Programming & Communications Intern

Programming & Communications Intern

The National Media Awards Foundation (NMAF) is seeking a Programming & Communications Intern to join its team. The NMAF is a bilingual charity that promotes excellence in journalism and visual creation. We produce three annual awards programs - the National Magazine Awards, the Digital Publishing Awards, and the National Magazine Awards: B2B - and support professional development across Canada’s media sector.

Description: This internship offers a close, working view of how Canada’s magazine and digital publishing industry recognizes its own best work, from the moment entries come in, through the judges who decide the winners, to the certificates and events that celebrate them. The ideal candidate knows the Canadian magazine/digital media landscape and can communicate clearly across a range of formats.

Reporting to the Executive Director and the Programming & Communications Manager, the intern will:

• Support the call for entries period (typically December–January), our busiest stretch, including drafting and scheduling social media content, emailing prospective and confirmed submitters, and helping troubleshoot technical issues with the online submissions portal.
• Help coordinate the entry, judging, and awards process across all three programs, including tracking entries, judge assignments and helping build the "Meet the Jury" pages that introduce that year’s judging panels.
• Write, edit, and proofread social media content year-round, including call for entries promotion, individual posts recognizing that year’s winning and nominated work, and other ongoing content.
• Write, edit, and proofread copy for newsletters, gala programs, and show scripts.
• Update website content in WordPress, including winners pages and resource guides for the wider magazine and publishing community.
• Respond to information requests from submitters, award winners, judges, and other stakeholders by email and, occasionally, by phone.
• Attend virtual staff meetings and occasional in-person industry events as required.
• Take on other tasks as they come up. The role shifts with the awards calendar, so some weeks focus on organizing entries and judging, others on gala production or communications.

What you bring:

• Pursuing or recently completed studies in journalism, publishing, professional writing, communications, digital marketing, PR, or a related field.
• Proficiency with social platforms (X, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn).
• Strong organization and reliability; able to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
• Professional writing and/or editing skills.
• Ability to work independently in a goal-oriented environment.
• Access to a computer suitable for the above tasks.
• Interest in Canadian magazines/digital media.
• Comfort in WordPress, Canva (basic layout/resize) and Keynote.
• Bilingualism (English / French) is a strong asset.

What you’ll gain:

• Direct experience with how a national journalism awards program is actually run, from judging logistics to the events where winners are announced.
• Exposure to leading editors, writers, publishers, and industry partners.
• A front-row seat to the Foundation's industry awards events.
• Hands-on training in tools used across the role, including Google Ads.

Terms and Remuneration: November 2026 – June 30, 2027. On average, 25 hours per week. $18.50/hour. While most work may be completed asynchronously, the ideal candidate would have partial availability during traditional working hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET), especially leading up to the award ceremonies in early June.

How to apply:

Send your résumé and cover letter to staff@magazine-awards.com by Friday, October 30, 2026 with the subject line “Programming & Communications Intern - [Your Name]”. Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted in early November.