Research Intern

Summary

Join American Oversight's Research team as a Summer Research Intern and contribute to our mission of advancing truth, accountability, and democracy. This internship offers valuable hands-on experience in media monitoring, records request drafting, and document review. You will support ongoing investigations into government misconduct and abuses of power, working approximately 32 hours per week. The internship provides opportunities to develop research skills and contribute to impactful projects. American Oversight is a remote-first organization, with interns working remotely from specified locations. The hourly compensation is $19, and the application deadline is March 11th.

Requirements

• Strong research, writing, and oral communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Interest and engagement in political news and the workings of the federal and state governments
• Comfort handling multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Positive attitude and willingness to take initiative
• Willingness to ask for guidance or support when needed
• Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources
• High degree of professional ethics, discretion, and integrity

Responsibilities

• Draft records requests: Research and draft public records requests (approximately 1 - 2 per week) to federal and state agencies to support American Oversight's accountability work
• Review records: Review documents received in response to records requests and compile noteworthy items and ideas for follow-up research as needed
• Synthesize documents: Draft and contribute to timelines, blog posts, and other written products in issue areas of importance. For example, compiling a timeline of attacks on voting rights in Wisconsin in 2019 or a report on treatment of immigrants in detention centers based on our documents
• Media monitoring: Stay informed on the relevant activities of the federal government and state governments and identify areas where AO could use public records requests to hold officials accountable
• Provide Strategic Partnerships team support: Participate in the exchange of research insights on partner and coalition calls with our Strategic Partnerships team
• Provide Research team support: Support AO's research team by lending a hand with research projects
• Attend and participate in regular meetings with the Research team and with AO’s broader staff

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest in government accountability and ethics
• Familiarity with major issues in national political news and the way they are discussed in mainstream media, as well as the ability to quickly learn new topics as they arise
• Experience working independently in a remote environment and self-managing deadlines
• Prior experience working collaboratively within a team and cross-departmentally

Benefits

• $19 per hour. This rate is subject to adjustment based on the needs or restrictions of other external funding received by the intern, if any
• If you would prefer to structure this as a clinical externship for academic credit, we will be happy to assist in any necessary paperwork from your school
• Remote work