Policy Research Intern

National Journal’s Presentation Center is hiring a Policy Research Intern to join our team of experts producing insight and intelligence on how Washington works. 

National Journal is a premier research and insights company committed to helping organizations effectively navigate Washington’s political landscape. Best known as one of Washington’s most trusted media brands for nearly 50 years, our expertise is unmatched with teams of specialists dedicated to government affairs, communications, and political research, in addition to exceptional journalism. Our mission is to equip the thousands of government and business leaders in the nation’s capital with the intelligence, insights, and connections they need to save time, increase efficiency, and deliver success.

What is National Journal’s Presentation Center?

We analyze, synthesize, and visualize news and information related to policy and politics, publishing content exclusively for senior public policy practitioners and government affairs executives. Our diverse membership includes policymakers and senior professionals from the world’s leading companies, nonprofits, and associations.

Each week, we publish hundreds of slides, curating and translating complex policy information and election analysis into easy-to-edit slides and charts. Using this background and our expertise, we create custom content tailored to members’ needs, delivering 40-60 bespoke deliverables a week.

You are the ideal Policy Research Intern if:

• You are excited by all types of research—both quantitative and qualitative—and apply a high level of rigor and strong data hygiene practices to all phases of the work

• You “nerd out” when presented with data outputs, and you creatively apply tools to uncover critical (and unexpected) trends in data

• You know when to shift gears, when to dive deep into data exploration and when to distill the information gathered to produce actionable insight, keeping to project deadlines

• You know that research must be made accessible to be consumed and enjoy producing highly-visualized PowerPoint presentations

• You listen and quickly adapt when requirements change, exhibiting a willingness to “go above and beyond” in service to others, you are equally effective working independently or in a team

• You are a “policy wonk,” and while you may be deep on one topic, you are conversant and knowledgeable across several topic areas

In this role, the Policy Research Intern:

• Synthesizes and analyzes data, contextualizing and interpreting research findings within larger ideas, topics, and trends

• Learns to produce policymaker profiles for our Almanac database, including researching, drafting, and updating

• Creates high-quality presentations based on primary (quantitative and qualitative) data sources and secondary news sources

• Extracts key insights for an executive audience, conveying them in clear, concise written and visual summaries, employing data-driven charts, maps and graphics where appropriate

• Is interested in diving deeper into a particular policy area, like infrastructure, trade, health care, or the federal budget, and participates in content production within a defined policy area

• Contributes to the development and deployment of daily newsletters spotlighting the Presentation Center’s new research and profiles

• Participates in administrative duties as required

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate:

• A current graduate or undergraduate student with an excellent academic record

• Experience synthesizing quantitative and qualitative research and information into concise bullets and graphics

• Strong writing skills with an ability to convey information accurately and concisely

• Experience or interest in creating graphical and visual representations of data

• Demonstrated interest in politics and public policy

• Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel

• Entrepreneurial spirit; track record of building new initiatives from conception to execution
  

• Creative thinking and resourcefulness in problem-solving

• Prodigious work ethic and spirit of generosity

• Active contributor to a diverse and inclusive workplace

Employment Type: Part-Time Internship (19 hours/week)

Term: February 2025 - May 31, 2025

Compensation: $20/hour

Location: Hybrid preferred, but open to remote candidates

• National Journal is based in Washington, DC. National Journal operates on a hybrid schedule, with employees required to be in the office every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

• In your cover letter, please indicate your weekly in-person availability. Your manager will work with you to determine an appropriate in-office schedule considering academic commitments.

About Us

Across National Journal, generally, the firm looks for two “pillar gifts” in you, and everyone else.  In all of us, these are more aspirational than actual, but they are central in our intentions –

• Force of Ideas: At the center of National Journal’s work are the ideas within our work. We believe that ideas—the good and not—have consequences. Our ultimate objective is to bring rigor, insight, and intellectual honesty to the goal of separating the bad from the good, and giving voice, argument, and flight to maintaining the latter.

• Spirit of Generosity:  National Journal seeks in its ranks a spirit of generosity: a natural disposition in each colleague toward service and selfless conduct. Our writing should be cut from the same cloth—critical on the merits, but informed by charity and forbearance in measuring motive and personal character.

National Journal is an Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate against our applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Salary : $20