ESPN Social Media Intern, New York City/LA, Summer 2026
About The Position
About the Role & Program: We’re looking for interns who thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and have a genuine curiosity for learning. This is a 10-week program from June 1st through August 7, 2026 and can be located in New York City or LA. Interns will join one of two unique assignments within ESPN’s social ecosystem, with opportunities to shadow the other: ESPN Social team: Focused on coverage across ESPN’s flagship social accounts. Interns in this assignment will report to a Social Media Manager. ESPN Talent & Shows team: Focused on creating social content for studio shows and their social handles, including First Take, Get Up, NFL Live, and more. Interns in this assignment will report to the Manager, ESPN NEXT, in partnership with Social Production. What You Will Do: Interns will work closely with teammates to learn the strategy behind ESPN’s social platforms and gain hands-on experience creating content that drives fan engagement. Both assignments offer opportunities to pitch ideas, produce posts in real time, and use performance insights to shape future content. This role is ideal for someone who is deeply engaged with social media trends and passionate about sports storytelling.
Requirements
- Elite knowledge of social media, including expertise on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X and Facebook and awareness of media trends (i.e. social, digital, linear, etc.)
- Strong writing and copyediting skills in addition to creative thinking and solid news judgment
- Strong knowledge of all sports including current athletes, rules and events
- Familiarity with ESPN shows, talent, and digital products across multiple platforms
- Experience with both video editing software (Premiere Pro, Final Cut, Avid or After Effects) and photo editing software (Photoshop)
Nice To Haves
- Historical knowledge of multiple sports, especially sports heavily covered by ESPN
- Experience in sports media, preferably in content creation and passion for creative storytelling
- Familiarity with the sports media landscape, including knowledge of business trends and technologies
- Demonstrated leadership experience in a professional role, organization or activity
- Ability to clearly communicate with leaders and react quickly and positively under pressure
- Junior or Senior year preferred
- Major or previous coursework in Journalism, Sports Media, Communications or related major preferred
Responsibilities
- Ideate and optimize posts for Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and Facebook to engage sports fans in real time.
- Discover trending or viral content (often user-generated), clear it for posting, and consume/produce studio show content for social platforms to drive engagement.
- Clip and edit short-form video highlights and create graphics using Photoshop for social platforms.
- Apply news judgment and journalistic standards to identify and pitch the most relevant stories of the day to social teams and studio shows.
- Assist with compiling analytics recaps and reports, using insights to inform future content decisions.
- Research emerging trends and innovative ways to enhance ESPN’s social presence and drive fan engagement.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
