The first images that come to mind when we hear the acronyms FBI are usually based off television drama series, action films and news reports. These images may be closely accurate, but there are additional employees in the Federal Bureau of Investigation who aren’t necessarily special agents. They are known as the professional staff. Those who are in the FBI Office of Public Affairs help construct that image of the FBI.
George Mason University’s Department of Communication, Office of Career Services, Office of Student Media, and Society of Professional Journalists hosted video producer Alex Scaltrito and writer Jenny Shearer from the FBI’s Office of Public Affairs on Tuesday afternoon. About 40 students, majority of them communication majors, were in attendance to learn about the internship opportunities in the FBI.
Scaltrito kicked off the talk asking the students how they knew the FBI. He gave the students a concise history of the FBI and its significance in American society. Scaltrito explained that the actual meaning of FBI is fidelity, bravery, and integrity and joked that, “The government loves acronyms like the Kardashians love taking a selfie.” Since the Sept. 11 attacks of the year 2001, the FBI has changed its course primarily focusing on intelligence; proactive measures to prevent another national crisis.
The FBI is a large organization with 56 field offices in the United States and more than 60 international offices. Both Scaltrito and Shearer work on internal communication that is used to inform and connect all 35,000 employees within the FBI. The internal communication for the FBI includes an employee magazine that covers topics such as important cases like John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Schearer explained that internal communication for the FBI also includes small informational pamphlets that special agents can carry with them. Scaltrito showed the students a video of executive messaging in which he was able to connect Director James B. Comey of the FBI to employees in Thailand.
The FBI Office of Public Affairs also has to communicate with traditional media and the public. According to Scaltrito and Shearer, the FBI website is in the top five percent of the world’s most visited websites. The public can submit tips for the FBI through this website without it shutting down even during high crisis, high traffic days. The Office of Public Affairs also has the task to prepare the general attorney for a press conference. Shearer shared photos in which the students could see her in action doing this as well as interviewing officials on commemorative dates. Scaltrito shared photos he took and videos he produced that strategically captured a message of the FBI’s work and significance.
Both FBI public affairs specialists showcased what Mason students could do by interning at the FBI using their creative communication skills in media production, journalism, public relations, photography, and more. They wrapped up the intriguing talk by asking again, how do you know the FBI? The current internship opportunity is open to full time communication students for the summer of 2016. For students who are interested in applying please visit this link to find out if you qualify to apply and additional internship details.
Written by Kenia Zelaya
George Mason University Undergraduate Communication Student
GMU SPJ 