UN Digital Communications Internship 2026 in New York: Public Information Opportunity with the United Nations

Overview

The United Nations offers a Digital Communications Internship within the Department of Global Communications, specifically positioned in the Chinese Language Unit of the Social Media Section, Outreach Division. This opportunity gives students and recent graduates practical experience in social media analysis, international communications, and digital content production. The role focuses on Chinese-language social media platforms and supports communication initiatives regarding peacebuilding, climate action, and sustainable development.

The internship runs for three to six months and starts on 1 February 2027. Applicants should note a location discrepancy in the vacancy materials, as the vacancy header lists New York as the duty station while the detailed description specifies Vienna, Austria. Candidates need to confirm the actual placement before making visa, travel, or accommodation arrangements.

Who can apply

Candidates must satisfy at least one specific academic criterion to be eligible. Applicants must either be enrolled in or have completed a graduate program such as a master's degree or higher, or be enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree program at the bachelor's level or equivalent. Professional work experience is not required, but applicants must study a field closely related to the internship.

Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter and an interest in the work of the organization. Essential qualifications include strong analytical and writing abilities in Chinese, computer proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, and working experience with video-editing and graphic design software such as Adobe Premiere, iMovie, InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop. Familiarity with Trello, Canva, and Drupal is considered an advantage, alongside skills in designing surveys, polls, and PowerPoint presentations.

Regarding languages, fluency in Chinese is essential. English or French serve as the working languages of the United Nations, and knowledge of additional official UN languages, Hindi, Portuguese, or Kiswahili is desirable.

What you get

Selected interns gain practical exposure to digital communication strategies, multimedia content, audience engagement, and international public information work. The position is unpaid, and the United Nations provides no financial remuneration, stipend, or salary. All living expenses, visa arrangements, travel, and accommodation costs are the sole responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution.

Requirements

The internship requires a full-time schedule commitment for a minimum duration of three months, and the position is designed for in-person work. Under the supervision of a Public Information Officer, the intern assists with social media research and content development by gathering text, images, videos, and infographics for Chinese-language materials. Responsibilities also include monitoring and analyzing digital performance metrics such as views, watch time, completion rates, shares, likes, comments, demographics, and engagement patterns.

Additional duties involve researching and documenting highlights from special events promoting UN mandates in Vienna, assisting with video production and post-production for social media, exploring approaches to communicating global priorities to younger audiences, and supporting administrative tasks such as preparing meeting notes and agendas.

How to apply

Interested candidates must submit an online application through the official United Nations recruitment system, Inspira. Applicants should locate Job Opening ID 285799 to review the current vacancy status, duty station, and closing date before applying.