Press Office Intern

Entity: Corporate Services; Department: Communications; Location: 3535 Market Street, hybrid; Hours: Per diem.

About the role

The Penn Medicine News Team seeks a detail‑oriented, proactive Press Office Intern to support a fast‑paced, newsroom‑style media relations operation within one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. Reporting to the Associate News Director and working closely with media relations, communications, and news production staff, the intern will assist in pitching stories, tracking media coverage, supporting press operations, and coordinating media logistics for Penn Medicine news announcements and events. This position offers hands‑on experience in media relations, journalism‑style pitching, press operations, and earned media tracking within a major healthcare and higher‑education environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist with researching, developing, and pitching story ideas to local, national, and trade media outlets.
• Support drafting and tailoring media pitches highlighting Penn Medicine research, clinical advances, patient care, and institutional initiatives.
• Monitor Penn Medicine news, research, and faculty activity for potential media opportunities.
• Track incoming media inquiries and assist in routing and coordinating responses with subject matter experts.
• Maintain and update media contact lists and targeted pitching lists by beat and outlet.
• Assist with preparing briefing materials, fact sheets, talking points, and background documents for media outreach and interviews.
• Support scheduling and logistics for media interviews with physicians, researchers, and leadership.
• Assist with media escorts for on‑site visits, including credentialing, coordination, and day‑of support.
• Support press events, announcements, and media briefings (in‑person and virtual), including logistical preparation and execution.
• Track and log earned media coverage across print, broadcast, and digital outlets.
• Compile daily and weekly media clips and summaries for internal distribution.
• Maintain organized records of media placements, coverage trends, and reporter engagement.
• Assist with basic reporting on media reach, message pull‑through, and communications impact.
• Contribute to special projects and general newsroom‑style support as needed.
• Perform duties in accordance with Penn Medicine and entity values, policies, and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned to support the unit, department, entity, and health system organization.

The intern will gain experience in:

• Media pitching and newsroom‑style communications strategy
• Health care and science media relations
• Press office operations in a major academic medical center
• Earned media tracking, clipping, and analytics
• Working with physicians, researchers, and institutional leadership
• Crisis and real‑time media response support
• Fundamentals of health and science journalism from an institutional perspective

Requirements

• High school diploma/GED required OR current undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Media Studies, or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills required.

Benefits

• Comprehensive compensation and benefits program.
• One of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region.
• Employee health and wellness programs to help employees stay healthy.