Founder’s Award Integrated Communications Intern (Summer) | Fahlgren Mortine

Fahlgren Mortine is seeking a Founder’s Award Integrated Communications Intern to support the company’s existing client relationships. This internship opportunity will provide the selected candidate with experience working in an integrated communications company in a hybrid work setting. The intern will learn about the intersection of paid, earned, owned and shared media channels.

This internship will be managed by team members in Fahlgren Mortine’s Columbus, Ohio office. Current undergraduate juniors and seniors with communications and/or marketing experience are encouraged to apply for the paid 10-week internship, which will begin in May/June 2023.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

• Compensation: This internship position is paid $15/hour. The Founder’s Award also includes a $1,000 scholarship for the recipient.

APPLICATION DETAILS:

• When applying to this internship position, please upload the following:
• Current resume
• Cover letter explaining your skill set and why you should be considered for this opportunity
• Completed Founder’s Award application assignment (details below)
• Two work/class writing samples (such as published articles, news releases, fact sheets, memos, plans, essays, research papers, creative briefs, PowerPoint presentations, etc.)

The deadline to apply is Friday, February 17, 2023.

POTENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducts new business and client/competitor research and analysis
• Develops media lists, influencer lists, media briefs, editorial calendars and media results reports
• Participates in both internal team and client meetings
• Writes news releases, website copy, fact sheets, collateral copy, social media content and other materials, and may support the development of integrated campaign materials including case studies, etc.
• Conducts social media and brand research as well as audits
• Interacts with local, trade and national media, as well as influencers, when appropriate
• Other duties, as assigned

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR POTENTIAL GROWTH:

• Exposure to a broad agency setting with communications, marketing, strategic planning, media, creative and digital disciplines
• Opportunity to tailor existing internship program to meet individual needs
• Opportunity to develop proficiencies with leading-edge communications technology research tools, including MuckRack and Critical Mention
• Opportunity to write creative and media briefs, and blog posts
• One-on-one mentoring with designated individuals
• Ability to cultivate diverse skills through a well-rounded experience by working in a variety of industries, including consumer, non-profit, business-to-business, education, healthcare, retail, technology and tourism accounts
• Exposure to a variety of marketing and communications focus areas, including media relations, internal communications, investor relations, industry analyst relations, public affairs, strategic research, branding, crisis communications, social media, media planning and buying, paid search, brand planning and more

QUALIFICATIONS:

To apply, you must be a full-time undergraduate student. While preference is given to public relations, communications, marketing, advertising and journalism majors, all applicants will be considered. Prior internship experience in public relations, communications, marketing or journalism is also a plus.

Ideal applicants possess:

• Strong research, organizational and writing skills
• A proven understanding of marketing and communications, social media and online and traditional media
• Excellent communication skills
• Proficiency using AP Style is preferred
• Solid critical thinking skills
• Ability to take initiative and assume responsibility
• Ability to work independently and in team settings
• Excellent attention to detail, including proofreading
• A positive attitude and drive
• Strong Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills

FAHLGREN MORTINE 2023 FOUNDER’S AWARD APPLICATION ASSIGNMENTS 

Please complete one of the following assignments and include this assignment when submitting your application materials.

Writing and Research

Lakeland Resort, a boutique lakeside property in Northeast Ohio, is launching a new wellness and stress reduction program for guests on May 26, 2023. The new concept, the first-of-its kind in Ohio, will boast a restorative sleep program and an activity menu designed to help guests experience the healing quality of outdoor activities and exercise. The restorative sleep program has been designed with the help of one of the top sleep doctors in the U.S. and an indoor air quality expert to help guests sleep better and leave feeling truly rejuvenated. Our client will hold a pre-launch overnight experience for media and local influencers to generate coverage ahead of the program’s public launch. The immersive two-night event will take place the weekend of April 21, 2023. To generate more local excitement, Lakeland Resort will hold a contest to increase organic awareness of the opening on social media. The contest winner will receive a two-night stay at the resort the weekend the wellness and stress reduction program launch to the public as well as a free meal at the resort’s farm-to-table restaurant.

More details about the experience as well as contest entry details can be found at LakelandResort.com/Wellness.

Our clients have approached us to generate coverage and awareness of the new program in the local and regional media markets. As we develop and execute a fully integrated marketing and communications plan, we will evaluate our success based on the number of contest entries, event attendees and resulting media coverage.

Tactics in the plan will include a news release as well as a social media campaign. Using the hypothetical facts above, please review the prompts below and complete either assignment A or B. Feel free to use creative license in adding facts not included above if you feel they will contribute to the completeness of the assignment.

Assignment A – News Release Assignment

Using the hypothetical details above, draft a news release announcing the launch of the program to the media. The release should adhere to AP Style guidelines. Please complete to the best of your ability and include in your internship application materials.

Assignment B – Promoted Post Creative Brief Assignment

Our copywriter and designer will be creating a series of three social posts and images, which we will then target to our specific audience using paid promotion. To provide this team with the details from above, we need you to answer the following questions from our creative brief. Please complete the questions to the best of your ability and include in your internship application materials.

1. Situation – what is the real challenge/opportunity we are trying to address?
2. Goals – what is the communication/brand/advertisement trying to accomplish?
3. Target audience – who are we talking to?
4. Target insight – what do we know about them that will help us?
5. Message – what’s the single most important message we want the target audience to take away? It must be unique and ownable.
6. What else – is there anything else worth thinking about that might help us get to great creative work?

About the Award:

The Fahlgren Mortine Founder’s Award, created in 2000, is named in honor of the founder of the Public Relations Student Society of America, Walt Seifert. A fierce advocate of free speech and accuracy in the media, Seifert had more than 4,600 letters-to-the-editor published in his lifetime. In addition, Seifert was devoted to the professional success of his students. Throughout his life, Seifert touched the lives of countless young professionals, challenging them to sharpen their critical faculties and communication skills. The Founder’s Award seeks to carry on his legacy by offering students an opportunity to work with marketing and communications professionals dedicated to mentoring and professional growth.

Each year, Fahlgren Mortine selects one college student as a Founder’s Award recipient, a premier program for marketing and communications students. This award provides a paid summer internship, plus a $1,000 scholarship. 

Fahlgren Mortine strives to make this program one of the best in the nation. The Founder’s Award intern will be introduced to all aspects of marketing and communications, including strategic planning, research, media relations, social media engagement, writing, internal communications, special events and online communications. Interns are exposed to a variety of industries to provide a well-rounded experience. In addition, interns are also involved in team meetings, brainstorming sessions and much more. Fahlgren Mortine seeks to provide its interns with the tactical experience that will help them build a meaningful resume and portfolio, in addition to meeting individual needs and career goals.