Michigan Capitol Confidential Internship

The Mackinac Center’s news website, Michigan Capitol Confidential, seeks four interns to work on research that contributes to news stories and investigations. The ideal candidate must have a willingness to dig for and document information. Past interns have also had the opportunity to publish articles, contribute to the blog and attend events.

The purposes of the Mackinac Center Summer Internship Program

To engage extra support from students on work that advances the Mackinac Center’s mission;
To introduce students to and connect them with the ideals of liberty and the network of organizations committed to advancing the free market perspective;
To expand the pool of potential staff for free market organizations like the Mackinac Center
To learn watchdog journalism, write stories that compare words and deeds and tell readers what a legislative bill actually means.

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered for the Summer Internship Program, students must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Full-time college student, recent college graduate (within six months of graduation date), or a person seeking a first-work experience with a free market think tank;
Must be at least 18 years old;
A solid reputation for honest and ethical conduct;
Above average written and oral communication skills;
Ability to work in a collaborative team environment, while also being able to self-motivate and maintain focus on necessary tasks;
Professional personal appearance and hygiene;
Above average inter-personal skills;
Please note that a curriculum major in the area of political science or economics in NOT a requirement. We hire interns from a variety of subject areas.

Valuable Characteristics

The following special skills and characteristics will give students expanded opportunity for achievement during their internship:

Knowledge of political and economic philosophy and theory, especially in the classical liberal tradition;
Awareness of current civic affairs;
Students desiring to write for publication should demonstrate excellent writing skills and substantial writing experience;
Creativity and enthusiasm.

This internship provides an opportunity to work at a premiere state-based free-market public policy research and educational organization and to attend various skills and career development programs such as our Intern University, and trips to the State Capitol & Supreme Court, The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Review, Issues & Ideas events and various staff and intern outings.

The employment term is a minimum of 10 full-time weeks between May and August (flexibility in start and end dates). Intern positions are on-site, are compensated at the rate of $15.50 per hour and may be eligible for a housing stipend in the amount of $250 per month. Interns are employed on an at-will basis.

Candidates are to submit a resume, a cover letter and a 700-word essay on any policy issue to the intern coordinator before March 26, 2023. If you wish to be considered for multiple positions, more than one essay is not required, but we do request a cover letter for each position with your department choices listed in order of preference. Email application materials to intern@mackinac.org or mail to:

Christine Bowerson
Senior Director of Operations/Intern Coordinator
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
140 West Main Street
P.O. Box 568
Midland, MI 48640-0568