Part-time jobs, internships offer JMC experience in Abilene

Here's one more item for your "to do" list before leaving campus for the holidays: secure a part-time job or internship for the spring semester that will enhance your resume. 

Final exams and plans for the Christmas break may be dominating your thoughts right now but here are a couple of opportunities worth checking out before you pack the car, turn out the lights and hit the road:

• Abilene Christian University Press is looking for a part-time student worker (10-15 hours per week) who can perform a variety of public relations, marketing and administrative tasks.  Dr. Larry Fitzgerald, director of marketing, said he prefers someone who can work in December and January during the break and possibly next summer.  For the right student, this position may qualify for a JMC internship.  You can learn more about ACU Press (and Leafwood Publishers) by visiting their Web site.  You may reach Dr. Fitzgerald at lxf07a@acu.edu or by calling 325-674-2870. 
  
• West Texas Rehabilitation Center is seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) administrative assistant for their marketing department.  While this position is primarily administrative, it is a chance to gain experience in one of the city's busiest and most successful nonprofit marketing departments.  Applicants must be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, have an outgoing personality and a good work ethic.  This is a year-round position, not just for the school year, so the applicant must live in the Abilene area and be available during the summer and school holidays.  To apply, contact Deonna Galbraith, marketing director, at dgalbraith@wtrc.com or call 325-793-3525.

While we have no specific requests, keep in mind that Abilene's media outlets are often looking for part-time help or interns.  This includes TV stations, radio stations and the Abilene Reporter-News newspaper. 

Best wishes to everyone on final exams and your plans for the Christmas holiday. 

Apply now for summer 2010 journalism internships

Journalism majors seeking internships at major news organization need to put their search into high gear, since some of the best programs have deadlines in the next two to six weeks.  Here's a sampling, but also check the Web sites of journalism professional organizations (see list in the left-hand column of this blog) and major media companies for more opportunities.

• The Associated Press offers a paid summer internship for photographers and photo editors.  The application deadline is Nov. 13.  This annual program runs 12 weeks and is open to juniors and seniors.  The AP will select at least photo interns for next summer.  For more information, visit www.ap.org and look in the "careers" tab. 
• The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Association (Texas APME) is seeking applicants for its annual Buster Haas Minority Internship Program.  The winning student will receive a 10-week internship at a Texas newspaper of 30,000 or less circulation, plus a $3,000 stipend and $1,000 for living expenses.  For more information, visit http://www.txapme.com/scholarships/.
• The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) offers an annual, 10-week internship program each summer for students interested in careers with magazines.  The internships are at magazines in either New York City or Washington, D.C.  Since starting this program 44 years ago, 1,766 students and more than 200 magazines have participated.  Applicants must have completed their junior year, be returning to school full time next fall and have at least a 3.0 GPA.  The deadline to apply is Dec. 1.  For an application, visit http://asme.magazine.org.
• Minority students interested in a career in broadcast television will want to check into the LIN Minority Scholarship and Training Program.  LIN Television selects one student per year, who receives a four-year contract that includes two years of summer internships followed by two years of full-time employment with LIN.  The company will pay for the winning student's tuition, books, room and board for the junior and senior years of college.  The deadline to enter is March 15, 2010.  For more information, visit http://www.lintv.com/contact/careers.html.
• The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com plan to hire seven full-time and four stipend interns for the summer of 2010.  Interns can work in a variety of departments, including news, sports, business, features, photography, video, online communities and niche publications.  Full-time interns are paid $450 per week, while stipend interns will receive a $500 allowance and may qualify to earn college credit.  Other perks include free access to the newspaper's fitness center.  For more information, visit http://www.newsok.com/interns. The deadline to apply is Dec. 4.   
• The Detroit News is seeking applicants for its 2010 summer internship program.  This 12-week program is open to juniors, seniors and recent graduates.  Opportunities are available for reporters, copy editors, photographers, graphic artists/page designers and within the newspaper's online news operations.  Preference is given to students who have completed at least one prior newspaper internship and have worked on a campus publication.  Interns are paid $524.93 per week.  The deadline to enter is Nov. 20.  For information, visit www.detnews.com and e-mail me for an application.  The deadline to apply is Nov. 20.
• The Institute for Human Studies at George Mason University is seeking spring semester journalism interns for newspapers, major media networks and state policy organizations.  The deadline to apply is Nov. 15.  For more information, visit www.TheIHS.org/journalism. 
  
• Not every internship counts for JMC credit, but the experience is still valuable and looks great on your resume.  For instance, the Christian Chronicle, a nationally circulated newspaper serving members of the Churches of Christ, is looking for "virtual" interns willing to report and write from home.  This would require a student who is a self-starter and has a dual interest in journalism and religion.  We don't count virtual internships toward your JMC internship requirement, but the clips you could receive from this assignment would be worthwhile.  
  

Please note that there are many more internship opportunities at newspapers, TV stations and magazines, so don't stop your search with this list.  Check the organizations in the left-hand column of this blog or see me for more recommendations.

Beware Phony PR Job Come Ons

Not every job ad is legit.  Job seekers need to exercise caution when viewing and responding to job leads.  The following story is a good example.  Ad/PR majors are the most likely of all our majors to run into this issue, so if you are interested in a career in advertising or public relations, be sure to take time to read the story below.  It is from Ron Culp, whose blog, Culpwrit, is an excellent one for students and young professionals.

Beware Phony PR Job Come Ons

LinkedIn a great site for job hunting, networking

If you've had me as a teacher, you know how passionate I am about networking as a way to find jobs and build your professional presence.  Networking is absolutely essential.

LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) has emerged as the leading online site for professional networking.  LinkedIn is phenomenally popular, with 47 million users, including 5.1 million students.  Executives from every Fortune 500 company maintain profiles on the site.  If you plan to seek work after graduation and build a successful career, you need to join LinkedIn now.

You can think of LinkedIn as your online resume, but it's really much more.  LinkedIn lets you post your own profile, where you can list your education, work experience and skills, similar to a resume.  You can also include your photo and links to your blog, Web site or online portfolio.   Employers who are interested in hiring you can access your profile online. 

The real power of LinkedIn is the networking potential.  Similar to "friends" on Facebook, LinkedIn lets you "connect" with employers, peers and other contacts.  Hey, you can even connect with your college instructors.  Your networking can grow exponentially as you connect with groups, such as your college alumni organization or companies where you've interned or worked.   Venturing one step further, you can participate in professional discussion groups and begin to establish your interest or expertise on given issues. 

Similar to building a good resume, developing a highly professional profile on LinkedIn requires skill.  This isn't Facebook, so you want to be sure everything you post on LinkedIn is highly professional and career-focused.  A poorly executed profile on LinkedIn, just like a sloppy resume, can be a kiss of death with employers.

Lindsey Pollak, author of "Getting from College to Career" and a consultant to LinkedIn, offers these suggestions to students on building a successful LinkedIn profile:

1. Make sure your photo is professional and that it shows only you.  This isn't the place for that goofy photo of you and your roommate that you posted on Facebook (you know the one).
2. Think carefully about what to say in your headline.  It could focus on your area of study or your career ambition.  For instance, if you want to be an advertising account executive, say so in your headline or say you are an Ad/PR major.  Don't waste the headline by saying you wait tables at Chili's, unless, of course, your dream is a career in restaurant management. 
3. Use appropriate keywords in your profile.   What are the words or phrases that employers in your field typically list in job descriptions?  What software programs are important in your specialty?  Include keywords that will make employers stop and look at your profile.
4. It's OK to include internships, Study Abroad and volunteer experiences in your profile.  These activities reflect positively on you.  Don't limit yourself to only listing jobs.  
5. Don't neglect to include recommendations.  LinkedIn includes space for people who know you to write something nice about you and your professional skills.  Ask your internship supervisors, employers, college instructors and others who know your work well to submit recommendations for you. 
   

In today's job market, posting a profile on LinkedIn is almost as important as having a solid resume.  Take time now to visit LinkedIn and start your profile.  For more information, see "Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job" or visit LinkedIn's own site for college graduates at "Launch Your Career With LinkedIn."

Event-planning internship available at ACU

Ad/PR majors interested in a career in event planning may wish to apply for a part-time job and student internship available through ACU's Office of University Events.  This position will count for your official JMC internship.  If you need to complete your internship in Abilene, this is the best internship opportunity available in event planning. 

Keep in mind you need junior or senior status in order for this position to count as your official JMC internship.  Before accepting this or any other internship position for which you want ACU credit, also remember to e-mail me for advance approval and to review the necessary procedures and paperwork. 

For more details, click this link or e-mail me. 

Twitter series examines what employers look for and when to start job search

An enterprising recent series of questions on Twitter (see #PRStudChat on Twitter) provides good answers to questions JMC students need to know, such as "how soon to start a job search?" and "what do CEOs look for in new employees?"  Although the series focuses on public relations students, the results are applicable to all JMC majors.  Take a few minutes and read this blog series by Valerie Simon, a senior vice president at Burrelles Luce and a freelance writer.

What does a CEO look for in a PR hire?
http://tinyurl.com/n4wlvs

When should students start their search for a job?
http://tinyurl.com/mfk3tz

What are the best PR books and publications?
 http://tinyurl.com/ns3vty

 
 DH

Ag & Environmental Sciences offers part-time student job

The Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (A&E) Department at ACU is seeking a part-time student employee to help market the department and manage its Web site. This could be a good opportunity for any of our students but especially for electronic media or Ad/PR majors.

Requirements include:

• Students should have completed their core JMC courses; preference will be given to juniors and seniors
  
• Agricultural or environmental background is not required, but the student should be willing to learn some of the jargon and terms used in this field
  
• Self-motivated/initiative
• Work 10-15 hours a week
• Ability to "market" A&E by staying abreast of departmental stories and communicating through various means
• Current proficiency or willingness to learn Collage (ACU's Web site software) to keep the A&E Web site current and fresh
• Willing to interact with the Optimist and Creative/Marketing Services to keep our message in front of people

For more information, please e-mail me or call me at 674-2045.

Graduated but not employed: Strategies for what to do next

Graduated (or about to graduate) and still not employed? Read this story from the Public Relations Society of America for some helpful job-search tips.

Internships, part-time jobs await JMC students this fall

Now that you are back in Abilene for the fall semester, some of you will be looking for JMC internships or part-time job opportunities. I have good news. Some of Abilene's best JMC-related employers are waiting to hear from you.

Before you browse the list of opportunities below, you may want to review the internship program requirements. All internships require the department's prior approval. E-mail me before accepting any internship. Also, keep in mind that the university will no longer allow seniors to participate in graduation ceremonies if they have an incomplete or "in progress" grade on their transcript. If you plan to graduate next May, for instance, you must complete your internship and submit all of the required paperwork at least three weeks prior to the end of the spring term.

Internships

1. If broadcast journalism is your thing, then you'll be pleased to know that both of Abilene's network TV providers, KTAB/KRBC and KTXS, offer internships. TV stations also offer opportunities for public relations, advertising and electronic media majors. KTXS TV offers internships in news, production, promotions, weather and sports. For news, weather and sports internships, contact George Levesque, KTXS general manager, at levesque@ktxs.com or 677-2281. For production and promotion internships, contact David Caldwell, KTXS creative services director, at davidcaldwell@ktxs.com or 677-2281. KTAB/KRBC TV is looking for both fall interns and part-time workers for its Friday night high school football coverage. KTAB and KRBC interns may get to report, produce, write, shoot video or edit video. Interns can also gain experience writing, designing and creating graphics for the station's Web sites. Contact Austin Kellerman, news director, at AKellerman@ktab.tv.
   
2. Hospitals offer excellent internship opportunities in a variety of JMC fields including public relations, event planning, graphic design, media relations, copywriting and advertising creativity. Hendrick Medical Center's Marketing Department offers interns the opportunity to work in all aspects of hospital communications and marketing work, including one of the city's largest annual event-planning programs for the Children's Miracle Network (spring). For more information, contact Elizabeth Ables at eables@ehendrick.org or 670-2431. On the other side of town, Abilene Regional Medical Center offers internships in marketing and public relations. It is seeking interns who are proficient in Adobe PhotoShop and Illustrator and who have good word processing and spreadsheet skills. As would be true in any hospital setting, ARMC says students need to have "extreme diplomacy and tact" and be able to handle confidential information. Professional appearance and good decorum are also on the qualifications list. For information, contact Julia C. Belcher, marketing and public relations coordinator, at julia.belcher@armc.net or 428-4952.
3. Zachry Associates is Abilene's only full-service advertising agency. Zachry offers internships for senior Ad/PR majors with a strong background in graphic design. Students should have at least a 3.0 average GPA and a demonstrated interest in advertising creativity. Students should have samples of their graphic design work to share if called for an interview. For more information, contact Danny Flanagan, art director, at dflanagan@zachryinc.com or 677-1342, extension 125.
4. One of the best opportunities for students interested in event-planning careers is right here on the ACU campus. The Office of University Events seeks a student intern to assist with coordinating, planning, organizing and preparing for special events, meetings and conferences. The office also manages all events in the new Hunter Welcome Center. Students will a keen interest in event planning and who possess good communication and customer-service skills are invited to apply. First see me for a complete job description and then contact Jennifer Ellison, director of events, at jme00a@acu.edu or 674-2632.
5. The City of Abilene offers excellent internship opportunities for students interested in public relations and video production. These internships pay a $350 stipend to your ACU account. Two internships are being offered this fall in public affairs and video production. The public affairs intern may get experience writing news releases, creating public service announcements and producing articles for the employee newsletter and e-newsletter. Applicants should be familiar with Adobe InDesign and PhotoShop software. The video production intern will get the chance to work with the City's Channel 7 TV station. Experience will include writing, shooting and editing public service announcements and working on city-produced television programs. Applicants should be familiar with digital photography, Adobe Premiere Pro nonlinear editing system and PowerPoint. For more information on either of these internships, e-mail me for a complete job description and contact information.
   
6. While no specific information is available at this time, three other Abilene employers who often provide outstanding internship opportunities for JMC students are the Abilene Reporter-News, West Texas Rehabilitation Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Texas. Check these organization's Web sites and e-mail me if interested in more information.
   

Part-time jobs

Abilene Christian University Press seeks a student to work part-time in marketing and promotion. The student in this position will learn how to send e-mail marketing blasts, design Web sites, spend time in marketing research and work with Web-based catalog marketing. This position is not available until Sept. 20. For more information, contact Dr. Larry Fitzgerald, director of marketing, at lxf07a@acu.edu or 674-2870.

Our own KACU-FM has opportunities for student announcers. This is an excellent opportunity to work on Abilene's most professional radio station and the region's only National Public Radio affiliate. Contact John Best or Dave Smith for more information.

Finally, ACU's Alumni Relations Office has part-time student positions posted with the ACU Career Center. See the Career Center for details.

Social media, PR offer hope in challenging job market

While the latest annual jobs survey by the University of Georgia's James M. Cox Jr. Center for International Mass Communication Training and Research is generally bad news for JMC graduates, public relations and advertising students can take some hope.

The survey found that only six in ten recent JMC graduates nationwide had found employment, the lowest level in more than 20 years. Public relations graduates fared the best, with 71 percent responding that they had a full-time job. This compares with 65 percent for advertising majors, 59 percent for print journalism majors and 57 percent for telecommunications majors.

Coupled with another report out recently, it seems the best way for public relations students to further strengthen their career prospects is to develop expertise in social media. The 2009 Digital Readiness Survey found that social media communications skills are nearly as important as traditional media relations skills for PR professionals seeking jobs.

The survey, sponsored by online newsroom provider iPressroom with support from Korn/Ferry International, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Trendstream, also found the following:

• Public relations leads marketing and advertising in the management and oversight of all social media channels within companies and other organizations. The only exceptions are with bulk e-mail and search engine optimization, where marketing takes the lead.
  
• Social networking, blogging and micro-blogging skills are the three most important social media communications skills for job candidates to have.
• Most organizations are considering hiring social media specialists.

A copy of the full report is available from iPressroom.

After Your Internship: The Do’s And Don’ts

After Your Internship: The Do’s And Don’ts

This article from PRSSA's blog gives practical tips for how to maximize the networking value of your internship. Even though this article discusses public relations internships, the advice can be adapted to any JMC-related field.

PR intern learns about seeking opportunity

This summer I had the opportunity to intern in Clearwater, Fla., at Tech Data Corporation. Tech Data is ranked 102nd on the FORTUNE 500 list and is one of the world's largest distributors of technology products from leading IT hardware and software producers. They gave me the opportunity to dabble in any area of the Creative Marketing Division that interests me. I shadowed and worked with the public relations manager, worked alongside the events team during the planning and execution of major corporate events, and I also wrote stories and e-mails that were published on the internal Web site and distributed to our partners in Europe. It was exciting to get to dip my feet into various fields and get an idea of what most interests me.

I learned that experience is invaluable, every person you work with has knowledge and experience to share if you ask them, and questions are proof you want to learn more. I think the most important thing I learned is that when opportunity isn’t knocking on your door it’s your responsibility to go and find it.

Job seekers: Watch your comments on Facebook, Twitter

Think those comments on Facebook about last weekend's party are harmless? Think again.

Employers are increasingly searching through social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube, when reviewing candidates for jobs. It's time to clean up your act and use caution in what you post anywhere online.

A survey by CareerBuilder found that nearly one in four employers use social networking sites when checking out job candidates. Of that group, 34 percent report they've rejected candidates based on what they found online. What sort of comments turned off these employers? Here are some specifics:

• 41 percent of hiring managers said they found information online about candidates drinking or using drugs.
• 40 percent found provacative or inappropriate photos or information online.
• 29 percent said candidates demonstrated poor communication skills.
• 27 percent said candidates lied about their qualifications.
• 22 percent complained that candidates used discriminatory remarks related to race, gender or religion.
• 21 percent learned candidates were linked to criminal behavior (wow!).
  

You can find the survey at http://tinyurl.com/4hwysf.

Meanwhile, a similar report, titled "20 Things Job Seekers Shouldn't Say On Twitter," appeared recently on ResumeBear. It cites actual posts on Twitter. You'll get a good laugh from reading these comments but I must caution you that some of them are off-color.

Tips for recent graduates looking for work

No matter what your major or GPA, this year's job market is tough for new college graduates. It takes a job-marketing game plan and a lot of perseverance and commitment to find a job in today's economy. Tim Johnston, director of ACU's Career Center, was quoted recently in an article in the Abilene Reporter-News. The story includes some excellent suggestions for recent graduates (or seniors) that can help with the job search. You can read the story here.

If you haven't visited ACU's Career Center, let me encourage you to do so. Please see the center's Web site for more details or e-mail them.

DH

Texas internships for summer and fall

Internships no longer appeal only to students seeking to fulfill their requirement of completing a JMC-related internship for graduation purposes. Thanks to a sour economy and a tougher job market, many recent JMC graduates are also competing for internship positions to get more experience on their resumes. Other students are beefing up their resumes by completing two or more internships, even though the JMC department only requires one.

Here are several opportunities around the Lone Star state that may appeal to current students or recent graduates:

• HH Enterprises, owned by ACU alumnus Homer Hillis, seeks a student in Abilene interested in viral marketing, social media and who has a flair for fashion. Duties would include blogging, posting to Web sites, using Facebook and generally finding ways to create conversations online and build community. Hillis is also owner of the Friendze chain of retail stores. You may contact him at 325-829-0340 or by e-mail.
• The Texas Public Relations Association has announced its 2009 TPRA Silver Spur Internship program. This is an elite set of internships for public relations students that can lead to scholarships but at the least looks great on a PR student's internship. TPRA internships are available this summer and fall at the American Heart Association (offices throughout Texas), MM2 Public Relations in Dallas and at NuStar Energy L.P. in San Antonio. For more information, visit TPRA's Web site at http://www.tpra.com/student/.
• Total, the world's fourth-largest integrated oil and gas company, seeks public relations interns for this fall at its Port Arthur refinery in Texas. This is a paid internship and includes housing. Total will consider juniors, seniors or recent graduates with a minimum GPA of 2.8, a good knowledge of Associated Press style and excellent communication and presentation skills. Knowledge of QuarkXpress, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or Publisher would be a plus, as would experience in video editing or work with student media (radio, TV or newspaper). E-mail me for additional information about how to apply.
• Concussion Interactive, a Web site design firm in Fort Worth, uses interns in the fall, spring and summer semesters. Past interns have served in account service, media, interactive, creative and traffic/production departments. For more information, visit Concussion's Web site.
  

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.”

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

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.

College grads fighting tough job market

CBS News recently ran a feature story about Kelsy Nova, a recent communications graduate from New York University, about the tough time she was having finding a job. Kelsy isn't alone. College graduates this year are stepping into one of the worst job markets in decades. The segment on CBS News was part of a series called "the Job Squad" designed to help unemployed people find work. CBS recruited a team of coaches for Kelsy that included a public relations executive, a fashion model and a university career center official. Fortunately for Kelsy, her story had a happy ending; she found a job.

The tips these coaches gave Kelsy are tips all students can benefit from. The video is only about six minutes so I would encourage you to view it, especially if you are a senior or recent graduate.

Don't forget too that the ACU Career Center is here to help you. You can e-mail them at careers@acu.edu.

Membership has its privileges

I gave a talk recently to the Ad/PR Club at ACU about some of the resources available to students for searching for internships and entry-level jobs. One suggestion worth repeating is that all JMC majors should belong to one or more of the pre-professional groups promoted by the department. This includes the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and the Broadcast Education Association (BEA). Most of these pre-professional organizations offer internship and job boards as well as more general career advice like how to write resumes and cover letters.

A recent scan of the PRSSA Web site (www.prssa.org) showed employers have posted 20 internship leads during the past 30 days. If you're a public relations student looking for a top internship, this should get your adrenalin pumping. Access this site and you've hit the mother lode of timely PR internship leads.

Surprisingly, few students at the recent Ad/PR Club had ever accessed the job info on the PRSSA or AAF Web sites, even though they were dues-paying members. What about you? If you are not in a pre-professional JMC organization, you need to join. Already a member? Take some time to get familiar with your organization's Web site and what it offers in terms of career advice and promising leads for internships and jobs. Membership really does have its privileges.

The latest JMC internship opportunities

Here are more great internship opportunities for JMC majors. After reading the list below (also see the previous post) e-mail me if you need more information. Keep in mind that all internships require the department's advance approval to receive academic credit. Most internships are suitable for juniors and seniors who have completed at least the core of JMC skills courses.

1. The following announcement arrived recently from Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene:

The Marketing Department at Hendrick Medical Center is looking for interns in integrated marketing communication or related fields. Interns will have the opportunity to work in an in-house agency environment specializing in marketing, graphic design, public relations, advertising, event planning and web design. The Marketing Department aims to creatively project the image and mission of Hendrick Medical Center to both internal and external customers. For more information, contact Elizabeth Newman at enewman@ehendrick.org or 670-2431.

2. March 5th is the deadline to submit applications for the 2009 Institute on Political Journalism, sponsored by the Fund for American Studies in partnership with Georgetown University. This summer internship in Washington, D.C., includes a chance to attend briefings at the White House and Congress. For more information, visit dcinternships.org.

3. The Burleson Star newspaper in Burleson, Texas, just south of Fort Worth, is seeking summer journalism interns for its newsroom. For more information, contact Luke Harris (an ACU alumnus) who is editor. His phone number is 817-295-0486 ext. 22 and his e-mail address is burlesonstar@thestargroup.com.

4. Interested in a European summer internship? Read the following:

2009 CIVITAS SUMMER PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN WARSAW, POLAND (June 1 - July 31, 2009) in ENGLISH. http://www.globaleducationleadership.org/

The summer internship program is organized by Collegium Civitas in Warsaw, Poland includes 25-30 hours of internship per week, academic and internship seminars and Polish language course.

INTERNSHIPS (IN ENGLISH)

The program offers a unique opportunity for a limited number of students to undertake full-time summer professional internships in various profit, public and non-profit organizations in Warsaw, Poland that focus, among others, on:

- Jewish history, arts, music & culture,

- Human Rights, Migration, Refugees,

- European Integration, International Politics, Diplomacy

- Legal and Constitutional Affairs

- Media, Media Advertising, Journalism

- Civil Society and Local Community Development, Civic Education,

- Public health,

- Economics, Business, Finance

- Transparency in public administration, anti-corruption policies

- Environment

A sample list of internship areas and organizations can be viewed at: http://www.globaleducationleadership.org/organizations/InternshipOrganizations.html

ACADEMIC PROGRAM and CREDITS

During the internship program students can take credited:

1) academic seminar (IN ENGLISH) on democratization, transition, the EU integration with a special focus on Central Europe;

2) internship seminar (IN ENGLISH) that provides an intellectual forum for the students to reflect upon their internship experience;

3) optional Polish language class.

Students can earn an equivalent of up to 6 American credits awarded by Collegium Civitas. For more information about the academic program visit:

http://www.globaleducationleadership.org/academic/AcademicProgram.html

APPLICATION

Graduate and Undergraduate students can apply. Civitas Summer Internship Program has a rolling admission and interested applicants are invited to submit their applications to the program anytime until March 16, 2009.

Application forms are available here: http://www.globaleducationleadership.org/apply/HowtoApply.html

CONTACT

Inquiries about the program can be directed to Olena Tregub, Executive Director, Global Educational Leadership, at contact@globaleducationleadership.org or tel. 646 670 6089.

For more information about the program, application form and costs visit: http://www.globaleducationleadership.org

Internship ideas for spring and summer 2009

The spring semester is typically the busiest time of the year for students seeking internships. Now is a great time to apply for summer internships and there may still be a few opportunities available for the spring semester.

Before listing some recent internship announcements, don't forget to check the Web sites of JMC professional organizations (see list in left-hand column of this blog site). In addition to checking national Web sites, check the organizations' local chapters too. For instance, the Houston chapter of the Public Relations Society of America has internships posted on its online job board. The larger media chains, such as Gannett, are another good source of internship information, as are the larger public relations and advertising agencies. Check these companies' Web sites often for internship information, or send an e-mail to their internship director or human resources department.

As helpful as these Web sites may be, keep in mind that most internships are NOT posted online. You'll have to go find them. Once you have identified the target cities in which you are willing or able to do internships, contact the appropriate media, agencies or other JMC employers in those markets as early in the semester as possible. Be proactive and be early.

OK, here are some of the recent internship announcements to come to our attention:

1. Mission Lazarus is looking for photojournalism students to do internships this summer in Cholutaca, Honduras. The contact person is Jarrod Brown, an ACU alumnus. More information is available at the Mission Lazarus Web site or blog site. You can also e-mail Jarrod at jarrodbrown@missionlazarus.org or contact Dr. Gary Green, missions coordinator for Latin America, in the College of Biblical Studies.
   
2. The Christian Chronicle, the award-winning newspaper for Churches of Christ, is seeking journalism majors to serve as reporting interns for the spring semester or future semesters. Preference will be given to students with campus or professional newspaper or Web site writing experience and members of Churches of Christ. The Christian Chronicle has won more than 25 awards from the Associated Church Press and the Society of Professional Journalists since 2005. Interested students should send a letter of interest, clips and references to Bobby Ross Jr., managing editor, at bobby.ross@christianchronicle.org.
   
3. Manning, Selvage & Lee, a leading international public relations firm, is seeking summer interns for its Atlanta office. Applicants must have completed their junior or senior year with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and have prior work experience, internships and/or volunteer experience. For more information, visit MS&L Atlanta's Web site. Jenni McDonough is the contact person. The deadline for applications is March 6.
   
4. The Eric Breindel Memorial Foundation has announced its 2009 Eric Breindel Collegiate Journalism Award competition. The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000 plus a paid internship at either Fox News Channel, The Wall Street Journal or the New York Post. Housing in New York City will be provided. For more information and an application, visit www.ericbreindel.org or call Germaine Febles at 212-843-8031. The deadline to apply is April 24.
5. The Asian-American Journalist Association (AAJA) is accepting applications for its summer internships and scholarship programs through the end of January. For more information, visit http://www.aaja.org/programs/for_students/journalism_internship_grants/.
   
6. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) has a list of internship opportunities at newspapers around the country. You can access the list at http://www.nahj.org/educationalprograms/internships.shtml. Many of these programs have Feb. 1 deadlines.
   
7. Finally, for spring semester internships in Abilene, the best advice for journalism majors is to contact news directors or editors at the local media outlets (Abilene Reporter-News, KTXS-TV, KTAB and KRBC-TV and larger radio stations). For Ad/PR majors, try the marketing departments at Hendrick Medical Center and Abilene Regional Medical Center, or contact one of the larger non-profit agencies, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Abilene. The City of Abilene (Public Information Office) also is a good source. Once again, be proactive and be early for the best results.
   

For more information on the JMC internship program, see the archive of previous posts on this blog or contact Dave Hogan, internship director, by e-mail or by phone at 325-674-2045.