Media Intern

About State Innovation Exchange

State Innovation Exchange (SiX) is a 501(c)(3) policy, strategy, and resource center for progressive state legislators. We empower, embolden, and equip state legislators to build and wield progressive governing power by/with/for the people they represent. We do this by providing legislators with the tools needed to shape impactful public policy and building their capacity to lead with their constituents. We foster long-term collaboration between legislators - across chambers, across regions, and across state lines - and with grassroots movements. Our vision is an equitable, resilient, healthy, and prosperous future for every person in the United States, which is secured and safeguarded by progressive state legislators. SiX’s sister organization, SiX Action is a 501(c)(4) that works alongside SiX to build the capacity of state legislators by providing policy development, communications tools, and technical assistance.

About this Position

The Media Intern will play an important role in the day-to-day execution of SiX’s communications strategy. We need someone who can step in, take responsibility, and very quickly understand the SiX brand and begin contributing. The intern must have a willingness to learn, strong attention to detail, exhibit curiosity, have basic experience in media relations, and have a cursory knowledge of the media ecosystem.  This position will amplify SiX’s brand and our legislative network’s work by creating and disseminating pitches, researching aligned outlets and reporters, updating media lists and media hits, preparing media briefings, and scheduling interviews. The Media Intern will work with SiX staff, legislators, and state, national, and media partners to promote and expand the reach and impact of the organization’s work and brand. The ideal candidate will be able to pivot as priorities shift, see a project through to completion, be results-driven, passionate, and a progressive who can take direction and operate independently. 

At SiX, we commit to equal pay for equal work. We use a nonnegotiable starting salary system to counter pay inequality and uphold internal parity while benchmarking our pay to highly competitive markets in the nonprofit sector. The rate for this position is $20/hr, and interns are eligible for paid leave benefits. The position is remote and open to anyone living in the United States. Interns are expected to work approximately 15-20 hours per week, but weekly hours are flexible and can be adjusted based on school schedules or other work commitments. This internship is anticipated to start in April or May 2026 and end in December.

Role Responsibilities

All staff at SiX have personalized role responsibilities – the outcomes and impacts you are expected to deliver as part of your unique role within the organization. As a Media Intern, you report to the Senior Director, Communications, and will be responsible for delivering on the following expectations in your day-to-day work: 

Media & Communications Execution

• Support the day-to-day implementation of SiX’s communications strategy across priority campaigns and announcements.
• Draft, edit, and tailor media materials (press pitches, media advisories, talking points, quotes, briefing docs, and backgrounders) in SiX’s voice.
• Assist with distributing pitches and press materials to targeted reporters and outlets, tracking outreach and follow-up.

Media Research & List Building

• Research aligned outlets, beats, and reporters across state and new media ecosystems.
• Build and maintain accurate media lists.
• Identify media opportunities (reporter requests, editorial calendars, upcoming moments) to proactively support storytelling.

Media Monitoring & Reporting

• Track, compile, and report media hits.
• Monitor daily news coverage relevant to SiX issue priorities and legislative network activities, flagging timely opportunities and risks.

Briefings, Interviews, and Logistics

• Prepare media briefing packets for SiX staff and legislators (key messages, anticipated questions, issue background, and reporter and outlet notes).
• Support interview scheduling and coordination.
• Manage post-interview follow-ups.

Internal & External Collaboration

• Work closely with SiX staff, legislators, and state/national partners to collect timely updates, wins, and story angles.
• Help gather and organize quotes, data points, and human stories to strengthen pitches and rapid responses.
• Coordinate with coalition and media partners to ensure message alignment and consistent brand presentation.

Brand, Quality, and Process

• Quickly learn and apply SiX brand voice, positioning, and messaging guidance.
• Ensure materials are clean, accurate, and well-sourced; maintain strong attention to detail across names, titles, facts, and links.
• Keep communications workflows organized (via Asana, GoogleDrive folders, shared docs) and meet deadlines in a fast-moving environment.

Based on these expectations, the following qualifications are desired: 

• Demonstrated interest in progressive politics at the intersection of racial equity, reproductive freedom, economic justice, agriculture and food justice, and democracy through strategic communications.
• Basic experience with media relations, pitching, or press support.
• Familiarity with the media ecosystem, including how reporters, beats, and outlets operate at the state and national level.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to draft clear, accurate pitches and briefing materials in an organization’s voice.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organization; comfortable maintaining trackers, contact lists, and documentation.
• Able to quickly find, evaluate, and summarize information about outlets, reporters, and issue context.
• Professional, responsive communicator who can coordinate scheduling and logistics with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to take direction, meet deadlines, and also operate independently with good judgment and initiative.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Asana, and MuckRack.
• Availability to work in a fast-paced environment where priorities may shift, with a positive, collaborative attitude.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to self-motivate and drive projects to completion.

Core Competencies 

All staff roles at SiX are grounded in a set of core competencies standardized across the organization based on your role type. As a Communications Intern, you will be expected to demonstrate the following core competency expectations in your day-to-day work: 

1. Equity and Inclusion. You have a demonstrated understanding of the role that racial, gender, economic, and other inequities play in our society and movement-building and an ability to collaborate effectively across lines of difference. 
2. Program Implementation. You successfully execute the activities of your program/issue area(s) and contribute to the success of your team and the organization overall. 
3. External Communication and Brand Management. You can advance the organization’s reputation, profile, and brand with key stakeholders. You possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
4. Knowledge Management. You are detail-oriented and can support collecting, synthesizing, and disseminating information about your team’s work, internally and externally. 
5. Compliance. You comply with relevant nonprofit laws and adhere to internal policies, practices, and protocols. 
6. Organizational Culture and Values. You can practice and uphold organizational values in your day-to-day and long-term work. You participate in creating a team culture that is productive, collaborative, and equitable. [See below for more on organizational values.]

Organizational Values 

All staff at SiX are responsible for upholding our organizational values, which were developed collaboratively by all staff. These describe the way we strive to do our work together and the kind of organizational culture we want to build. As the Senior Policy Director, Reproductive Rights, you will be responsible for demonstrating the following behaviors in carrying out your day-to-day work:

Adaptability and Imagination 

• We believe there are multiple ways of knowing and welcome opportunities to learn from our past, present and future. 
• We remain open to learning, sharing, and shifting our approach, perspective and process. 
• We embrace the necessity of change within ourselves, our communities, and organization. 
• We have both the audacity to dream beyond what seems impossible and the boldness to pursue those possibilities with tenacity. 

Connection, Relationship, and Collaboration 

• We believe that authentic relationships and principled partnerships are the foundation for building people-centered power within systems that will lead to communities living the lives that we deserve and are fighting for.
• We cultivate relationships, grounded in trust and respect, to work toward a common purpose and shared vision. 
• We believe that the quality of our work is just as important as the path we take to achieve it, so our passion for excellence does not outweigh accountability to our partners, communities, and each other. 
• We operate with integrity, acknowledging our mistakes and attending to the impacts. 
• We are honest, kind, and direct in instances of conflict and believe that principled tension is necessary for the advancement of our work. 

Wholeness, Consideration, and Care

• We are whole human beings and honor the fullness of our lives and the lives of those around us.
• We believe that all people and communities are deserving of joy, rest, safety, and respect. 
• We are flexible in how we work while respecting the space, boundaries, and care of ourselves and those around us.
• We are responsible for our own emotions and how those emotions shape how we respond to and engage with others.

Belonging and Difference 

• We believe in the power of our shared humanity and are committed to upholding the inherent value of people across identities, experiences, and perspectives. 
• We acknowledge the systems that work to oppress the communities we are a part of and collaborate with and are actively working against them to build the world we want to live in.
• We oppose all forms of racism and are committed to learning and proactively shifting how our behaviors, beliefs, and policies reinforce racist ideas and actions. 

Sustainability and Perseverance 

• We prioritize the sustainability of ourselves, communities, and organization by pausing when necessary and reducing harm wherever possible.
• We understand the value and importance of access to information and learning and operate in a stance of abundance and generosity of resources, ability, and knowledge.
• We recognize the “long arc” of systematic change work and are deeply invested in the generational commitment and organizing necessary to realize the world we want to live in and can thrive.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a compelling cover letter and resume to jobs@stateinnovation.org. Please indicate the position you are applying for in the email's subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Candidates who apply by March 13, 2026 will be given priority.

State Innovation Exchange is an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ folks, and immigrants to apply for open positions. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, age, marital, and/or veteran status, or any other characteristic or activity protected by federal, state, or local law.