Organization Name/Information: UNM Development Office/UNM Foundation

Contact name/Information:
Ellen Ashcraft
ashcraft@unm.edu
Todd Staats
tstaats@unm.edu
Phone: 277-0618

Information about the Internship

What tasks will the intern perform; what specific/general skills/experience do you seek?

Writing interns will write news and feature stories on UNM donors and/or their gifts (scholarships, grants, endowments, memorials, etc.); perform background research, interviewing, rewriting and proofreading as necessary for each article; write brief biographical sketches for various publications; write other development-related articles and/or brochure copy as needed; help proofread publications as needed.

Ideally, the writing intern should have some knowledge of the Associated Press Stylebook. He or she must be responsible, be able to meet deadlines and be able to present him/herself in a professional manner in person and on the telephone.

What specific documents/communication projects will the intern work with and be able to present in a portfolio (or otherwise substantiate) upon completion of the internship?

Interns will finish the semester with published articles that can help build a portfolio. In addition to clips from Central Development Office/UNM Foundation publications, the intern's work may appear in the development publications of various UNM schools and colleges.

How much supervision/mentoring will the intern likely receive or have available?

Interns will receive mentoring feedback sessions after each stage/draft of each assignment has been completed. Feedback will be constructive and designed to strengthen the student's writing during the internship.

Is the internship paid or a volunteer opportunity? Paid - $8 per hour

Expected range of hours worked per week (cannot exceed 20) 5 - 10 hours per week. Hours are flexible

Expected duration (normally cannot be less than 4 weeks) Fall 2004 semester

Location of the work: With the exception of in-person feedback sessions conducted in our offices, practically all of the work will be performed off site on the student's own computer (e-mail capabilities are helpful).

Other pertinent information:

When a student interviews for the position, he or she should bring a current resume and writing samples.

In general, the off-site nature of this writing internship is analogous to "beginning freelance writing" in that the student will receive assignments, with deadlines, and be responsible for completing them. Support from professional writer/editor supervisors (both job-share partners, who jointly hold the Development Office publications editor position, hold relevant master's degrees) will be only a phone call away.