Multimedia & Video Production Internship Spring 2027

ISW Internship Program Overview

ISW is offering in-person, remote, and hybrid internships for Spring 2027. Instructions to apply for the scholarship are below. 

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is committed to training the next generation of national security leaders through its innovative educational programs. ISW seeks motivated and experienced college students or recent graduates to join our intern team. ISW offers internships across diverse research portfolios and departments, including Russia, China, and Iran's proxy networks. ISW also offers internships in Geospatial Intelligence and Technologies, National Security and lntelligence Analysis, and our Cognitive Warfare Task Force.

Why Work for ISW?

ISW believes that ground realities must drive the formulation of strategy and policy. In pursuit of this principle, ISW conducts detailed open-source intelligence analysis to provide timely and accurate information on current conflicts and security threats directly to policymakers and warfighters.

Interns at ISW have an unparalleled opportunity to analyze conflicts in ways that directly inform policy-makers on some of the most pressing issues facing American national security. Our interns work directly with analysts. They receive classroom education, regular leadership engagement, and a chance to work with cutting-edge technologies employed in business and the intelligence community. Interns have the opportunity to stand at the front lines of military research and policy development, tackling the latest crises in the headlines.

The ISW Internship Program is one of three core education programs housed within The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders, launched to identify, educate, and develop the future cadre of leaders committed to America’s national security. ISW views interns as an integral component of its team. ISW has worked with interns to draft, edit, and publish their own research under the mentorship of senior analysts. It has also hired many interns onto its staff.

Multimedia & Video Production Internship: ISW’s External Relations Team offers a new opportunity to candidates interested in developing ISW’s multimedia products and assisting the production of high-performing video content to accompany
ISW’s research products. The intern will hone video production skills, including recording, editing, and publishing videos to social media. They will have the opportunity to learn more about scriptwriting and multimedia strategy. 

Over the course of a quarter, the intern will work closely with the External Relations Team and research teams to develop new video concepts and conduct thorough multimedia research to support ISW’s products. The intern will have the opportunity to create and edit videos, graphics, and written material, as well as assist in special projects and company initiatives. Interns will also help develop and execute social media campaigns across platforms like X, Bluesky, Threads, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.   

This internship provides
a great opportunity to train alongside a small and flexible external relations team in an engaging and fast-paced work environment. This is a full-time (five days per week) in-person
or hybrid internship; part-time or remote work will be considered on a case-by-case basis.    

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and several examples of produced multimedia content, including videos, graphics, and a writing sample. 

Qualifications 

• Candidates must be motivated and organized college students or recent graduates with demonstrated
  proficiency in a related field.   

• Candidates must possess excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills.    

• Candidates must be proficient in Adobe Suite, including Premiere Pro and/or other video software. 

• Candidates should exhibit an understanding of photo and video equipment and maintenance. 

• Candidates should have an eye for visual storytelling, pacing, and brand consistency.    

• Demonstrate an above-average knowledge of social media platforms YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.    

• The candidate will preferably have a demonstrated interest or expertise in national security issues, particularly Russia, Ukraine, China, or issues in the Middle East.   

• The candidate must show commitment to — and interest in — the core mission and values of ISW. 

Spring 2027 Internship Program Dates: ISW internships start on January 12, 2027. The program will run until May 14. Interns must both be authorized to work in the United States and be physically present in the United States during their internship tenure. Working remotely outside of the United States is not authorized. If you attend a US university on a student visa, you must be eligible for and obtain a CPT authorization before beginning at ISW. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until November 13, 2026. 

Instructions: Please upload your resume, cover letter, and writing/editing sample. If submitting an editing sample, make sure the sample demonstrates the effect of your edits in some manner. Embedded tracked changes work for this purpose as do screenshots of your communications with the writer. You may include full-page screen captures or scans of edited content, but make sure the resolution is high enough for the image to be readable. You may also include a short synopsis explaining how your edits improved the document. Your cover letter and work sample should be no longer than five pages combined; the work sample can be excerpted from a longer paper. 

ISW will work with students to gain academic credit for internships where applicable. 

ISW Scholarship Application

The Institute for the Study of War will offer intern candidates up to a $1,000 monthly living stipend as part of a scholarship program.* To be considered for the scholarship, candidates must upload a scholarship application as part of their internship application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until November 13, 2026. 

Candidates will be assessed based on the following criteria:

1. Ability to contribute as a member of one of ISW’s research, operations, business development, or external relations teams; and
2. Financial need, such that an unpaid internship would not be possible without assistance.

To be considered for the scholarship, candidates must upload a scholarship application as part of their internship application. 

Within the scholarship application, candidates should upload a 2- to 3-page cover letter which answers each of the following questions. (This should be a different cover letter than the one used for the internship application itself.) 

1. Which ISW internship is your top choice? Why do you believe you are qualified?
2. What do you believe to be the most pressing national security problem the US faces today? What solution(s) would you propose?
3. Where do you see yourself in your future career? How will an ISW internship help you get there?
4. Why have you chosen to apply for this supplemental scholarship?
5. Are you currently receiving federal financial aid and/or need-based aid from your university? Feel free to describe using as much detail as you are comfortable.

*Please note that the up to $1,000 monthly scholarship is classified as taxable income.