Zoe McLearI am honored to say that I spent the Fall 2025 semester as a Multimedia Intern at the Institute of World Politics. My position gave me exactly what I was looking for throughout this experience: hands-on production skills. This included both camera and sound operation, along with refining my capabilities in editing software.
I aided IWP’s media department as well as the social media team in capturing and editing content varying from outings and events to interviews and podcasts. Collaborating with my supervisors and fellow interns, while being encouraged to think creatively, taught me how to effectively communicate and share new perspectives on projects.
Going into this internship with minimal experience in international relations was a little intimidating for me. However, I can confidently say that I have honed both my research and public speaking skills and expanded my knowledge on geopolitical conflicts through the weekly intelligence and policy briefings that I presented.
I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and all the people I was able to work alongside. Not only did it solidify my interests in media production, but it also provided me with transferable skills that I can take with me into my future.
Zoe McLear
University of Maryland, Class of 2026
Multimedia Intern