Which Public Relations Internships Offer Experience?

Public relations internships that offer meaningful experience typically include hands-on work in media relations, content creation, event coordination, and client management. Top opportunities come from established PR agencies like TrizCom PR, BerlinRosen, and Pierpont, entertainment companies such as Disney and major sports organizations like the NBA, nonprofit agencies, and in-house corporate PR departments across technology, healthcare, and consumer goods sectors.

The quality of experience varies significantly based on the organization’s structure, the intern’s responsibilities, and whether the position provides actual client-facing work rather than purely administrative tasks.

Agency-Based PR Internships

PR agencies consistently provide some of the most comprehensive internship experiences due to their diverse client portfolios and fast-paced environments.

Full-Service Communications Firms

BerlinRosen operates as a full-service consulting and communications firm with over 300 strategists across New York, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles. Their 2025 summer internship program assigns interns to specific teams working across technology, real estate, social impact, and consumer goods sectors. Interns handle both immediate daily tasks and longer-term projects, learning high-level communications strategizing, writing, and pitching. The program runs from mid-May through late summer with hybrid work arrangements requiring at least three days per week in-office.

TrizCom Public Relations in Dallas offers paid internships where college and university students work alongside experienced communications professionals. Interns gain experience with best-in-class public relations software, build connections with industry professionals and journalists, and create a professional portfolio of work. The program emphasizes real-world writing, media relations, marketing, and promotional scenarios, allowing interns to work on actual partner projects rather than simulated exercises.

Pierpont runs year-round internships accepting applications on an ongoing basis. Their program aims to give interns a diversified experience across account team functions, including media relations, content development, public relations, digital marketing, and public affairs. The agency emphasizes tactical know-how that allows interns to contribute meaningfully to client work.

Boutique and Specialized Agencies

Maven Agency in Philadelphia accepts resumes for summer public relations interns, offering genuine small-firm experience. Interns provide support for all team members across various client accounts, gaining exposure to the operations of an innovative communications firm.

Dittoe Public Relations offers paid remote-first internships where interns take on responsibilities similar to account executives. Tasks include pitching stories, seeding products to secure media coverage, creating social media content calendars, assisting with events, and attending coffee meetings with journalists. The agency provides mentorship from experienced PR professionals and social media experts.

The Brandman Agency specializes in luxury hospitality and seeks interns to support high-profile travel accounts. While unpaid, they offer school credit and virtual learning opportunities with flexible scheduling based on class commitments or part-time jobs.

Corporate In-House Internships

Many corporations maintain dedicated PR departments that offer internships focused on specific industries or products.

Entertainment and Media

Disney offers multiple internships across The Walt Disney Studios for publicity campaigns. Interns coordinate publicity efforts for studio releases across the EMEA region or work specifically with the UK Publicity team on theatrical, streaming, and lifecycle releases. The positions cover cinema releases and Disney+ streaming across Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures.

The NBA provides communications, marketing, and PR internships at their New York headquarters, exposing students to sports entertainment public relations at the league level.

Technology and Consumer Goods

L’Oréal offers a 12-month public relations internship for Maybelline New York within Global Marketing, providing extended exposure to beauty industry PR practices.

Technology companies increasingly offer PR internships within their communications departments, though these positions often focus on corporate communications and investor relations rather than traditional consumer PR.

Nonprofit and Advocacy Organizations

Nonprofit organizations provide distinctive PR internship experiences centered on mission-driven communications and advocacy work.

Pawzz offers a six-month unpaid internship focusing on content creation, PR strategy, journalism writing, event planning, and advocacy campaigns. Interns represent the organization’s mission to external audiences, craft compelling stories, build relationships with media and influencers, and identify opportunities to promote initiatives. The role emphasizes using storytelling as a tool for social change.

Young Thames LLP positions its Brand Management & Reputation Capital Intern role as focused on building reputation capital beyond publicity. The six-month on-site position in Noida involves strategic communications, media relations, and AI-powered brand intelligence work inspired by global standards.

Syria Relief and Development seeks communications and outreach interns for humanitarian work, combining traditional PR skills with mission-based communications.

International and Remote Opportunities

Remote and international internships expand access to PR experience beyond geographic limitations.

Virtual Internships

The Intern Group provides remote PR internships offering hands-on experience in a virtual format. Interns work on partnerships with social media influencers, product placement strategies, event planning for virtual and hybrid events, and arranging media appearances for executives. The program includes networking opportunities and portfolio building with flexible scheduling.

International Placements

World Endeavors offers public relations internships in Thailand, Spain, and Argentina. Interns work in PR agencies or company PR departments, gaining experience in strategic communication, brand management, and market perceptions. The Thailand program includes comprehensive learning in an international business environment with structured housing, orientation, and insurance. First-month costs run $3,790 with additional months at $1,490 to $1,690 depending on location.

Academic Program Internships

Universities integrate internships into degree programs with varying credit and supervision structures.

Michigan State University’s PR 493 course allows students to earn credit for internships lasting at least seven weeks, ideally running the full academic semester. The program requires students to meet eligibility criteria including academic standing and advisor approval. Students receive pass/fail grades based on merit of experience and completion of course assignments.

Temple University requires public relations field experience for program students, with internships serving as an exemplary way to fulfill this requirement. Students can begin exploring internships at junior or senior status with at least a 3.0 GPA in the major and permission from the program’s internship director.

Skills and Experience Components

The most valuable PR internships share common experiential elements that translate to professional readiness.

Media Relations and Writing

Substantive internships involve drafting press releases, crafting media pitches, building and maintaining media contact lists, and pitching stories to journalists. TrizCom PR emphasizes that interns need strong written and verbal communication skills, working knowledge of AP style, and the ability to meet deadlines while multitasking.

According to industry job descriptions, press releases remain a staple task where interns learn to craft compelling stories that capture media attention. This extends to writing for various formats including social media platforms, newsletters, blogs, and client information packages.

Event Coordination

Event planning appears consistently across quality internship programs. Interns assist with planning and coordinating events ranging from product launches and press conferences to community events and media tours. HROC describes how interns work as part of teams to plan, create, and host events from product launches to retailer exhibitions.

Social Media Management

Modern PR internships integrate social media strategy and execution. Interns draft social media schedules, respond in real-time to social engagements, monitor relevant industry conversations, and create content calendars. OneChocolate notes their interns create social media content calendars alongside traditional PR tasks like pitching stories and conducting research.

Client and Stakeholder Interaction

The most valuable internships provide client-facing responsibilities. HROC emphasizes that all their interns are entirely client facing, completing daily tasks that have real effects and outcomes. Interns liaise with clients, attend meetings, and receive daily support and advice while gaining exposure to every aspect of public relations.

Research and Analysis

Research capabilities underpin strategic PR work. Interns conduct market research, analyze competitors, research industry trends, and perform media monitoring. Durée & Company looks for interns with the ability to perform research and market analysis activities that potentially impact a client’s reputation or business.

Compensation and Benefits

The financial arrangements for PR internships vary significantly and affect accessibility and program quality.

Paid vs. Unpaid Positions

TrizCom PR, Pierpont, BerlinRosen, and Dittoe PR all offer paid internships. BerlinRosen compensates at $18/hour for undergraduate candidates and $23/hour for graduate candidates. Reed Public Relations in Nashville pays interns and prefers those who can work 20-40 hours per week.

Many boutique agencies and nonprofits offer unpaid internships with college credit options. Ajenda PR’s fall 2025 program runs 16 weeks unpaid but happily offers college credit. The Brandman Agency similarly provides unpaid remote opportunities with virtual learning and flexible scheduling.

According to Glassdoor data from 2022, 87% of paid interns made at least $15 per hour, with an average hourly wage of $24.63. The average public relations internship salary reaches $38,685 according to Zippia, with Washington state showing the highest salaries.

Professional Development Benefits

Beyond compensation, quality internships provide professional development value. TrizCom PR highlights connections with industry professionals, journalists, and other PR practitioners, plus a professional portfolio of work that sets candidates apart. Interns gain experience with industry-standard public relations software and tools.

BerlinRosen’s program offers skills and experiences designed for success, with opportunities to work across a diverse client base spanning technology, real estate, social impact, and consumer goods. This variety ensures exposure to different projects and industries.

Industry Demand and Hiring Trends

Understanding the broader internship landscape helps contextualize which opportunities offer the best prospects.

Market Size and Availability

LinkedIn shows over 2,000 public relations intern jobs in the United States, with Indeed listing 509 positions at any given time. Major hubs include New York, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., though remote opportunities have expanded geographic access.

NACE research indicates that completing an internship program boosts retention chances by 32%. More than 70% of interns receive job offers from the organizations where they interned, with approximately 80% of those receiving offers accepting them.

Competitive Selection

The average intern recruitment process lasts eight and a half months according to NACE 2021 data. Open applications remain the most common sourcing method, though networking and university career centers provide additional paths.

For 59.4% of students, not knowing how to find internships represents the main barrier to participation. The competitive landscape intensified with internship listings down 14.7% in May 2019 compared to the previous year, though positions remained above pre-pandemic levels.

Skills Employers Seek

PR agencies look for specific qualities in intern candidates. Durée & Company emphasizes eight key attributes: passion for PR and communications demonstrated from application through interview, writing proficiency including AP Style knowledge, detail orientation with excellent time-management, ability to manage projects and create contingency plans, technical facility with social media and database management software, interpersonal skills for client representation, rapid mobilization to share insights and manage resources, and hands-on experience as full-time team members.

Betterteam’s job description template highlights that successful PR interns must be confident public speakers with basic copywriting and social media marketing skills, able to build relationships with media and suppliers while constantly seeking ways to boost corporate image.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tasks do PR interns actually perform?

PR interns draft press releases and media pitches, build and update media contact lists, monitor media coverage and compile reports, manage social media content and engagement, assist with event planning and execution, conduct research on industry trends and competitors, and provide administrative support to PR teams. The most valuable internships assign client-facing responsibilities with real outcomes rather than purely observational or administrative roles.

How long do PR internships typically last?

Standard internship durations run 10-16 weeks for summer programs, with some organizations offering semester-long positions of 16-18 weeks. Year-round programs like Pierpont accept applications on an ongoing basis. HROC offers one-year paid internships for university students, while L’Oréal provides 12-month positions. The average internship length across industries is approximately 4.5 months according to NSCI 2021 data.

Do unpaid PR internships provide valuable experience?

Unpaid internships can provide valuable experience if they offer substantive responsibilities, mentorship, and portfolio-building opportunities. However, paid positions often correlate with more structured programs and client-facing work. Students should evaluate whether unpaid positions offer school credit, clear learning objectives, direct mentorship, and actual PR work rather than administrative tasks. The opportunity cost of unpaid work may limit participation for students without financial support.

Which industries offer the best PR internship opportunities?

Entertainment and media companies like Disney provide exposure to high-profile campaigns and product launches. Technology firms offer corporate communications experience. Consumer goods brands like L’Oréal provide beauty and fashion PR exposure. Sports organizations such as the NBA deliver sports entertainment PR experience. Nonprofit organizations offer mission-driven and advocacy communications work. PR agencies provide the most diverse exposure across multiple industries and clients simultaneously.

Related Skills Development

Strong writing forms the foundation of PR work, with interns developing abilities in multiple formats from press releases to social media captions. Communication extends beyond writing to include verbal skills for media pitching, client conversations, and event representation.

Organizational capabilities prove essential for managing multiple deadlines, coordinating events, and maintaining media databases. Research skills enable interns to identify media opportunities, analyze competitors, and stay informed about industry developments.

Technical proficiency with tools like Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, content management systems, social media platforms, and PR software such as Cision or Muck Rack becomes increasingly important. Time management allows interns to prioritize competing demands in fast-paced environments.

The practical application of these skills through internships creates the competitive advantage employers seek, with entry-level workers who complete internships earning approximately 6% more than those without internship experience.

Most organizations begin recruiting approximately eight months before internship start dates, with applications reviewed on rolling bases. Students should prepare materials including resumes highlighting relevant coursework and projects, cover letters tailored to specific organizations, portfolios showcasing writing samples or campaign work, and professional references from professors or previous supervisors.

PRSSA membership provides access to the PRSA Jobcenter with up-to-date internship and job opportunities, plus career resources, mentorship programs, and networking at conferences. University career centers offer additional support with resume writing, interview preparation, and employer connections.