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Nonprofit
RSF USA Internship
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Description
About RSF USA
RSF USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with RSF that helps protect press freedom and the right to reliable information in North America, which includes the United States, Canada, and English-speaking Caribbean countries. We also use our position in Washington, DC to work in concert with RSF’s 13 offices around the world to advance our global priorities.
Role Description
The internship is ideal for current undergraduate students or recent college graduates who are in the Washington, DC area during the summer and are interested in working in an international nonprofit dedicated to press freedom and the right to reliable information. RSF USA interns contribute to all facets of our work, including advocacy, communications, and fundraising. There may also be flexibility to tailor the intern’s activities to match their background or the practical experience they hope to gain. Specific responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
Advocacy:
- Join frequent advocacy meetings with congressional staff, federal government officials, and NGO partner organizations.
- Research legislation, court cases, and global press freedom issues.
- Prepare talking points and Q&A documents on specific issues for meetings with congressional staff.
- Support urgent RSF actions by working on advocacy strategies across congressional, federal, and state targets.
- Identify potential partners and champions of RSF USA’s work within the government and learn best practices for building successful coalitions.
- Build relationships with journalists, lawyers, and NGOs around the country to support the creation of press freedom networks.
- Represent the RSF DC office in meetings with other RSF offices from around the world.
- Contribute to advocacy materials like congressional letters and comments to federal agencies.
- Monitor congressional hearings and help follow up with congressional offices.
Communications:
- Oversee RSF USA’s internal press freedom newsletter by monitoring press freedom issues and sharing updates to RSF’s international staff on a daily basis.
- Help maintain a list of press contacts and make recommendations for press outreach opportunities.
- Support the drafting of press releases, social media posts, op-eds, and other written publications.
- Attend and/or contribute to the planning and execution of press freedom-related events.
Fundraising:
As needed, minimal assistance with:
- Building development pipelines through prospect and donor research.
- Donor record upkeep.
- Appeals/acquisitions via email and standard mail.
- Grant applications.
- Fundraising event support.
Logistics
We will consider applications for both full-time (40 hours per week) and part-time (minimum of 20 hours per week) interns for the summer term, which will start in late May and conclude in mid-August. The role operates in a hybrid office environment that requires two in-person work days a week for team collaboration and consistent use of office equipment such as computer, printer, and scanner. Thus, the intern must be residing in the Washington, DC area during the internship. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for internship opportunities at this time. In addition, the intern is paid a monthly stipend of $600 for part time and $1,000 for full time.
Applicant Qualifications:
- Interested in press freedom, human rights, journalism and/or international nonprofits
- Interested in the US policymaking process
- Experience communicating with external stakeholders as part of an organization
- Excellent communication (written and verbal)
- Developed research skills, including finding original sources, compiling data in impactful ways, and tailoring outputs for different audiences
- Agility in task management, from long-term projects to breaking news responses
- An eye for creative solutions to entrenched problems
- Familiarity with using various software programs at other organizations
- Strong time management
- Media literate and an avid news consumer
- Able to work in-person in Washington, DC during the summer per our hybrid (in-office/remote) schedule
- Detail-oriented
- Proactive
- Reliable
- Native-level English proficiency
- French language skills not required, but a plus
Location
Associated Location
How to Apply
RSF USA welcomes current undergraduate students or recent college graduates that meet the qualifications to apply for this opportunity. We do not recommend that current postgraduate students or recent postgraduates apply. Those interested in applying should submit their 1) resume and 2) cover letter that includes your anticipated weekly availability this summer. To be considered for this opportunity, all applicants must submit their documents as PDFs to hiring@rsf.org by April 6th, 2026 with “RSF Summer 2026 Internship” as the subject line.
Reporters Without Borders is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, caste, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, veteran status, disability; or on any other basis prohibited by law.
