Summer Editorial Intern

Who We Are:

American Oversight (AO) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that advances truth, accountability, and democracy by enforcing the public’s right to government records. We use multiple tools, backed by aggressive litigation, to fight attacks on democratic institutions, threats to civil rights and liberties, abuses of power, and the erosion of government transparency. We expose and disrupt these attacks — and the officials and networks behind them — by forcing the government to turn over records officials would rather keep secret.

Since our founding in 2017, American Oversight has worked on issues that touch nearly every aspect of American life. Our team has:

• Secured a court order to preserve records in the 2025 “Signalgate” scandal, and spurred a related investigation by the Department of Defense inspector general that found Secretary Pete Hegseth had put troops’ lives in danger and violated federal recordkeeping laws
• Forced DOGE to implement a records preservation policy to ensure long-term accountability for its chaotic actions
• Revealed the Trump-sanctioned pressure campaign on the Ukrainian government by forcing the Trump administration to turn over records initially withheld from Congress
• Unmasked sham “audits” of the 2020 election in Wisconsin and Arizona, which used taxpayer money to undermine state elections
• Exposed the Trump administration’s unprecedented use of personal data to target immigrant communities and remove people from state voter rolls

We are committed to fighting threats to democracy at the federal, state, and local levels, using time-tested and innovative tools to expose misconduct, defend against attacks on marginalized communities, and demand accountability.

For more information, please visit our website: www.americanoversight.org

About the Role:

AO is seeking a full-time Summer Editorial Intern to join its team.

Reporting to the Senior Content Manager, the Summer Editorial Intern supports the Editorial team in many respects, primarily by regularly monitoring the news, managing our library of government records, and participating in valuable projects that advance AO’s mission. Editorial Interns will receive practical experience working in a nonprofit environment. This position is an ideal opportunity for individuals interested in public policy, investigative journalism, and public archives.

The Summer Editorial Intern is expected to work full-time hours (max. 35 hours per week) and will coordinate with their supervisor to determine their weekly work schedule. This internship’s term is 10 weeks, from June to August (subject to change). The exact start and end dates will be determined when a candidate is selected for this internship.

What You Will Do:

• Assist the Senior Content Manager with assessing and organizing AO’s collection of government records for our public-facing online archive.
• Identify and track news coverage related to AO’s priority issues and create a daily review of relevant stories from key outlets.
• Collaborate with other editorial team members by helping with various writing or social media tasks deemed appropriate for the position.
• Learn about the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and state open records laws, and gain first-hand experience learning how they can advance an organization’s mission.
• Attend and participate in Editorial and all-staff meetings, with regular opportunities for cross-team collaboration.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

What You Will Bring:

• An enthusiastic interest in journalism, communications, public archives, and government transparency and accountability.
• Comfort with the daily news cycle and the ability to make judgments on which stories might be most relevant or useful to AO’s mission.
• Sharp attention to detail, dependable organizational skills, and an interest in projects that involve public record archives and file management.
• Strong writing, research, and oral communication skills.
• Basic computer proficiency and familiarity with common software such as Microsoft 365.
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity.

Desired Qualifications:

• Commitment to public interest advocacy and government accountability.
• An interest in learning how to use archival and journalism tools to preserve historical records.
• A demonstrated history of related coursework or other relevant experience as a student, recent graduate, or entry-level worker.
• Prior experience working collaboratively within a team.

We encourage individuals to apply even if they do not have any of the desired qualifications.

Location:

American Oversight is a remote-first organization, however our interns must work from one of the following locations: CA, DC, DE, FL, KY, MA, MD, NC, NY, PA, VA, or WI.

Our office in Washington, DC is an optional workspace.

Compensation:

$20.80 per hour.

This rate is subject to adjustment based on the needs or restrictions of other external funding received by the intern, if any. If you would prefer to structure this as a clinical externship for academic credit, we will be happy to assist in completing any necessary paperwork from your school.

Application Deadline:

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter with your application. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by 9am on March 30, 2026 to ensure consideration of their application.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace:

At American Oversight, we value and strive to hire, develop, and grow a diverse and inclusive team. We are an equal opportunity employer, and encourage applications from all individuals without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws. We strongly encourage individuals to apply for opportunities at American Oversight even if they do not have any of the desired qualifications.