Internship Pointers

Last Update: 2/26/2007 11:42 pm

If you choose to intern in the field of journalism, keep these suggestions in mind:

Don't be a bump on a log. Get involved! Ask questions, ask to help out.
Treat your internship like a job! Yes, it's not a job. Because of that, your supervisor won't treat you like an employee, but don't fool yourself, they'll notice!
Dress appropriately, set a schedule and arrive on time, and notify your supervisor of any absences in advance.
Don't be intimidated by the chaos! Newsrooms are wacky places, full of loud noises and very busy people. This is part of the fun. Please wait your turn, but don't hesitate to jump in, either!
Keep in touch with the news! We know that college students are often isolated from the outside world, but keep this in mind: all of our newsroom personnel are expected to keep up with the latest news headlines and be up to date on the latest issues by the time they walk in the building. Challenge yourself to do the same.
Apply early! WPTV's internship slots are limited and fill up quickly. This goes for other news organizations as well.
Strengthen your skills before you apply! The competition is often stiff for journalism internships. If you're looking for a broadcast journalism internship and haven't ever written a broadcast news script, start now and get a professor to evaluate your work.
Ask for feedback! Ask someone to look over your script and tell you what they think. You're there to learn!
Smile if you're given grunt work! Yes, you may get some unpleasant tasks, but that's part of the gig.

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