VCU Public Relations Internship Program
VCU Communications and Public Relations
VCU's Office of Communications and Public Relations (OCPR), part of the Division of External Relations, leads the news and public information efforts of Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Medical Center. OCPR has two major responsibilities: to fulfill the public information obligations of the university as a public institution, and to develop and execute effective public relations programs to support the goals of Virginia Commonwealth University and its faculty and staff.
Communications and Public Relations is VCU's liaison to the news media and general public. The office also manages the online VCU News Center and the daily email forum, VCU TelegRAM.
VCU Public Relations Internship Program
Virginia Commonwealth University's Office of Communications and Public Relations offers a distinct internship opportunity for students interested in gaining hands-on experience in public relations.
The Public Relations Internship Program provides undergraduate Mass Communications majors in their senior year with first-hand knowledge of university and hospital public and media relations with VCU Public Relations.
Interns gain practical skills in writing news releases, developing and researching stories, and conducting interviews and writing articles for VCU News Center. Other opportunities include working on special projects, accompanying staff as they work with media visiting the VCU campuses, helping to arrange news conferences and university events, and performing research and administrative duties as they relate to a functioning public relations office.
Internships are available on both the Monroe Park and MCV campuses for two or three credit hours. Interested students must be in their senior year, should have knowledge of news writing and public relations writing and have an interest in pursuing a career in print or broadcast journalism or public relations. Interns are not paid and must schedule regular hours per week depending on the credits earned.
HOW TO APPLY: To apply for an internship with the Office of Communications and Public Relations, submit the following : 1) a resume; 2) a cover letter explaining how the internship fits into your career plans; and 3) two complete prose pieces of any length, fiction or nonfiction. E-mail to: Leila Ugincius, at lugincius@vcu.edu. For more information, call 804-828-2725.