There was plenty of support for me in my work, especially as I learned how to take on new projects and interact with the tasks I was assigned. I worked remotely, so I was worried that I would struggle to connect. But there were weekly team meetings and weekly connections with my supervisor, among other things, which all made me feel free to ask questions and gave me all the support I needed to learn. There was also a wide variety of different tasks in my work, and I was able to enjoy this wide variety because of the aforementioned support.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had been able to intern in the actual office in Washington, DC, but it was still a great experience.
Advice
There is so much to learn over the course of this experience. It's easy to think that you're not skilled enough in various tasks to deserve a position at CPJ, but they support you well along the way. Don't be afraid of applying even if you do not feel ready. Don't feel like you need to be competent in every possible area before you can work for CPJ, because much of the experience will be learning.
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Assistant Editor Intern
September - December 2020 • Washington, DC
What I liked
This internship was the most formative, educational, and useful internship I’ve ever had. I had numerous hands-on opportunities to learn about public justice issues while I worked on articles and social media content, and I developed more real skills, both technical and professional, than I did in most of my past jobs.
Public Justice 101 - a class for interns where we learned about the fundamentals of CPJ principles and beliefs - was also such a cool and educational experience. I had no idea how much there was to learn about public justice and how it impacts every area of public policy. More than anything, this internship showed me how much more there is to learn and how many opportunities there are to be involved in important causes.
What I wish was different
Because of COVID-19, my internship was virtual. If it hadn't been, I couldn't have done the internship in the first place, so I wouldn't change that, necessarily. But working virtually was hard for me, and I wish there had been more opportunities to get to know the other interns better.
Advice
If you find something you're working on or learning about interesting, lean into it and see how you can get involved. CPJ advocates for action, not just learning, so it's a great place to figure out how you can turn an interest into an actionable passion that can impact real people.
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Communications Intern
May - August 2019 • Washington, DC
What I liked
The supervision, intentionality and kindheartedness of the staff, and the Christian influence.
What I wish was different
I wish we would have tackled more hot button issues, as well as foreign policy.
Advice
Be ready to expand your ideological horizons and meet wonderful people you'd never anticipate you think this of.
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Editing Intern
June - August 2018 • Washington, DC
What I liked
Great internship program and work environment. Employers were very welcoming and supportive of the interns. Every intern took a course on Public Justice 101 learning about the theology of Christian engagement with politics.
What I wish was different
The internship wasn't paid which was a bummer.
Advice
Great experience for someone interested in politics and justice issues.
