In mid-July, we had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Morgan Dobbins of the Leon County Communications Office in order to gain a perspective on internship positions there. Ms. Dobbins explained first and foremost what the Leon County Communications Office is and how it operates. "Leon County Community and Media Relations proactively facilitates the accurate, effective, timely, and consistent flow of public information to internal and external parties of interest, provides community outreach and serves as the County’s liaison with its media partners,” Dobbins said.”It’s our job to let our citizens and community know about important issues and events occurring within the County.”
If a student were to be interested in an internship position with the Leon County Communications Office, they can surely expect plenty of communications-based work to keep them motivated and busy. Dobbins listed examples of projects that student interns are tasked with, such as social media strategy and content creation, press releases, photography, graphic design, etc. Student interns even get the chance to explore research on different topics. The main objective of the internship is to “provide an opportunity for students to gain experience in public sector communications with mentoring.” Dobbins explained that “interns are assigned a supervisor and receive one-on-one training and instruction based on their skills and interests. Students are given deadlines, sometimes tight, as well as feedback on projects and assignments.” Additionally, students work with other interns on projects that they eventually can incorporate into their work portfolios. “Many of our interns go on to work in public or private sector communications after participating in the program,” Dobbins said.
Under the guidance of professionals, student interns will have the opportunity to work with and learn from this diverse team, who are “committed to educating and informing the public on a variety of topics, from Parks and Recreation to Tourism, to emergency communications, and more,” Dobbins said. It is certainly a position cut out for those students who have piqued an interest in the local government and can fuse that interest with abilities to create content and maintain hard work. In light of COVID-19, recent student interns have experienced a move from an in-person experience to a remote one. Despite this unprecedented change, students still have a viable chance to learn. “We remain committed to working with our interns to provide a valuable experience in which they can learn new skills and develop professional connections,” Dobbins assured.
In preparation for an internship position with the Leon County Communications Office, students should check-mark a few things off their list of expectations. “Students interested in securing an internship should tailor their responses and cover letters to the position when applying,” Dobbins said, offering some advice for potential new interns. “While the purpose of the internship is to gain relevant job experience, students should be sure to highlight any transferable or relevant skills they may have when it relates to the position. And be open about the real reasons you are pursuing the internship and what you hope to gain from the experience; interest and enthusiasm goes a long way.”
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