I look back at a summer internship at my hometown newspaper 25 years ago as one of the best jobs I ever had. I worked as a full-time reporter at a small-town daily covering everything from the police beat to local fraternal group dinners. I got paid better than minimum wage to visit local government offices, talk to townspeople, and take photographs of people receiving awards. I uncovered government misconduct, followed a local murder trial, and tried to learn about the differing sides of a conflict involving cable television in a remote village. I loved it.

During these times of economic distress, decreasing budgets, and reduced staff positions, internships like the one I had can provide organizations with motivated employees while helping young people to gain work experience and an appreciation for the relationship between work and pay. When the time came when I could suggest hiring an intern to my employer, I was determined to help my interns enjoy their experiences as much as I had.

The first thing I wanted for my interns was a stipend or hourly pay. The pay I received at my hometown newspaper created a sense of professionalism in me, and I was able to focus on my reporting without having to worry about working a second job. My editor’s attitude was that everyone deserved to get paid for their work, and I adopted that attitude as my own.

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Unfortunately, the executive director of the national service organization I was working for told me there was little money available for interns. We needed extra help in planning a convention and a fund-raising event. After some research, I learned that one of the local universities encouraged their students receiving financial aid from the Federal Work-Study (FSW) Program to work off campus at nonprofit groups.

The FWS Program offers a form of aid that pays students for work they perform for their higher education institution, private nonprofit groups, or public agencies as part-time employees. The best part of the program for employers is that the federal government pays 75 percent of the FWS employee’s pay, with the employer covering the remaining 25 percent. My boss’s interest increased when I explained we could hire a college student at the rate of $8 per hour while only paying $2 per hour.

After a couple of successful years, when we had more money in the budget, we started hiring at least one intern every summer as public relations assistants. They researched articles for our magazine, drafted news releases, and helped plan events. We paid them well, and they always made significant contributions to the output of our small staff.

Later, during my years as a university public relations director, interns become my sole staff members. The departments of English and communication were always able to provide a couple of highly motivated juniors or seniors. I was able to not only provide my interns with a competitive hourly rate of pay and career-related experiences but also to assist several of them with their senior capstone project, for which the internship, along with a related writing assignment, earned them college credit.

The University of Arizona and Pima Community College offer students financial aid through the FWS program, and several departments, including the UA Department of Communication, encourage students to seek internships with local employers. If you have not already made interns a regular part of your staff, I encourage you to do so. If you pay fair wages, provide meaningful work, and expect a high standard of professionalism, you will boost your productivity while giving young people valuable experiences they will always remember.

Contact Mark Dalessandro at azmark1887@yahoo.com or (520) 981-2533. After 20 years in public relations positions with nonprofits, a research university and a corporate consulting firm, Dalessandro embarked on a new chapter in his career as a certified tennis professional at La Mariposa Fitness and Sports Club but he still does work as a freelance writer, editor and in event management. PR Corner appears the second week of each month and is written by members of the Public Relations Society of America Southern Arizona Chapter.