- Graduation Year: May 2015
- Major: Broadcast Journalism
- Hometown: Winnetka, IL
- Hobbies: Writing, collecting beach glass, playing with my dogs
Campus Activities
- Illini Productions
- Buzz Magazine
Internship | Journalism Intern | Kurtis Productions, Ltd.
Duties
- Assist in the production of documentary television series airing on CNBC, Discovery, and more.
- Conduct research for programming and collect news packages, photos, and videos from news stations.
- Formally request legal documents for research purposes from government offices, police stations, and courthouses.
- Assisting producers, directors, and other staff members on shoots.
- Organize rights bibles, or a collection of documents proving that everything said on the show is factual and legally shown.
- Log and organize footage for producers and editors.
- Prepare props for shoots.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I most enjoyed working one-on-one with the producers, associate producers, and editors. Because Kurtis is a small-scale production company, the staff provides you with a very personal experience. Instead of ordering you to do something, they take the time to explain tasks to you and make sure that you understand why you are doing those tasks and why they are important. They really enjoy interacting with the interns and I could tell that they cared about my success. I also really enjoyed observing television shoots and seeing what goes into making a television series.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The most difficult aspect of the internship was obtaining copies of legal documents for research. It takes a lot of persistence and alternate ways of thinking. Much of the time, a person will not respond to you, so you have to figure out multiple ways to accomplish a goal. It forced me to make a lot of phone calls, send a lot of emails, and write a lot of letters. Although it can be difficult and frustrating, these types of tasks improved my communication skills and made me feel more comfortable cold-calling people. It also made me a better researcher.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
Illinois gave me a foundation of good writing skills that helped me obtain and succeed in the internship. Good writing skills can take you anywhere.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
It gave me a better idea about what to expect from the broadcast industry. It also helped me to start building a list of contacts for advice, references, and more.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
Learn and observe as much as you can. Ask lots of questions. The people you will work with have a lot of experience and good advice for you, so don’t be afraid to approach them. Ask about what they do day to day, or to observe them doing their job. Most of the time, they really do enjoy helping you out if you ask.