Professional Communication in Internships: Integrating Media–Task Fit and Social Presence in Digitalized Workplaces

The growing digitalization of workplaces has reshaped how interns communicate, learn, and form professional identities. While digital tools can enhance productivity and flexibility, they also bring challenges related to clarity, feedback, and interpersonal connection. Grounded in Media Richness Theory (MRT) and Social Presence Theory (SPT), this conceptual paper proposes a framework in which social presence mediates the relationship between media–task fit and communication outcomes—specifically, communication satisfaction and professional outcomes. The proposed model is designed for future empirical validation through a quantitative survey among internship students at University Technology MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Kelantan. By extending classical communication theories into the underexplored domain of digital internships, this study offers theoretical and practical insights for universities and host organizations seeking to strengthen students’ communication competence and employability in increasingly digitalized workplaces.

Media Richness Theory, Social Presence, Communication Satisfaction

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