Fall 2026 Internship - Public Relations

Internship: Public Relations

Department: External Affairs & Marketing

Status: Temporary, non-exempt

Pay Rate: $17.05/hr

Location: Hybrid

Season: Fall 2026 (8/31/26-11/20/26)

Application Deadline: July 13 at 5pm CST

Shedd Internship Program

Shedd Aquarium's Internship Program aims to provide meaningful career exploration for those seeking professions in non-profits, animal care, conservation, research, and beyond. We hope to inspire and develop future professionals as diverse as the aquatic world we care for.

These opportunities are geared toward those that are new to the field and just starting to establish a career. They have the skills and knowledge, but not necessarily the real-world application.

We welcome applications from all levels of experience, including those seeking career exploration or changes, gap year students, freshmen, sophomores, and those seeking first internships.

Department Overview:

We are looking for a public relations (PR) intern to join our External Affairs and Marketing department. In this role, you will work closely with the Coordinator of Public Relations assisting with regular media relations efforts, writing of press releases and pitches, tracking earned media placements and much more. These efforts and activities should help position Shedd as a top cultural attraction, as well as an established leader in animal care, conservation and environmental education.

The PR intern will gain real-world experience working with media outlets and reporters as part of a non-profit public relations team and utilize Shedd Aquarium resources to grow as a young professional through connections to other Shedd staff and interns through formal and informal trainings as well as mentorship opportunities. We value our interns, and they are considered part of the team.

Environment:

The PR intern will be working on a hybrid schedule with some days onsite at Shedd Aquarium and some days remote from a quiet location with reliable WiFi connection. During onsite days, the intern will work at a desk space in the office, possibly sharing space with other members of the department. Physical demands may include walking/navigating around the aquarium to gather story ideas and familiarize themselves with the guest experience.

Learning Goals:

• Develop Strategic Communication Materials

• Assist with writing projects, such as pitches, releases, fact sheets and more while ensuring alignment with organizational messaging and brand standards. Receive regular feedback to continue to hone skills and improve writing ability.

• Apply Public Relations Measurement and Reporting Techniques

• Gain hands-on experience operating PR software and tools, such as Meltwater, and baseline knowledge about evaluation methods of PR metrics.

• Build Media Relations and Internal Stakeholder Engagement Experience

• Attend a media training presentation or meeting to understand how to prepare internal spokespeople for interview opportunities. Gain real-life experience researching and identifying media contacts to bolster existing or new lists for outreach. By the end of the internship, use confidence to communicate with external reporters and editors on behalf of the aquarium.

Responsibilities & Projects:

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd's vision, mission and values
• Develop an understanding of Shedd Aquarium's brand and voice.
• Willingness to interact with both internal and external audiences via telephone or in-person. Updates managers accordingly.
• Light media pitching; returning media requests.
• Assist in drafting press releases, pitches, and other communications assets (fact sheets, key messages, etc.)
• Assist with the coordination logistics for media interview opportunities and events.
• Produce media monitoring reports to showcase how Shedd is perceived in the news and compile secured media placements by using PR analytics software.
• Analyze monthly PR metrics and assist in applying learnings to future efforts.
• Build and update media lists.
• Update media kits and other communications resources.
• Participate in team meetings and brainstorms to support communication goals.
• Support the greater External Affairs & Marketing team on general projects.
• Other projects as assigned

Qualifications:

Fields of Interest:

• Public relations
• Communications
• Journalism

Skills/Characteristics:

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Curiosity and interest in aquatic animal life, environmental science and cultural institutions
• Baseline knowledge about AP Style, spelling and grammar
• Organizational skills
• Detail-oriented and thorough
• Ability to work both independently  and collaboratively
• Creative thinking
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Professional work ethic and demeanor is imperative
• Must be at least 18 years old at time of application.
• Have a high school diploma or GED at time of application.

Schedule:

• This internship will run from 8/31/26-11/20/26.

• The first day of the internship will be a full day orientation from 9am-5pm. This is required, even if you will not normally be scheduled on Mondays.

• We anticipate this position will be scheduled for 24 hours per week during this time period, pending business needs and individual performance.

• Preferred schedule: three days a week, two days onsite (Tuesday and either Wednesday or Thursday) and one day remote. Willing to be flexible and balance intern's availability with department needs.

• Set schedule based on intern availability and host department needs.

Reasonable Accommodations:

Shedd Aquarium is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodations for any part of the employment process, please email us at internship@sheddaquarium.org.

We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, Veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team.