Thursday, April 30, 2009

Intern without leaving campus

Here in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication we take pride in the fact that each year we have JMC majors interning throughout the nation and even beyond. In my years as director of the internship program, we have had students intern in Europe and Asia as well as from coast to coast, from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., in the United States. That's exciting.

Sometimes, however, some of the best opportunities don't require a passport or even an airline ticket. Two great paid internships are available now on the ACU campus. Both of these positions could be structured either as a part-time job or internship. Here are the details:

ACU Press is looking for a student publicist. This student will work about 15 hours per week writing news releases, interviewing and working on the Web site for ACU Press. Hours are flexible. Applicants need to have good writing skills. The position will start this summer, so applicants must be available in Abilene during the summer months. Interested students should send a resume and cover letter to Dr. Larry Fitzgerald, director of marketing, at lxf07a@acu.edu.

The Alumni Relations Office is seeking one (or two) students for a 12-month internship and part-time job beginning in May.

Duties may include:

1. Create and send out one electronic newsletter to ACU alumni each month. The newsletter would have one paragraph descriptions of news with a link to the full news story on the ACU Web site.
2. Create and send out a printed or electronic newsletter for the ACU choral reunion group. This newsletter is once per year.
3. Create and send out a printed newsletter for the Women for ACU. This newsletter goes out two times per year.
4. Update the ACU Alumni Association Web site as needed. This involves occasional news stories and information about upcoming events.
5. Help us launch and maintain a social media presence (in conjunction with ACU's social media planning committee).
6. Assist with the research and writing of select.

Interested students should contact Larry Musick, director of alumni relations, at larry.musick@acu.edu, or call 325-674-2622.

Guest column: Internships give students an edge


By Luke Sims
Senior journalism major from Sweetwater, Texas

All students go through it at some point. That final senior semester begins to wind down and they realize “Oh no! I need a job!” Fear and anxiety take over and stress elevates tremendously.

As I watched my friends before me fall into this same trap, I noticed that a few of them did not. They were seemingly unconcerned by the stress. This was because they had thought ahead and got internships.

Not only do internships train you in the practical application of your field, they train you to get used to the real work environment, away from the laid back atmosphere of a college campus.
While interns are stereotypically depicted as fetching coffee for the higher ups, most interns work at low-level tasks and begin to learn the business hands-on.

Here are some tips for getting an internship:

• Speak with your teachers, no one can help you prepare and network like they can.
• Freshen your résumé.
• Improve your interviewing skills.
• Choose great references.
• Be willing to move.
• Don't pin your hopes on a single internship and stay on top of companies until the last minute.
• Make a list of your dream companies and apply for at least 10 internships. It never hurts you to send more.

Since 2007, a notable 74.5 percent of college graduates have been able to enter the work force per year. And while a degree certainly improves your odds, nothing can give you that boost ahead like an internship can.

A good friend of mine, for example, is my age and started college the same year I did. By his senior year, he had an internship lined up in Houston. After his summer passed, he returned for a final semester, with an invitation to return to work full time for the company in Houston upon graduation.

While many students will walk away from college wide-eyed with hope in their hearts but no experience beneath them, a student with an internship can sit before any prospective employer and say, “Nice to meet you. Now look at what I have done.”

Monday, April 13, 2009

DFW internships at Star-Telegram, Moroch agency

Here are two more summer internship opportunities, both of them ideal for students from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

The Star-Telegram newspaper in Fort Worth is looking for a multimedia marketing intern for the Star-Telegram, DFW.com, INDULGE magazine and Panache Magazine. The chosen intern will assist in research and development of existing and possible niche publications. The intern may also assist with event planning for community and promotional functions, work with the event and sales staff to help increase sponsorships and ad sales, assist photographer and stylist at photo shoots, and write or research stories for the publications. The internship begins June 2 and ends Aug. 7 and will involve 32 hours per week. The deadline to apply is THIS FRIDAY, April 17, but you are encouraged to apply as quickly as possible. To apply, e-mail a cover letter and resume to LeeAnn Polster at lpolster@indulgedfw.com.

The Moroch advertising agency in Dallas is seeking an advertising intern interested in account services. The internship is for this summer. You can learn more about Moroch on their Web site. To apply, send an e-mail cover letter and an attached resume to kgibbs@moroch.com. For a view of the agency and other job opportunities there, visit the agency's Web site.

DH

Sunday, April 12, 2009

New internships in Austin, Washington, D.C. for PR and journalism majors

Two new internships crossed the desk this week and may be of interest to public relations and journalism majors.

Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is seeking public relations interns in Austin to support its programs in history, literature, philosophy and other humanities disciplines. Interns will write news releases, gain media relations experience and prepare other printed materials. For more details, visit the Humanities Texas Web site or call 512-440-1991, extension 120.

Students interested in political journalism may want to investigate the Capital Semester program in Washington, D.C., sponsored by The Fund for American Studies in partnership with Georgetown University. This annual program combines an internship with courses that provide academic credit. Students are placed in internships with top news and media organizations in Washington, D.C., and housing in the heart of the nation's capital. Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2009 program and interested students are encouraged to apply by April 24. For more information, visit the Capital Semester's Web site or contact Haley Heieck, recruitment and admissions assistant, at admissions@tfas.org or 1-800-741-6964.

Guest column: The value of JMC student organizations


By Sommerly Simser
Junior broadcast journalism major from Las Vegas


Internships are important and provide the training students need so that they can obtain a job after their graduation in their chosen career field. However, it is also important to get involved in organizations at school that in their own way also prepare you for the career field and can ultimately help you pay off school with scholarships and provide you with a network of individuals who could later be of help.

Campus organizations such as the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), the Broadcast Education Association (BEA), the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) all offer multiple opportunities to advance your training and knowledge of the career you plan to pursue.

The Broadcast Education Association, which has recently chartered on the ACU campus, holds an annual convention for Broadcasters in Las Vegas. Student membership includes a reduced fee to the convention, which is a great opportunity for students to learn about the latest advancements in technology in the broadcast news, radio or electronic media fields. It also provides a place to network with hundreds of thousands of other across the nation involved in the same field. In addition to a reduced price to the convention student members will receive all of BEA’s publications and access to their members-only Web site, which has applications for the organization’s various scholarships.

The Society of Professional Journalists, which is also active at ACU, offers their members the chance to compete for awards, scholarships and internships. SPJ strives to represent and serve today’s journalists by taking on battles over the First Amendment and the Freedom of Information Act, which might otherwise be overlooked and therefore a journalist’s rights could continue to dwindle. Like BEA, SPJ also offers an annual convention as well as numerous regional conferences for students to attend and receive training, guidance and the opportunity to learn from some of the top professionals in the country.

Both the American Advertising Federation and the Public Relations Student Society of America are active on campus under the AD/PR club. Both organizations offer regional and national conventions. The AAF is the oldest national advertising industry trade group. The AAF hosts the ADDY awards, the world’s largest local, regional and national advertising competition. Both organizations offer scholarships specifically for members and provide access to members-only Web sites with internship and job lists.

Each one of the organizations that are present on the ACU campus not only provide scholarships and opportunities to attend conferences and conventions; students are also equipped with a better understanding of their field and they get the opportunity to work more closely with their peers and professors and advisers. And of course not to mention these organizations look great on a resume.