The National Fisheries Institute’s Summer Internship Program

Communications & Multimedia Intern 

National Fisheries Institute — the leading trade association for the commercial seafood industry — is seeking a Communications & Multimedia Intern to work in-stride with NFI’s communications team. This internship opportunity will provide the selected candidate with excellent experience in industry storytelling — both proactive and reactive — in the nation’s capital. 

This hybrid internship will be managed by the Communications team in its headquarters just outside Washington, D.C. Current undergraduate sophomore, juniors and seniors with communications & marketing, and/or information graphics or multimedia design backgrounds are encouraged to apply for this paid internship, which will begin in May/June 2025.

The deadline to apply is February 28, 2025. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

When applying to this internship position, please send the following to NFI’s Media & Communications Manager, Kayla Bennett, kbennett@nfi.org 

• Current resume.
• Cover letter explaining your skill set and why you should be considered for this opportunity.
• At least two work/class writing samples (such as published articles, news releases, research papers, creative briefs, infographics, design projects, website pages, PowerPoint presentations, etc.).

Potential Opportunities: 

• Help manage NFI content and collateral to our trade association members via videos, newsletters, website and social media. 
• Develop media lists, influencer lists, media briefs, editorial calendars and media results reports.
• Participate in both internal team and external meetings on Capitol Hill or with member companies. 
• Work on press releases, media statements, op-eds, infographics, communication & media toolkits, fact sheets, collateral copy, start-to-finish video production, social media content/campaigns and other materials.
• Create website material and resources for NFI’s branded platforms. 
• Help record, produce and market NFI’s podcast via several platforms. 
• Conduct social media analytics and brand research as well as audits.
• Coordinate interactions with local, trade and national media, as well as influencers, when appropriate. 
• Support and enhance NFI’s brands in printed and digital platforms. 
• Other duties, as assigned. 

Other potential opportunities for growth: 

• Gain experience in technical skills like writing, editing, digital/web design, social media management and research as well as broader skills like understanding the integration between government affairs and communications strategy. 
• Tailor existing internship program to meet individual needs.
• Write creative media briefs and blog posts. 
• Have one-on-one mentoring with designated individuals. 
• Exposure to a variety of marketing and communications focus areas, including media relations, internal communications, public affairs, strategic research, branding, crisis communications, social media and more. 

Ideal applicants possess:

• Strong research, organizational and writing skills. 
• A proven understanding of marketing and communications, social media and online and traditional media.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proficiency using AP Style is preferred. 
• Solid critical thinking skills. 
• Ability to take initiative and assume responsibility.
• Ability to work independently and in team settings.
• Excellent attention to detail, including proofreading.
• A positive attitude and drive.
• Strong Adobe skills. 
• Prior internship experience is a plus. 

Recently the mega-bot syndicator MSN featured an article titled Health concerns surrounding this fish: What consumers need to know. It was a poorly sourced hit job on Tilapia apparently written by Zuzanna Sierzputowska. Also, known in the nutrition writers guild as… never heard of ya. 

The report appears to cite parts of a 16-year-old study that blossomed into a click bait campaign that once claimed the healthfulness of tilapia ranked up there with bacon, hamburgers, and doughnuts. Those exaggerated statements have been rebuked by the medical community as not only wrong but as potentially damaging to public health. 

The Washington Post even pondered; “Tilapia has a terrible reputation. Does it deserve it?” Its reporter concluding that consumers should, “give tilapia a chance.” 

We agree. And if you need more information about Tilapia try these resources: 

• Tilapia Nutrition + 9 Things You Need to Know About Tilapia 

• Tilapia: Eat Facts, Not Fiction 

• An Accurate Tilapia Tale 

Meanwhile, whatever human editors are even still employed at MSN need to get their fish together and stop circulating out of date, hyperbolic nonsense.    

The application process is OPEN for 2025 Future Leaders Program. The deadline for applications is Friday, December 20. For 2025, we are thrilled to announce four sessions in the following cities: Williamsburg, Virginia/Washington, D.C.; Juneau, Alaska; Boston, Massachusetts; and Seattle, Washington.

Please review the application and if you have any questions about the program, please contact Gerrie Thomas, Vice President, Membership and Training at 703.752.8888 or gthomas@nfi.org.

Seafood’s leading podcast for actionable industry information.

Joel Roberson, Partner at Holland & Knight, will be speaking on the current congressional climate at this year’s Leadership Summit, taking place Sept. 23-26 at the Intercontinental Wharf in Washington, D.C. In this episode of SoFISHticated, Joel joins co-hosts Richard and Kayla to discuss the Leadership Summit and why, especially this year, time is of the essence in Washington. Registration is open now!

Key takeaways:

• Why should members attend NFI’s Leadership Summit? 
• Why is now an especially important time to come to Washington and advocate for seafood? 
• Depending on the outcome of the November election, what agenda changes the seafood community should lookout for? 

Seafood’s leading podcast for actionable industry information.

Global Seafood Market Conference favorites Anne-Marie Roerink of 210 Analytics and Chris DuBois of Circana joined co-hosts Richard and Kayla for a mid-year breakdown of the latest seafood trends in a challenging retail environment. In this episode, the group looks back at some of the predictions made during Anne-Marie and Chris’ GSMC presentation and what the retail landscape holds for the second half of the year.  

Key takeaways:? 

• The 2024 predictions missed a bit, meaning some of the positive numbers hoped for have lagged
• Dollars are shifting from restaurant into retail
• The deli-case is more important than ever

Seafood’s leading podcast for actionable industry information.

Co-hosts Richard and Kayla are continuing the conversation about AI in seafood with this second episode in SoFISHticated’s series on AI. Last episode, they spoke about AI in seafood manufacturing and processing, but in this episode they’re joined by Tony Chen, Co-Founder of Manolin, to talk AI in seafood farming. Listen in and buckle up for this new episode, packed full of actionable industry information.

Key takeaways:

• What are companies looking to solve with AI?
• The difference between short-term outputs vs. long-term outputs. 
• Will companies fall behind if they do not adopt AI?

The cycle of reporting on mercury in seafood can be an exhausting one, as misinformed reporters peddle hyperbole and spoon-fed narratives that appear to prompt simple handwringing and teeth gnashing. But they cause much more than that. 

For years, informed communicators have pointed to studies like one from the National Academy of Sciences that shows a faulty focus on an overblown mercury myth has a negative impact on public health. 

 The director of the Center for Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy put it this way, “The government’s communication strategy on the risks and benefits of eating fish has not worked. People are confused. What has been lost in the emphasis on risk from mercury… is the fact that many types of fish, especially those high in omega-3 fatty acids, have significant health benefits. People lose out on those benefits if they decrease fish consumption because they’re getting a mixed message.” 

The fact is virtually every major health organization in the United States wants Americans to eat more seafood as part of a healthy diet. In the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the recommendation is that everyone increase their consumption of seafood, and that pregnant women in particular eat at least 2 to 3 servings each week. That’s because seafood provides nutrients that benefit cardiovascular health: A Harvard study showed that some 84,000 cardiac-related deaths could be prevented each year with proper servings of fish in the diet. There are no exaggerated mercury warnings found here. Just a recommendation to eat more seafood. 

Meanwhile, in recent post, WFLA.com’s Bloom Foods writes, “let’s dive into the topic of mercury in seafood,” but surprisingly leaves out some essential facts rendering its dive fairly shallow.  

Unreported is the fact that there are no cases of mercury toxicity from the normal consumption of commercial seafood found in published peer-reviewed medical journals. That’s right, people don’t actually get mercury poisoning from eating a tuna sandwich for lunch. 

Bloom’s “dive” also includes an explanation of the FDA’s 1.0 ppm limit for mercury in seafood, known as the “action level.”  What it does not however explain in this section is that said level includes a 10-fold safety factor: 

“FDA’s Action Level of 1.0 ppm for methyl mercury in fish was established to limit consumers’ methyl mercury exposure to levels ten times lower than the lowest levels associated with adverse effects.” 

Consumer Reports walked into the John Adam’s wielded buzzsaw of facts being stubborn things when it embarrassed itself by also ignoring this truth; Really, Consumer Reports? Show Us The Numbers, We Did Consumer Reports Work for Them.  

So, now Bloom Food is content to report on the topic “while the debate continues.” Guess what? The debate in the informed, science-based, nutrition community is over. The benefits of eating seafood outweigh any perceived risks from mercury.  

Seafood’s leading podcast for actionable industry information.

Over the past few months, NFI has been charting the course for its future by creating a Strategic Plan, and in this new episode of SoFISHticated, co-hosts Richard and Kayla sit down with NFI President & CEO Lisa Wallenda Picard to discuss the plan’s key components. 

From its origin to its mission, this episode will introduce you to the Strategic Plan. You don’t want to miss it. 

Key takeaways:

• What is the meaning behind the plan’s three initiatives: Shape, Connect and Grow?
• Does the plan have a timeline?
• How can members engage?

NFI’s Shrimp and Salmon Schools NFI’s Species Schools returns with concurrent Shrimp and Salmon Schools on June 14-16 at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS) in Seattle. 

With an agenda tailored for both the seafood newcomer and veteran, NFI’s Shrimp and Salmon Schools will deliver an engaging learning event. Preliminary “field trips” include a tour of the Port of Seattle; a Chef’s demo and visits to seafood processing facilities. Participants will co-mingle during breaks and networking sessions.

The fee for the course is $1,800 for NFI Members; with a discount for two or more individuals from the same company (who can attend either school) at $1,530. The non-member fee is $3,600 per person. 

Contact Hannah Mayers hmayers@nfi.org for more information or if you are interested in corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Register Here