Social Media and Content Intern

To be considered for this role, you must apply directly through our online application. 

Overview

Cato's Social Media team oversees the institute's presence on platforms with over 1.7 million followers, including Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok — turning the work of Cato's scholars and researchers into content that reaches and engages audiences interested in individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. The team handles the entire content creation process: finding newsworthy angles in Cato's research, developing platform-specific posts, graphics, and short videos, managing publishing schedules, and analyzing performance data to shape strategy. 

Interns work across all platforms and participate in regular cross-team meetings to stay updated on active scholarship and identify opportunities to transform Cato research into timely, audience-appropriate content. The environment is fast-paced and news-driven — strong candidates are self-motivated, platform-savvy, and comfortable producing content independently under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Create platform-native social media content across Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok — including posts, threads, graphics, and short-form videos — translating Cato research and commentary for broad audience.
• Create short-form videos and Reels for Instagram and TikTok, including scripting, editing, and captioning with CapCut, Adobe Premiere, or similar tools.
• Create graphics and visual assets for social media using Canva, Adobe, or similar tools.
• Attend regular meetings with teams across Cato to identify timely research and commentary worth sharing on social media.
• Manage and uphold publishing calendars; plan and release content across platforms.
• Track trends, news cycles, and platform algorithm updates to identify timely content opportunities and communicate findings with the team.
• Monitor platform analytics and KPIs with native tools; support performance reports and strategic insights.
• Assist with digital advertising efforts and email marketing campaigns as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Strong interest in sharing public policy research with broad audiences via social media; shows alignment with Cato's principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.
• Proven experience managing social media accounts or content calendars — through a campus organization, think tank, advocacy group, media outlet, or independent content project — with measurable results.
• Effective social media writing — clear, concise, and tailored to platform standards and audience expectations across channels.
• Comfort with native platform analytics and KPIs; ability to interpret performance data and turn it into content decisions.
• Experience creating short-form video content for Instagram Reels, TikTok, or similar platforms, including basic editing and captioning.
• Experience creating social media graphics with Canva, Adobe, or similar tools.
• Self-motivated, organized, and reliable — capable of working independently, meeting deadlines in a fast-paced news environment, and managing multiple content streams at once.
• Professionalism, reliability, and attention to detail — social media work demands precision in written content, brand consistency, and reliable follow-through across platforms and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with video editing software such as CapCut, Adobe Premiere, or similar tools for short-form social media content.
• Experience with social media management and scheduling tools.
• Experience managing digital advertising campaigns on social media platforms.
• Prior experience in a communications, media, or marketing environment demonstrating audience growth or engagement.
• A content portfolio or active social media presence demonstrating platform fluency and creative range; finalists may be asked to submit a portfolio showcasing social media and content creation experience.

The Cato Internship Program

Cato’s paid internships are available for undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, law students, and early-career professionals who are strongly committed to individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace—principles that together form libertarianism, also known as “classical liberalism,” “market liberalism,” or, to many of our international friends, simply “liberalism.” 

All Cato interns participate in the same intensive seminar series, which covers a wide range of history, philosophy, policy, and professional development topics. Interns also assist with events and occasionally support Cato staff with other daily tasks. 

Interns receive competitive pay. Part-time roles are adjusted accordingly and require a minimum of 25 hours per week. Program participants must be able to attend in person in Washington, DC.

For more information about the internship program and experience, we encourage you to explore our website. If you have any questions, email studentprograms@cato.org.