Summer 2026 Social Media Internship in Washington, District of Columbia at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is pleased to offer its 2026 social media internship program. This is a 10-week opportunity beginning June 1 and ending August 7. This hands-on internship is designed for aspiring social media professionals interested in audience growth, community engagement, and digital media within a growing news organization. The intern will work closely with the social media manager, reporters, and staff writers to support The Dispatch’s social media strategy across multiple platforms through audience development initiatives.

• Assist with daily publishing across social media platforms, including Instagram, X, Facebook, Reddit, YouTube Shorts, and LinkedIn

• Support The Dispatch’s Reddit strategy and community engagement efforts through post distribution, subreddit research, and active participation

• Identify, clip, edit, and publish compelling quotes and moments from Dispatch podcasts, videos, and editorial content across social platforms

• Support execution-heavy workflows tied to content creation and distribution

• Monitor social media trends relevant to politics, news, and culture to help identify opportunities for audience growth and engagement

• Assist with social media analytics and performance tracking

• Support internal projects and operational workflows that contribute to expanding The Dispatch’s social media presence and reach

• Current enrollment in a related undergraduate or master’s degree program. Graduates from May 2025 or later are also eligible

• At least 1 year of non-personal social media experience demonstrating the ability to grow a brand across multiple platforms

• Strong understanding of social platform behaviors and content optimization across Instagram, X, Facebook, Reddit, YouTube Shorts, and LinkedIn

• Ability to identify compelling quotes, clips, and headlines that perform well on social media

• Basic proficiency with graphic design, video editing, or social media tools is a plus

• Comfortable working in fast-paced environments with the ability to shift priorities when necessary

This is a paid internship unless the intern is receiving funding from another source, such as a foundation, fellowship, or their college. Compensation is $17.95/hour for 30 hours/week.