- Graduation Year: May 2015
- Major: Broadcast Journalism
- Certificate: PR certificate
- Hometown: Naperville
- Hobbies: Making videos, singing, dancing, hanging out with friends!
Campus Activities
- IMPULSE Magazine (Editor in Chief)
- Society of Professional Journalists (former President and VP)
- Delta Gamma Sorority
- College Fashion Week (Executive Runway Director)
- Her Campus (Video)
Internship |Entertainment Tonight |News/Production Intern
Duties?
Every day was different at Entertainment Tonight. My supervisor was very helpful with assigning me to places that were in my area of interest. I did everything from passing out scripts to talent during the taping of shows on stage, preparing interview questions when I was assigned to the news desk, assisting on off-site shoots by writing the shoot report and logging interviews & filing video with the production assistants.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
I most enjoyed the range of things I would be doing in a day. I worked with our off-site shoot coordinator most and was able to help field produce a lot of different shoots because I was always in the loop about what was going on that week.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The most difficult aspect of the internship was the same as it is at any other internship I’ve had: you have to find the balance between being helpful and being annoying. I’ve learned it’s about putting yourself out there and letting them know you’re available to help without overstepping boundaries.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
My experience at Illinois helped prepare me for my internship because it gave me a confident voice. For a lot of the people I was interning with, this was their first internship–not to mention most of them weren’t journalism majors. My classes in the College of Media taught me to be confident in my capabilities and that I had the skills to follow through on every project I was assigned.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
This internship has prepared me for a career more than any other internship experience I have had. Most people would think at such a big company I would only be doing coffee runs and observing, but I was highly active in the company while interning there and had a say on a lot more than I expected. Entertainment Tonight and The Insider invited me back to be a production assistant for the People’s Choice Awards, Golden Globes, Grammys and Oscars. From the first two awards shows I have already gotten a taste of what it would be like to work full time for the company. Even if I don’t end up at ET after graduation, I have met some incredible people and had invaluable experiences that I’m not sure would have been offered if I hadn’t interned there first.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
My recommendation for students who would like to do an internship is that they should try and do several internships if they get the opportunity. I wouldn’t have had this internship if it weren’t for the several internships I had before it. I would also say that a large part about an internship is getting in the door, but the most important part is making an impression when you get there and to make the most out of it because our business is incredibly small and you start making a reputation for yourself the second you walk in the door.