- Graduation Year: May 2015
- Major: Ag. Communications
- Minor: Environmental Economics & Law
- Hometown: Sparland, IL
- Hobbies: Watching sports, reading and enjoying the weather when I can
Campus Activities
- ACES Council
- ACT (Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow)
- 4-H House Cooperative Sorority
- Illini Limnologists
Internship | News & Communications Intern at Illinois Farm Bureau – RFD Radio Network
Duties
For my work with RFD Radio Network, I conducted and placed audio interviews, edited and packaged stories, promotional spots, coordinated RFDRN’s presence at the Illinois State Fair and organize the IFB Stage.
For my work with FarmWeekNow, I set up and trained the News & Communications staff in social media, developed promotion materials for FarmWeekNow.com, the Twitter handle and app.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I most enjoyed the hands-on experience this internship offered me. They trusted me to go out into the field and conduct interviews on my own. They also offered me a chance to pair my two loves, law and radio, by allowing me to do a legislative update every week.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The hardest part of this internship was the promotional and advertising demands. I have never had experience in these parts of communications, so learning what would work best was difficult.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
When I was applying for this internship, I was enrolled in JOUR 435, audio broadcasting. This taught me how to use Adobe Audition and gave me the experience of finding stories and producing them. This was a very good selling point for me during my interview and helped me to jump in on my first day.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
This internship helped me to see that radio is, in fact, the direction I wanted to take my career. I was considering law school before this internship; however, this showed me I can pair law and radio with ease.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Just like everyone else, I would say do them! Even if the internship doesn’t sound exactly what you want to do, you can still make great contacts and learn something new about yourself. They will also help to prepare you for your dream internship or job.