Internship Insider: Landing my Dream Internship with Destination Cleveland

Shannon Russell

This semester, I am experiencing my dream internship with Destination Cleveland as a Content Intern.

PRSSA Kent was integral in me chasing after and securing this internship. During my sophomore year, Senior Director of Content and Managing Editor for Destination Cleveland Lexi Hotchkiss came and spoke for the PRSSA Kent “Travel and Tourism” panel. I loved learning about Destination Cleveland and the content they made, like travel guides,

blog posts and experience passports, to help travelers and residents make the most of their Cleveland experience. As someone who has been a Cleveland fan since birth, I knew this kind of work was something I wanted to be a part of. 

After the panel, I became a member of PRSSA Kent’s executive board and got involved in other extracurriculars to improve my resume. In Fall 2024, I attended ICON (PRSSA’s national conference), where I met Destination Cleveland’s Senior Public Relations Manager Jen Brasdovich. I expressed my interest in interning for the company, and she was able to recommend me for the internship, which I eventually landed. It was very satisfying to have my long term goal pay off, and I am very thankful for how PRSSA Kent helped me get there. 

At my internship, I am a member of the content team. I write blog posts for the Destination Cleveland blog, including trip planners and landmark spotlights. I also conduct market research and content audits for the Destination Cleveland website and make recommendations to improve user experience. Finally, I help brainstorm and execute messaging and creative for each seasonal content plan. Being a part of this collaborative, supportive and creative environment has been nothing short of special.

Although this isn’t a typical public relations internship, I still use public relations skills in my role every day. A large part of my role is writing, specifically in AP style, which is a foundational public relations skill. In all of the content I write or engage with, I also have to ensure I am writing strategically and clearly so that content resonates with the target audience. Finally, the recommendations I make are all backed by research, which is another key public relations skill.

Overall, I am having a great time at my internship and I am thankful for the opportunity to grow my strategic communication and public relations skills. I recommend for PRSSA Kent members to get more involved with the organization and to take chances because you never know what opportunities could come from it.