Journalist

Bring honesty and integrity back to America’s media.

overview

Getting You the Skills to Succeed as a Journalist

Learn the skills to launch a successful journalism career.

The Leadership Institute (LI) offers comprehensive training programs designed to transform principled conservatives into effective journalists who bring truth-telling to Americans. These programs help students hone their skills in broadcast journalism, online journalism, and written communications.

LI’s Broadcast Journalism School prepares students to succeed in the highly competitive field of broadcast journalism. During this two-day training, participants learn how to find internships and jobs in broadcasting, write effectively for broadcast, and develop a top-notch resume reel. This training aims to equip conservatives to cut through the mainstream media and thrive in a leftist-dominated field.

LI’s Online Journalism Workshop focuses on growing your writing and reporting skills for a career in online media. During this training, students learn how to market themselves, to write compelling articles, and incorporate video into their work.

LI’s Written Communications Workshop is a training program tailored to the specific demands of each student. Utilizing the full resources of LI’s studios and faculty, this program prepares students for writing-intensive jobs in journalism, public policy, and communications. Participants learn to write persuasively and professionally, draft effective press releases and media advisories, use social media to promote their work, and get published.

Step one

With You at Every Step

From our dedicated programs stems an ocean of training opportunities. Hone the skills, knowledge, and strategies that amplify conservative voices everywhere.

Step Two

Find a Job to Suit You

Whether you’re looking to hire top conservative talent or searching for your next job opportunity, LI has got you covered.
4

The Aileen Chuck Internship Program Summer 2026

Jump-start your career in politics! Join the Leadership Institute staff team as a summer 2026 intern.

The internship will run from May 11, 2026 through August 14, 2026.

This intensive program allows you to gain professional experience in a real working environment, further your knowledge of the conservative movement, and sharpen your skills for future success. Leadership Institute interns receive free housing, an $825 monthly stipend, priority access to the Institute’s Employment Placement Service, free tuition to all Leadership Institute schools and workshops, weekly private lunches and dinners with conservative VIPs, and the opportunity to build public policy references.

For more information, please visit us on the web by clicking here.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a letter of recommendation through Conservative Jobs.

Cover letters and letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Intern Program Manager, Arin Steiner.

May 11, 2026
Arlington

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4

The Aileen Chuck Internship Program Spring 2026

Jump-start your career in politics! Join the Leadership Institute staff team as a spring 2026 intern.

The internship will run from January 12, 2026 through April 10, 2026.

This intensive program allows you to gain professional experience in a real working environment, further your knowledge of the conservative movement, and sharpen your skills for future success. Leadership Institute interns receive free housing, an $825 monthly stipend, priority access to the Institute’s Employment Placement Service, free tuition to all Leadership Institute schools and workshops, weekly private lunches and dinners with conservative VIPs, and the opportunity to build public policy references.

For more information, please visit us on the web by clicking here.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a letter of recommendation through Conservative Jobs.

Cover letters and letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Intern Program Manager, Arin Steiner.

January 12, 2026
Arlington

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1

Development Operations Officer

Leadership Institute is hiring a Development Operations Officer, a crucial member of the Development team who raises and processes millions of dollars in donations every year.

This is the ideal position for anyone looking to begin a career in fundraising. The skills and knowledge learned in this position create a strong foundation to propel someone into the many kinds of fundraising and conservative movement careers. 

Your work to service our generous donors will contribute to the training of conservative leaders and activists through the programs and trainings conducted by Leadership Institute.

The job is entry-level, easy to learn and provides extraordinary growth potential into a career in fundraising. Alongside that, general professional development is a priority for the Development Operations team to grow its staffers in foundational business practices.

Your day-to-day responsibilities include:

  • Caging hundreds of donations sent to Leadership Institute daily.

  • Maintaining data hygiene within the entire LI donor base, which consists of tens of thousands active donors.

  • Processing donor correspondence and promptly communicating said correspondence to essential team members.

  • Acknowledging and receipting every donation within 24 hours of its processing.

Our ideal candidate is:

  • Detail-oriented

  • Hard-working

  • Self-motivated

  • Personally organized

  • Able to work closely with a tight-knit team

  • Innovative/creative

  • Driven

Fundraising is one of the most important skills you can learn; it's the art and science of building an organization that will stand the test of time.

If you know how to raise money, you will always add value to any and every organization you go to.

This position has tremendous room for growth. The leadership will work with you on identifying your passions, skills, and opportunities for growth and foster those to shape you into a stronger professional.

Past employees who occupied this position have gone on to become highly successful major gifts officers, Salesforce specialists, direct mail marketing managers, and more; both within the company and outside of the organization.

Qualifications and compensation

You must complete the Public Policy Questionnaire (PPQ) and an uploaded resume to apply.

We love hiring people with a variety of work backgrounds and experiences – and our team would love to build upon those skills.

An understanding of conservative ideals and principles is a must.

Salary starts at $50,000 a year and is paired with an excellent healthcare plan, and transportation assistance provided.

May 15, 2025
Arlington

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1

Creative Writer

About Leadership Institute 

Founded in 1979 by its president, Morton C. Blackwell, Leadership Institute (LI) -- a non-partisan 501(C)3 nonprofit -- provides training in campaigns, fundraising, grassroots organizing, youth politics, and communications.  The Institute teaches conservatives of all ages how to succeed in politics, government, and the media. Since its founding, LI has trained more than 300,000 conservative activists, leaders, and students.

About the Position

Leadership Institute is hiring a creative writer to join our Communications Team and report directly to the Director of External Affairs. This writer will advance LI’s creative writing presence across the board -- crafting content that resonates with conservatives.

Join our team and you’ll be hands-on, writing as well as brainstorming with a team to bring big ideas to life. If you’re a natural storyteller who loves to shape narratives and make an impact, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Write and edit high-quality copy for a wide range of marketing, including website copy, ad campaigns, press releases, marketing materials, emails, with potential to expand to other mediums.

  • Proofread and refine copy to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with our brand voice and strategy.

  • Adapt messaging to seamlessly target both our donor and training audiences, while maintaining a cohesive brand voice.

  • Hone Leadership Institute’s foundational communication to level up brand recognition and affinity across platforms.

Successful Candidates Will Possess:

  • Years of experience in copywriting and the creative field (salary commensurate with experience).

  • Extensive understanding of the digital media landscape and conservative-focused content.

  • Excellent writing, storytelling, and copyediting skills.

  • Ability to self-motivate, stay focused, and juggle priorities well.

  • Humility and teamwork, paired with a drive for excellence.

Does your copy engage your audience and change hearts and minds? If you answered yes, then this position is for you!

Additional Qualifications and Compensation

  • An understanding of conservative principles is a must.

  • Salary starts at $65,000 a year and is commensurate with experience.

  • Compensation includes an excellent healthcare plan and transportation assistance.

How to Apply:

August 04, 2025
Arlington

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1

Salesforce Administrator

Summary

The Salesforce Administrator supports the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the Leadership Institute's Salesforce CRM systems, with focus on the Development (fundraising) instance. As a full-time, in-person member of our collaborative Salesforce admin team, this role creates and manages reports, resolves issues, trains users, and ensures Salesforce success across the organization. This position works closely with other administrators and engineering staff to support the Leadership Institute mission.

Key Responsibilities

  • System Administration: Manage user accounts, security settings, and system customizations; perform routine maintenance and troubleshooting.

  • Reports and Analytics: Create and maintain reports and dashboards to meet business requirements; ensure data accuracy and train staff on reporting tools.

  • User Support: Serve as primary point of contact for Development Salesforce users; provide training and timely resolution of issues; collaborate with other Salesforce administrators to ensure consistent support across all departments.

  • Process Improvement: Identify and implement opportunities to streamline business processes.

  • Data Management: Support integration between systems; manage data imports/exports; maintain data quality standards.

Qualifications

  • 2+ years Salesforce Administrator experience

  • Salesforce Administrator certification (or ability to obtain within 6 months)

  • Strong understanding of Salesforce configuration and reporting tools

  • Excellent communication and problem-solving skills

  • Experience with nonprofit organizations and fundraising operations preferred

  • Knowledge of Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) preferred

  • Knowledge of Fundraising business processes and life cycles preferred

  • Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment

  • Ability to understand complex business requirements and translate them into actionable work-items.

  • Must work on-site at our Arlington, VA location (remote work is not available for this position)

May 01, 2025
Arlington

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1

State Recruiter- WI

Summary:

LI Recruiters identify and recruit students to start conservative student organizations or publications on campus within an assigned territory.  Recruiters will develop a territory action plan to evaluate all college campuses within the territory and assign recruitment and training resources.  Recruiters will also approve or deny membership into LI’s CLP network and develop a strategic activism and training plan.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

Includes the following, the exercising of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance and other duties as required.

 

Regional Network Development:

a)     Build and maintain relationships between LI, students, and groups within the region.

b)    Research, analyze and recruit conservative students to participate in LI programs.

c)     Make membership decisions. Analyze and determine which groups within the region qualify to participate in LI’s CLP network.

d)    Develop a strategic plan to expand membership with LI in a territory each semester.

e)     Create and develop regional training plan for your territory.

f)     Approve and distribute LI resources to CLP groups.

g)    Approve or deny requests from new CLP groups to join LI’s CLP network.

h)    Approve or deny activism grant requests for group in the LI network

i)      Evaluate all higher education institutions to determine overall compatibility with CLP programs.

j)      Build relationships with partner organization counterparts

 

 Program Management:

a)     Manage your territories’ activism budget

b)    Approve or deny students for the Campus Ambassador program  membership

c)     Approve or deny scholarships for Leadership Institute trainings

 

Qualifications:           

Candidates for this position must have a knowledge and understanding of conservative philosophy with a dedication to grassroots activism and organization. Candidates should also have strong interpersonal skills and should excel in both written and oral communication.

August 15, 2025
Any in WI

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1

Operations Associate

About the Role

The Leadership Institute is hiring an Operations Associate for its campus news website Campus Reform.org. As America's leading source for conservative college news, Campus Reform serves as a watchdog to our country's higher education system, with a mission to expose liberal bias and abuse on college campuses.

As Operations Associate, you will assist the Operations Manager supervise the freelance student reporters who write articles for the Campus Reform news website. Duties include the following areas:

  • Processing reporter applications and conducting interviews

  • Database management

  • Alumni relations

  • Research and administrative projects

  • Event planning

  • Training and mentorship program management

This position reports directly to the Operations Manager. Preference will be given to candidates who are able to work at Leadership Institute's HQ in Arlington, VA.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree

  • At least two years of relevant professional experience including internships

  • Familiarity with Salesforce, project management software, and ChatGPT

  • Extroverted personality and eagerness to engage new people

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials via Conservativejobs.com:

•  A cover letter detailing your philosophical interest in the organization, why you’re interested in this position, and salary expectations

•  Resume

•  Contact information for two professional references

September 08, 2025
Arlington

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1

Programs Operations Coordinator

About Leadership Institute 

Founded in 1979 by its president, Morton C. Blackwell, Leadership Institute (LI) -- a non-partisan 501(c)3 nonprofit -- provides training in campaigns, fundraising, grassroots organizing, youth politics, and communications. The Institute teaches conservatives of all ages how to succeed in politics, government, and the media. Since its founding, LI has trained more than 300,000 conservative activists, leaders, and students. 

Position Overview The Leadership Institute (LI) is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Programs Operations Coordinator to support the Communications team and broader organization by managing inventory, coordinating logistics, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. The Coordinator will also manage monthly orders for staff name badges and business cards, oversee the cleanliness and readiness of LI’s dormitory and staff apartment for all groups, and coordinate special cleanings for headquarters, including laundry services and event spaces. Additional duties include managing kitchen and facility supply inventories, restocking common areas daily, supporting events, and assisting with general administrative tasks as needed.

This position is an entry level position with a pathway for career and organizational advancement through opportunities to crosstrain with other divisions of LI (Marketing, Design, Studios, etc.).

Key Responsibilities

  • Manage and maintain accurate inventory of LI publications and marketing materials to ensure consistent availability.

  • Coordinate the shipment of marketing materials and ensure their organized distribution throughout the office.

  • Coordinate monthly orders for staff name badges and business cards.

  • Ensure LI’s dormitory and staff apartment is clean and orderly for every external or internal group.

  • Coordinate all special cleanings for LI Headquarters, including laundry orders and events space cleanings.

  • Manage inventory and daily restock of kitchens and facilities, including orders of soda, coffee and kitchen supplies.

  • General events support as needed.

  • Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

  • Strong organizational and time management skills.

  • Excellent communication and vendor coordination abilities.

  • Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

  • Must be able to lift a 50 lbs box above your head.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in administrative support, logistics, or supply coordination preferred.

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Suite/Google, especially Excel/Sheets experience with inventory tracking software a plus.

  • Proficiency in Adobe software.

  • Familiarity with project management software.

Education and/or Experience:

High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Work Environment This is a full-time, in-office position based in Leadership Institute’s headquarters in Arlington, VA.

Additional Qualifications and Compensation

  • You must complete the Public Policy Questionnaire (PPQ) and an uploaded resume to apply.

  • An understanding of conservative ideals and principles is a must.

  • We love hiring people with a variety of work backgrounds and experiences – and our team would love to build upon those skills.

  • Salary starts at $55,000 a year and is paired with an excellent healthcare plan, and transportation assistance provided.

July 10, 2025
Arlington

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4

The Aileen Chuck Internship Program Fall 2025

Jump-start your career in politics! Join the Leadership Institute staff team as a fall 2025 intern.

The internship will run from September 15, 2025 through December 19, 2025.

This intensive program allows you to gain professional experience in a real working environment, further your knowledge of the conservative movement, and sharpen your skills for future success. Leadership Institute interns receive free housing, an $825 monthly stipend, priority access to the Institute’s Employment Placement Service, free tuition to all Leadership Institute schools and workshops, weekly private lunches and dinners with conservative VIPs, and the opportunity to build public policy references.

For more information, please visit us on the web by clicking here.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a letter of recommendation through Conservative Jobs.

Cover letters and letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Intern Program Manager, Arin Steiner.

April 29, 2025
Arlington

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step Three

Make an Impact at Every Stage

Witness the journey of individuals who, through LI’s guidance,
have made strides in their communities and beyond.

2022
Takes office in the West Virginia House of Delegates

2022
Elected to serve as a member of the House of Delegates

2022
Future Candidate School

2021
Leadership Institute Intern

2021
High-Dollar Fundraising School

2021
Youth Leadership School

2018
Youth Leadership Summit:

Stevie learns to turn values into vision.

Leadership Institute

2018
Youth Leadership Summit:

Stevie learns to turn values into vision.

2018
Youth Leadership Summit:

Stevie learns to turn values into vision.

2018
Youth Leadership Summit:

Stevie learns to turn values into vision.

Ready to accelerate your political career?  The Leadership Institute’s expert-crafted trainings equip you with essential skills and knowledge for success in politics. 

Leadership Institute offers top-tier trainings that will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to become an influential movement leader.