- Graduation Year: May 2014
- Major: Broadcast Journalism
- Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
- Hobbies: Traveling
Campus Activities
Internship | Intern [reporter, producer, editor] at WTKR NewsChannel 3
Duties
I rotated duties every two weeks. My duties were answering phone calls on the assignment desk, editing video to air, helping with the production of the show (whether that be audio, teleprompter, etc.), creating graphics to air, reporting and interviewing in the field, and writing stories for the web.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
I had the opportunity to join reporters in the field and report my own stories. I also enjoyed being able to practice anchoring using my own written stories.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
Production. The equipment is a lot more high-tech and has a lot more buttons than what I’m used to at Richmond. I went into the internship barely knowing how to do audio, camera, teleprompter…really anything with production.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
Going into the internship, I already knew how to write for broadcast as well as edit using final cut. I knew a lot more about this stuff than other interns.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
My internship taught me real world news. In the classroom we only learn about a real newsroom. With the internship I experienced the chaotic life of a reporter and newsroom in general. It also gave me a lot more confidence in my abilities as a reporter.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Start young! I wish I did an internship every summer starting my freshman year. And don’t do the same type of internship. Do a print journalism one, do a multimedia one focusing on camera and editing, do a reporting one. Test out all aspects of journalism so that you really get a feel for what you like and dislike.