2023 Summer Internships

The Institute for Southern Studies, an award-winning nonprofit research and media center based in Durham, North Carolina, seeks Summer Interns to support the Institute’s research and media projects covering a range of critical issues in the South. Institute internships provide opportunities to develop research and writing skills while connecting with leaders, advocates, writers, and researchers in the region. Ideal candidates bring a passion for advancing issues of democracy and social justice in the South as well as strong research and writing skills.

About the Institute for Southern Studies

Founded in 1970 by veterans of the civil rights movement, the Institute for Southern Studies is a research, media and education nonprofit dedicated to exposing injustice, strengthening democracy, and building a community for change in the South. The Institute publishes the online magazine, Facing South, and has earned numerous awards for its media and reporting projects on issues ranging from money in Southern politics to key trends and issues relating to demographic change, human rights, and racial justice.

Institute Internships

The Institute is committed to bringing up the next generation of social justice researchers and writers. Prior interns have gone on to careers writing for national and local media publications and leading research efforts at major advocacy organizations.

Projects

Interns primarily provide research support for Institute projects and reports for Facing South on topics like immigration, environmental justice, labor and workers' rights, voting rights and money in politics. Ideally, internships will involve a longer-term project or focus that culminates in a final product by the end of the summer. Interns may have an opportunity to publish stories at Facing South, depending on the individual’s interests and experience.

While research and writing are typically the focus of Institute Internships, we are also open to other media- and nonprofit-related internships if a student brings a specific focus on certain capacities, such as archival research, digital media strategy, marketing, etc.

Logistics

Internships are typically full-time and eight weeks long over the summer. For 2023, the Institute will be accepting applications for internships based in the Institute's offices in Durham, N.C.

Stipend

Institute internships come with a $400 weekly stipend, paid every two weeks. Interns are encouraged to seek out additional funding that schools, foundations, and others may offer.

Qualifications

Some qualities that we look for in a great intern include:

Strong interest in the issues the Institute covers (see www.facingsouth.org to learn more)
Connection/commitment to the South and advancing democracy and justice in the region
Strong writing skills and an interest in media and journalism
Qualitative and/or quantitative research experience preferred
Ability to work with a team of colleagues both in-person and remotely
Reliability, organization and proactive communication with supervisors and colleagues
Sense of curiosity and a resourcefulness in finding answers to questions a plus
At least a high school degree. Strong preference for those pursuing degrees in relevant fields like journalism, political science, public policy, history, etc.

Internship Details

Hours: Full-time, at least 30 hours/week, standard working hours

Location: In-person in the Institute's Durham office.

Stipend: $400 weekly, paid every two weeks

Time frame: 8-week period running consecutively between May and August

Vacation: Summer holidays and pre-approved vacations*

*Please coordinate dates so that vacations do not overlap with the 8-week period of the internship.

To Apply

Please email your resume and cover letter to internships@southernstudies.org with “Summer Internship” in the subject line. In your cover letter, please describe any writing and/or research experience you have, particular issue area interests and availability over the summer.

The deadline for internship applications is 5 p.m. ET, Friday, March 24, 2023.