Internship Program

Welcome to the coolest internship experience. Ever. Besides getting substantive work experience, Campus Progress interns get a stipend, access to special events like film screenings and conferences, and the opportunity to use words like "substantive" on a daily basis.

Past interns have interviewed and/or attended events with Ben Stein, Noam Chomsky, Ryan Gosling, Senator Barack Obama, Talib Kweli, Senator Hillary Clinton, Ralph Nader, Samantha Power, Senator Tom Daschle, and our very own John Podesta.

Benefits:

  • The chance to learn valuable skills and work for progressive change
  • A cash stipend and a subway pass
  • Fun working environment with a staff of 20-somethings
  • A community of 50+ interns like you
  • As many Campus Progress t-shirts as you can steal
  • The chance to facebook like it's your job (because it is)

Available Positions

Intern applicants can apply for placement in the following areas of Campus Progress:

  • The Campus Progress Magazine, a web publication that offers hard-hitting journalism, analysis, and multimedia on issues of the greatest concern to young people. Interns have the opportunity to write blog posts, features, and interviews with high-profile figures that are sometimes republished in The Nation and AlterNet. Interns for Campus Progress have gone on to write for the Huffington Post, the American Prospect, the New York Times, YES! Magazine, and many others.
  • Campus Events Team that sends prominent speakers to colleges and universities for speeches, debates, symposia, film showings, etc. Interns in the summer get to help run the summer events program, including the national conference.
  • Campus Journalism Network supports progressive journalism organizations on more than 40 college campuses by providing funding, mentoring, and training. The journalism network intern assists with a wide variety of tasks related to the day-to-day administration of the journalism network, including planning a summer training event, drafting press releases, evaluating the quality of grantees, and assisting with other logistical and administrative projects.
  • Policy and Advocacy, which works on exciting campaigns and helps build a nationwide network of progressive students. Interns work on the Economic Opportunities for young people campaign, for example, or the Action Alliance program, which gives funds and other advising resources to students working for social change on their campuses.
  • Online communications interns work across all areas and campaigns of Campus Progress to implement web strategy and maintain the online magazine. Beyond assigned duties there are opportunities for web interns to pursue projects tailored to their interests, such as creating data mashups, ads, fliers, magazine layouts, and cartoons, writing articles for the website, and creating campaign-specific websites. HTML and CSS knowledge required.
  • Communications/Outreach team works across departments to craft Campus Progress’ message through emails, press advisories, and releases for CP sponsored events. Interns with the communications team will research press outlets, perform media tracking related to CP campaigns, draft press materials, and other outreach-related tasks. They will also have the opportunity to write blog posts and other content for CP.org.

From the Horse's Mouth

We asked interns what the high points of their internships were, and this is what they said:

  • Watching Ryan Gosling walk by my desk on his way to the bathroom (yes, there were angels singing in the background)
  • Interviewing Ben Stein and filming him for a video
  • Meeting Al Gore
  • Calling President Bush and Ann Coulter and asking them to speak at our conference
  • Sorting staffers into Hogwarts Houses
  • Lobbying on the hill to end the war
  • Speaking at a college affordability press conference with Ted Kennedy
  • Debating Cato interns
  • Beating the Heritage Foundation in softball
  • Tabling at the Virgin Festival
  • Competing in the free food-a-thon
  • Introducing the Media that Matters Film Festival
  • Having my Campus Progress website story picked up by The Nation

Here's one intern's story:

"I have been working as a web intern at Campus Progress and these have been some of the most challenging and rewarding months of my life. There is a lot of responsibility and the job is often deadline-oriented, but it has also presented me many opportunities for creativity and the pursuit of my own project ideas....Through all this I've been able to work with fun, dedicated, and highly supportive people, and to participate in some great events like our annual conference, all kinds of film screenings, and a free-food-eating contest which Wonkette deemed to be a "dehumanizing spectacle."

If you're ready to participate in the dehumanizing spectacle that is a Campus Progress internship, keep reading.

How to Apply

Eligibility: All undergraduate and masters-level students as well as recent graduates are eligible to apply. International students must have INS authorization to work in the United States.

Application Process: Campus Progress interns are placed through the Center for American Progress' Aaron Foundation Internship Program. To apply, please submit the materials below and in part IV of the application, list Campus Progress as your preferred placement along with the specific position within Campus Progress you are interested in.

1) Internship Application (links below)
2) Cover Letter and Resume
3) Writing Sample of approximately 3 pages (your own words, unedited)
4) College or University Transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
5) 2-3 References (please provide both the phone and email contact information and please include a Professor or other individual familiar with your work)

Suggested Deadlines:

February 1: recommended deadline for Summer applications.
August 15: recommended deadline for Fall applications
November 15: recommended deadline for Winter applications
December 15: recommended deadline for Spring applications

Duration
Summer: June – August 
Fall: September – December
Winter: January – March
Spring: January – May

American Progress Internship Program Application (RTF), (PDF)

Please send completed application materials to the Intern Coordinator via email at interns@americanprogress.org or by mail to:

Center for American Progress
ATTN: Internship Coordinator
1333 H Street, NW
10 th Floor
Washington , DC 20005
202-682-1611