Daedalus Howell Arts & Media Internship Program

(internships in Social MediaPR/marketing, radio/podcasting production and media writing internships

Spring 2026

The Daedalus Howell Arts & Media Internship Program offers Sonoma State University students a structured, credit-eligible opportunity to gain hands-on experience in contemporary media, journalism, and creative content production. Interns work directly within an independent arts and media company engaged in publishing, radio, podcasting, and film production, gaining practical skills alongside mentorship in real-world creative workflows.

Each internship is designed as a four-unit placement (180 hours total--however, if you need less hours, this is something that can be discussed), meeting SSU’s requirement of 45 hours per unit. Positions emphasize skill development, professional communication, editorial judgment, and ethical media practices. Interns leave the program with tangible work samples, industry-relevant experience, and a clearer understanding of how creative and media careers function in practice.

The following internship tracks outline learning objectives, responsibilities, and deliverables for three distinct roles: Marketing & Outreach, Radio + Podcast Production, and Writing & Editorial. These are unpaid but come with the opportunity for considerable professional experience with Writer, Filmmaker and Broadcaster Daedalus Howell, who is editor of the North Bay Bohemian, the Pacific Sun, North Bay Magazine; host of the Drive, 95.5 FM; director of the feature films Werewolf Serenade and Pill Head; author of Quantum Deadline and I Heart Sonoma. The internships will be hybrid (the Petaluma office isn't too far from campus but there will be plenty of opportunities for remote work). Daedalus Howell curates stories "with humor, smarts and distinctly Petaluman point of view."

MARKETING & OUTREACH INTERN

4 Units / 180 Hours

Focus: Audience development, digital marketing fundamentals, PR systems, and sponsorship research within an independent media company.

Learning Objectives

●     Understand how independent media brands grow audiences and revenue

●     Gain hands-on experience in social media strategy, SEO/SEM, and publicity

●     Learn professional PR workflows (HARO/Qwoted, pitching, follow-ups)

●     Conduct sponsorship research aligned with brand values and audience fit

Core Responsibilities & Hour Breakdown

1.  Social Media Strategy & Execution (50 hours)

●     Assist with content planning across Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn

●     Draft captions in brand voice; schedule posts using social tools

●     Analyze engagement metrics and adjust strategy accordingly

2.  SEO & SEM Foundations (35 hours)

●     Keyword research for articles, newsletters, and evergreen content

●     Optimize WordPress posts for on-page SEO

●     Assist with basic Google Ads or paid promotion experiments (where applicable)

3.  PR & Media Outreach (45 hours)

●     Monitor and respond to HARO and Qwoted opportunities

●     Draft media pitches and short bios

●     Track placements and maintain a media contact log

4.  Sponsorship Research & Outreach (35 hours)

●     Identify potential brand sponsors aligned with arts, culture, wine country, and lifestyle

●     Research decision-makers and brand positioning

●     Assist in drafting outreach emails and pitch materials

5.  Professional Development & Reporting (15 hours)

●     Weekly check-ins and progress reports

●     Final summary memo outlining outcomes, insights, and recommendations

Deliverables

●     Social media content calendar

●     HARO/Qwoted pitch log

●     SEO keyword list and optimization checklist

●     Sponsorship prospect list with rationale

RADIO + PODCAST PRODUCTION INTERN

4 Units / 180 Hours

Focus: Audio production, broadcast preparation, guest coordination, and post-production for radio and podcast platforms.

Learning Objectives

●     Learn the end-to-end production workflow of radio and podcasts

●     Develop professional communication and booking skills

●     Gain technical experience in audio editing and publishing

●     Understand how editorial content is adapted across platforms

Core Responsibilities & Hour Breakdown

1.  Guest Booking & Coordination (45 hours)

●     Research potential guests aligned with show segments

●     Manage outreach, scheduling, and confirmations

●     Prepare guest briefs and talking points

2.  Segment Preparation & Show Support (45 hours)

●     Assist with show rundowns and segment outlines

●     Conduct background research for interviews

●     Support live or recorded show logistics

3.  Audio Editing & Post-Production (60 hours)

●     Edit radio segments and podcast episodes (Descript / Audition or similar)

●     Clean audio, add intros/outros, and export final files

●     Write short episode descriptions and metadata

4.  Publishing & Distribution (15 hours)

●     Upload episodes to hosting platforms

●     Assist with repurposing clips for social media

●     Track basic performance metrics

5.  Professional Development & Reflection (15 hours)

●     Weekly production check-ins

●     Final production portfolio or highlight reel

Deliverables

●     Edited audio segments or full episodes

●     Guest booking tracker

●     Episode show notes and descriptions

●     End-of-term production summary

WRITING INTERN

4 Units / 180 Hours

Focus: Editorial operations, archival management, copyediting, research, and digital publishing within a voice-driven media practice.

Learning Objectives

●     Learn professional editorial workflows across print, web, and film development

●     Develop copyediting and content-organization skills

●     Gain experience with WordPress and digital archives

●     Participate in creative research and idea development

Core Responsibilities & Hour Breakdown

1.  Archive Management & Content Organization (45 hours)

●     Review and categorize existing articles, essays, and scripts

●     Assist with cleaning metadata and improving searchability

●     Help identify republishing or repurposing opportunities

2.  Copyediting & Editorial Support (45 hours)

●     Copyedit drafts for clarity, grammar, and style consistency

●     Fact-check non-quoted material

●     Prepare pieces for WordPress publication

3.  Creative Ideation & Film Research (45 hours)

●     Research themes, references, and comparable works for film and media projects

●     Assist in developing loglines, outlines, or background briefs

●     Participate in creative brainstorming sessions

4.  WordPress Publishing & Digital Literacy (30 hours)

●     Format posts in WordPress (headings, links, images, SEO fields)

●     Learn basic CMS best practices

●     Assist with updating older content

5.  Reflection & Final Project (15 hours)