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.