peer-reviewed journals, covering topics as diverse as public health, climate change, earthquakes, Earth's history and the potential for life on our solar system's distant, icy moons.

You will learn to identify newsworthy papers published in scientific journals and presented at scientific meetings and craft succinct, accurate and compelling press releases, short news stories and social media posts. You will gain practical experience interviewing and writing about Earth and space science for non-expert audiences and working collaboratively with a creative team. You will leave the internship with bylined news stories, press releases and multimedia projects for your portfolio.

WHAT YOU WILL DO?

• Work with the media relations team to identify and pitch newsworthy stories about new research published in AGU's peer-reviewed journals.
• Interview researchers about their work and write news-style press releases and research spotlights under deadline.
• Craft headlines and brief descriptions of new research for AGU's weekly highlights newsletter for journalists.
• Meet daily with media relations staff, prepare materials as requested and respond to editing.
• Use and explore social media and multimedia to communicate scientific discoveries to broad audiences.
• Assist in preparing scientists for interviews and organizing live press events.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING?

• Enthusiasm for science and learning a variety of communications skills.
• A bachelor's degree or higher in journalism, communications or Earth and space science.
• Coursework or equivalent experience in news-style writing about science for a lay audience.
• Familiarity with AP style.
• Experience managing multiple projects or assignments on deadline.
• Professional attitude and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), internet browsers, and web search engines.
• Experience with social media preferred but not required.

HIRING SPECIFICS

• Finalists will be asked to read the abstracts from three Earth and space research papers and come to interviews prepared to pitch one research finding for a press release, including headline, lead and target audience.

• Pay $17:50 per hour
• Full Time, 6-month Internship in the summer-fall of 2025, remote in several US states.
• We are not hiring in WA, OR or CA at this time.
• Work Authorization: We will not sponsor applicants for work visas in the US.
• AGU will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
• Vet/Disabled