Public Relations Specialist Internships
Public relations specialist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience managing media outreach and brand messaging, mentorship from working public relations specialists, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Education, with Walker Sands, VSC, and Spark among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 13+ Public Relations Specialist Internships
Rally Foundation was started by a simple yet powerful question from one mother to another,
"What can I do to help?"
Rally's mission is to empower volunteers across the country to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures.
Join our team and answer the question.
Overview
Rally Foundation is seeking a creative, motivated, and detail-oriented Social Media & PR Intern to join our team.
This opportunity is ideal for a recent college graduate or graduating senior pursuing a career in social media, public relations, communications, or marketing. We're looking for someone with previous internship, freelance, or professional experience creating digital content and managing social media platforms who is eager to build their skills in a fast-paced nonprofit environment.
The intern will work with the Digital Marketing Manager to support Rally's national social media presence and public relations efforts. This role offers hands-on experience developing content, supporting media outreach, covering events, analyzing performance, and helping tell the stories that inspire supporters to fund childhood cancer research.
What You'll Work On
The Social Media & Public Relations Intern will gain experience in a variety of communications areas, including:
- Creating engaging content for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and other social media platforms
- Writing captions, social media copy, and other communications materials tailored to each platform
- Designing graphics in Canva and assisting with short-form video editing
- Supporting Rally's social media content calendar and scheduling posts
- Monitoring social media engagement and interacting with our online community
- Helping collect stories, photos, and videos from Rally Kids, families, volunteers, and events
- Assisting with media alerts, press releases, media pitches, and maintaining media lists
- Supporting public relations efforts for fundraising campaigns, awareness initiatives, and signature events
- Tracking social media performance and helping prepare analytics reports
- Researching social media trends, nonprofit communications, and best practices
- Collaborating with the Marketing, Development, Events, and Rally Kid teams on campaigns and communications projects
Necessary Skills Include
- Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Digital Media, or a related field
- Previous internship, campus leadership, freelance, or professional experience in social media, communications, or public relations
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong understanding of major social media platforms and current digital trends
- Experience creating content and writing for social media
- Canva experience required; basic video editing (CapCut, Premiere Pro, or similar) is a plus
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a team
- Positive attitude, creativity, professionalism, and eagerness to learn
- Interest in nonprofit marketing and mission-driven storytelling
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
- Available 15-20 hours per week / In-office Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Sandy Springs)
If you are interested in applying, please submit your resume, cover letter and portfolio if available through this job post.
Work Location: In person
Rally Foundation was started by a simple yet powerful question from one mother to another,
"What can I do to help?"
Rally's mission is to empower volunteers across the country to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures.
Join our team and answer the question.
Overview
Rally Foundation is seeking a creative, motivated, and detail-oriented Social Media & PR Intern to join our team.
This opportunity is ideal for a recent college graduate or graduating senior pursuing a career in social media, public relations, communications, or marketing. We're looking for someone with previous internship, freelance, or professional experience creating digital content and managing social media platforms who is eager to build their skills in a fast-paced nonprofit environment.
The intern will work with the Digital Marketing Manager to support Rally's national social media presence and public relations efforts. This role offers hands-on experience developing content, supporting media outreach, covering events, analyzing performance, and helping tell the stories that inspire supporters to fund childhood cancer research.
What You'll Work On
The Social Media & Public Relations Intern will gain experience in a variety of communications areas, including:
- Creating engaging content for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and other social media platforms
- Writing captions, social media copy, and other communications materials tailored to each platform
- Designing graphics in Canva and assisting with short-form video editing
- Supporting Rally's social media content calendar and scheduling posts
- Monitoring social media engagement and interacting with our online community
- Helping collect stories, photos, and videos from Rally Kids, families, volunteers, and events
- Assisting with media alerts, press releases, media pitches, and maintaining media lists
- Supporting public relations efforts for fundraising campaigns, awareness initiatives, and signature events
- Tracking social media performance and helping prepare analytics reports
- Researching social media trends, nonprofit communications, and best practices
- Collaborating with the Marketing, Development, Events, and Rally Kid teams on campaigns and communications projects
Necessary Skills Include
- Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Digital Media, or a related field
- Previous internship, campus leadership, freelance, or professional experience in social media, communications, or public relations
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong understanding of major social media platforms and current digital trends
- Experience creating content and writing for social media
- Canva experience required; basic video editing (CapCut, Premiere Pro, or similar) is a plus
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a team
- Positive attitude, creativity, professionalism, and eagerness to learn
- Interest in nonprofit marketing and mission-driven storytelling
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
- Available 15-20 hours per week / In-office Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Sandy Springs)
If you are interested in applying, please submit your resume, cover letter and portfolio if available through this job post.
Work Location: In person
Public Relations Specialist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
Tips for Your Public Relations Specialist Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer internships
Large agencies and corporate communications teams open summer intern applications as early as September or October. Waiting until spring means competing for a smaller pool of remaining spots. Smaller firms and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so checking listings consistently throughout the year catches both cycles.
Build a writing portfolio before you apply
Hiring managers for public relations specialist interns look for proof you can write and pitch, not a long work history. Collect press releases, pitch letters, op-eds, media alerts, or campaign recaps you've produced in class or on your own. Link to or attach these samples directly so recruiters can assess your work without asking.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured agency and corporate programs tied to university recruiting partnerships, and your professors and career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller intern cohorts alongside campus activity reaches employers who never attend fairs.
Practice your PR interview format before your first application
Public relations specialist intern screens typically include a writing exercise, a media pitch simulation, or a scenario question about managing a brand issue. Practice delivering your answers out loud and explaining your reasoning, since interviewers weigh how you approach a problem as much as the final answer you give.
Target structured agency and rotational intern programs early
Larger PR agencies and corporate communications departments run cohort programs designed to train candidates new to the field, rotating interns across media relations, content, and strategy. These programs recruit early and fill quickly, so identify the ones aligned with your focus area and get your application in during the first wave of openings.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 83% of the public relations specialist internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start reviewing listings, then filter by location and work type so you spend your time on roles you can actually take.
Public Relations Specialist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a public relations specialist internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A portfolio with writing samples, press releases, pitch letters, or campaign case studies gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where PR recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a public relations specialist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for public relations specialist interns is performance on real client work, available headcount on the team, and whether you've made your interest known before the offer window closes. Treat each project as an audition without counting on a specific outcome.
When should I apply for public relations specialist internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large agencies and corporations recruit summer interns the preceding fall, so applications open months before the start date. Smaller firms and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, which means openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly puts you ahead of candidates who wait for a single hiring season.
Are public relations specialist internships paid?
Most professional public relations specialist internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show pay where the employer chooses to disclose it. Larger agencies and corporate communications teams typically offer structured stipends or hourly rates, while some nonprofit and government internships remain unpaid.
What should a public relations specialist internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. List two or three documented projects showing what you did, the tools and channels used, and where to see the work, whether that's published articles, press releases, social media campaigns, or pitch decks. Add relevant coursework in communications, media writing, or marketing. Keep the whole resume to one page.
Are there remote public relations specialist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 17% of the public relations specialist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill quickly because they attract applicants from across the country, so apply as soon as roles open and filter by work type to see them without sorting through every listing.
What is a public relations agency internship program?
Many mid-size and large PR agencies run structured intern cohorts that rotate new candidates through practice areas such as media relations, crisis communications, and digital strategy. These programs are built to train people new to the field, recruit early in the fall semester for summer cohorts, and are competitive because applicants nationwide apply. Identify the programs that fit your focus and apply in the first wave.
Can international students get public relations specialist internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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