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.

Advertising, Newspaper and Broadcast Internships Available

New information on internships is available in this post for a variety of JMC-related careers, including advertising, newspaper journalism and TV broadcast journalism.

Advertising internships for multicultural students

The deadline is this Friday, Dec. 5, for the American Association of Advertising Agencies' 2009 Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP). This internship program helps minority students earn 10-week, paid internships at advertising agencies. Since the program began in 1973, more than 2,000 students have served as MAIP interns. For more information and an application, visit http://www.aaaa-maip.org/apply.php. For questions, call 212-850-0732 or e-mail maip@aaaa.org.

KTAB and KRBC TV Internships

Two of Abilene's television stations, KTAB and KRBC, are jointly hosting an internship orientation meeting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at their studios at 4510 S. 14th Street. Internships are available at the stations for reporting, producing, writing, videography, Web writing and design, video editing, assignments, anchoring, sports and the news ticker.

To reserve a spot at the orientation meeting, e-mail Austin Kellerman, news director, at akellerman@ktab.tv, or call 691-2247.

Eric Breindel Memorial Foundation Awards

The Eric Breindel Memorial Foundation is accepting applications for its summer 2009 internship awards program. The student who wins this award will receive a cash prize of $10,000 plus a paid internship at his or her choice of the Fox News Channel, The Wall Street Journal or the New York Post. In addition, housing in New York City will be provided during the internship.

To learn more about the award or to secure an application, visit www.ericbreindel.org or call Germaine Febles at 212-843-8031.

Deadlines approaching for summer 2009 newspaper internships

We just finished Homecoming weekend at ACU and Abilene is yet to have its first freeze of the season, but believe it or not it's time to apply now for some of next summer's best newspaper internships. Some of the larger daily newspapers have summer 2009 internship deadlines as early as Nov. 1. If you want to know more, two sources worth checking are the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), which publishes an annual directory of newspaper internships, and the Texas Daily Newspaper Association (TDNA). E-mail me if you want to see a PDF version of ACP's directory. We have more information on the TDNA on the JMC bulletin board on the third floor of the Don Morris Center. You'll need to act quickly to compete for the best spots.

New internship opportunities

It's not too early to start looking for an internship for next spring or summer. Here are some of the latest internship opportunities:

1. Leanne Baldwin at the Abilene Philharmonic needs an intern who can put together a blog, podcasting and other social media/multimedia projects. Her contact info is lbaldwin@abilenephilharmonic.org or by phone at 677-6710. One note of caution: This may or may not qualify for your JMC internship. We will need to learn more specifics about the program first. However, it would be great experience for the right student, regardless of whether it counts for your internship or not. Before starting this or any other internship, be sure to e-mail me (dah01a@acu.edu) with the specifics and get approval.
   
   
   
2. The Texas Daily Newspaper Association (www.tdna.org) will make information available by next week for its 2009 summer internship program at daily newspapers throughout Texas. Some of the larger newspapers have application deadlines as early as Nov. 1, so check this source quickly if interested.
   
3. Applications are now available for the American Association of Advertising Agencies' 2009 Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP). This program gives multicultural students the chance to gain valuable work experience through a 10-week summer internship at a real world advertising agency. Last year, MAIP had one of its largest classes of interns (147).
   
   The MAIP Student Application package can be downloaded from the following link at the AAAA MAIP Web site: http://www.aaaa-maip.org/apply.php. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. EST on Dec. 5.
   
4. The Associated Press is seeking applications for its 12-week summer photojournalism internship program. The deadline to apply is Nov. 14. More information can be found at www.ap.org (see the "careers" tab). Here is a summary of the required steps:
   
   • A 300-word autobiographical essay on this topic: “The Associated Press seeks to recruit and retain a workforce that embodies a wide range of talents, experiences, achievements and journalistic skills. Please describe the qualities and accomplishments you would bring to the company.”
   • A resume and cover letter (please include your projected graduation date)
   • A portfolio of your work. Submissions should be a collection of jpeg images with captions on a CD. You should forego programs that include music or special transitions. A link to a website may be offered as a substitute for a CD.
   • Two letters of reference, at least one from a professor or faculty adviser on school letterhead
   • An interview with an AP chief of bureau
   • A completed employment application
   
5. The Association for Women in Sports Media awards scholarships and paid summer internships to female college students pursuing careers in sports writing, editing, broadcasting, Web production and public relations.
   
   For complete details, please visit www.awsmonline.org.
   
   All interns receive a $1,000 scholarship, plus $300 toward travel expenses to the annual AWSM convention, waived convention fees and free lodging at the host hotel. Copy editing interns receive an additional $1,000 scholarship from the Associated Press Sports Editors.
   
   Organizations that have hosted interns in the past include Sports Illustrated, ESPN, USA Track & Field, MLB.com and the St. Petersburg Times.
   
   Applications must be submitted via the online application system by Oct. 31.
   
   Any questions? Please send an e-mail to AWSMintern@hotmail.com
   
   
6. Like horses? Please see the following news release for an internship that may be for you:
   
   
   AMERICAN HORSE PUBLICATIONS
   PRESS RELEASE
   For more information, contact: Chris Brune
   49 Spinnaker Circle Dr., South Daytona, FL 32119
   (386) 760-7743 / Fax (386) 760-7728 / Email AHorsePubs@aol.com
   www.americanhorsepubs.org
   2009 AHP Internship Handbook and Applications Available Online
   OCTOBER 3, 2008 - The 2009 Internship Handbook and applications are now available online to college students who have an interest in horses and seek a career in equine publishing. The AHP Internship Program is a great way to provide students with the resume-building experience that’s so critical to today’s job market. Interns gain valuable hands-on real life experience and AHP members acquire additional help when and where they need it most.
   AHP is the nation’s only non-profit professional association of over 470 members dedicated to promoting better understanding and cooperation within the equine publishing industry. Membership consists primarily of equine-related magazines, newsletters, and tabloids/newspapers as well as individuals, businesses and organizations serving the equine publishing industry.
   AHP serves as the umbrella organization for the internship program and is responsible for creating the application process, providing the forms, the mailing list, and a directory of the participating AHP member publications and businesses. The Internship Handbook includes program guidelines, expectations and responsibilities of the intern and the AHP participating member, and a directory of AHP participants. Each listing includes the publication or company name, a brief description, types of internships offered, availability/duration, requirements, information on compensation and housing, and contact information. Students apply directly to the AHP member, who will choose the applicants that best meet their needs. AHP members may hire more than one intern.
   American Horse Publications also offers students wishing to become involved in the equine publishing industry an opportunity to join the association and participate in other student programs.
   Student Membership is open to high school, college, and graduate students for an annual fee of $25. Student Members receive a certificate of membership, an opportunity to attend the AHP annual seminar at a reduced registration fee, a free listing in the online AHP Membership Directory, the AHP monthly newsletter, “AHP For the record,” and are eligible to enter the Student classes in the AHP annual Awards Contest.
   Students who are pursuing a career in equine publishing are eligible to compete for American Horse Publications 2009 Student Award. A senior in high school or an undergraduate college student at the start of the 2008-2009 school year, with at least one semester before graduation, has a chance to win a cash award of $1,000 plus an all-expense paid trip to AHP's annual meeting and seminar to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 25-27, 2009.The Student Award Winner will have an opportunity to meet leading equine publishing professionals and discuss career possibilities. The AHP Student Award Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only.
   The AHP Student Mentoring Program is designed to provide students with insight into a career in the equine publishing industry through interaction with AHP professionals. The AHP Mentoring Program is open to all student AHP members.
   The 2009 Internship Handbook and applications is available online at www.americanhorsepubs.org. Printed handbooksmay be obtained by contacting Christine W. Brune, Executive Director, American Horse Publications, 49 Spinnaker Circle, South Daytona, FL 32119, (386) 760-7743, Fax: (386) 760-7728, e-mail: AHorsePubs@aol.com.
   -30-
   
   

(More than) five big mistakes new grads make

Anne Fisher, a senior writer for Fortune Magazine, wrote a column titled "Five big mistakes new grads make" about blunders college graduates make when searching for jobs. She has some great tips, such as keeping your parents out of the job-interview process. Employers don't want to hear from your mom or dad. Their phone calls or e-mails on your behalf may call into question your maturity and independence. You can read all five of her "big mistakes" by clicking here.

Here are a few more "mistakes" to avoid when looking for work or starting your first job, based on my own experience:

1. Send a resume with a typo or misspelled word. This mistake might not be unpardonable if you were a chemistry or pre-med major, but hey, we're journalists and communicators, right? JMC majors, of all graduates, should know how to spell and write. In competitive hiring situations (aren't they all?), one single mistake can result in your resume being tossed in the trash. Make sure to proofread your resume and cover letter carefully. Then, print them out and proof them again. Ask a friend to read them too. Do all this before sending the resume to the employer.

2. Dress like you're still in college. This isn't meant to be insulting to your intelligence, but "inappropriate dress" is one of the most common complaints I receive from employers about interns. When you start work (internships too), it's time to leave the flip flops, denim and spaghetti straps behind. One of your objectives during your senior year should be to accumulate a new wardrobe for job interviews and your first year on the job.

3. Talking to friends and sweethearts while at work. Most employers tolerate occasional short personal phone calls at work, but don't abuse the privilege. Stay focused on work while on the job and take care of personal business later. If you must take a personal phone call, keep your voice low and keep the call short, one or two minutes, no more. Let most personal phone calls go to voice mail and respond to them later.

4. Be a drama queen (or king) in the office. Everybody has a personal life, and we all experience emotional ups and downs. Trust me on this one, your boss doesn't really want to hear about it. When at work, keep problems with boyfriends, girlfriends, roommates and family to yourself. A moody, emotional or crying employee can be a huge distraction in the office. Don't let that person be you.

Anne Fisher's column appeared in Fortune Magazine May 16, 2007.

Survey shows job, salary trends for 2007 JMC graduates

The 2007 annual survey of journalism and mass communication graduates, conducted by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, shows a steady job market for JMC graduates but not much progress on starting salaries.

The national survey found that nearly all (95.7 percent) of graduates had at least one face-to-face job interview in the first six to eight months after graduation. About 63 percent of the 2007 graduates had full-time jobs six months after graduation, though the survey said not all of those jobs were in JMC-related fields. The survey pointed out that, for a variety of reasons, not all students seek employment immediately after graduation. Reasons range from extended travel opportunities to weddings.

Employment success by the 2007 graduating class changed little from the previous year's results, which the survey's executive summary interpreted as good news, given the overall job losses in the national economy and the number of major layoffs at newspapers and other media outlets. Employment rates for JMC graduates are roughly the same as for the entire population of 20 to 24 year olds, the survey said.

Average starting salaries remained the same in 2007 as the year before. As a group, JMC graduates earned $30,000 in starting salaries. Those with master's degrees earned an average of $40,000. Starting salaries vary depending on one's major with journalism and mass communication. Graduates taking jobs in advertising, public relations, consumer magazines, specialized information publishing and online publishing fared the best. Broadcast graduates earned the least. In fact, broadcast television starting salaries dropped in 2007 by $440 from their 2006 level and radio salaries dropped by $2,000.

Average starting salaries by JMC specialty for 2007 JMC graduates:

Daily newspapers: $28,000
Weekly newspapers: $26,900
Radio: $25,000
Television: $24,000
Advertising: $32,000
Public relations: $32,000
Consumer magazines: $32,000
Web-related jobs: $32,000

Continuing a long-term trend, JMC graduates earned less than many other college graduates. According to the survey, liberal arts graduates as a group earned $36,419 and business administration/management graduates earned $45,915. Computer science graduates earned $60,418.

For more information, visit www.grady.uga.edu/annualsurveys/.

What is an internship portfolio?

*** See updated information at the post "Important New Rules for JMC Interns" dated 9/8/2010 ***

The final step in completing your JMC internship is submitting an internship portfolio to the JMC department. The portfolio must carefully follow the guidelines in the syllabus for the internship class (JMC 495) or the internship packet. The portfolio should be professionally bound using plastic or wire spiral binding, a clear plastic front cover and a solid plastic back cover.

Be sure your portfolio includes the following:

a. Title page – The title page should include your name, where you did your internship (company and city) and the date of your internship. Many students choose to use color and graphic design to make an attractive title page but this is not required and will not result in a higher grade.
b.Introduction – A one-page description of the assigned work, an explanation of duties, identity of profession¬al supervisor, and a description of pre-internship expectations.
c. Daily log – A typed, double-spaced log of daily experiences with explanation and analysis. Include questions, concerns or observations about assigned tasks.
d. Work product – Work can be presented in any print form if clippings, tearsheets or finished work are not available. Samples of bylined news stories from Web sites are acceptable. You may include radio, TV and video projects in CD or DVD formats, but please include a plastic pocket designed to hold the disk so that it won’t get separated from your portfolio; include your name on the CD or DVD. Samples of photography may also be included, but must be included within the portfolio document or securely attached. IMC students may include samples of research, internal planning documents, or samples of finished public relations, media relations or creative work.
e. Intern’s Post-Fieldwork Response form – Type your answers to the list of questions in this form, included with this syllabus and available online. Most students add this to the portfolio just prior to the executive summary.
f. Executive summary – A one- to two-page narrative summary of the learning experience. This should be the final document in your portfolio.

Deadlines

It's also important to know the deadlines for submitting internship portfolios. For those who have completed their internship prior to the start of a new semester and plan to take JMC 495 during that semester, the deadline for submission of the portfolio is the final internship class meeting for the semester, which is typically prior to mid-term. In other words, if you complete your internship during the summer and then take JMC 495 in the fall, your portfolio is due prior to the final class meeting, typically in early October.

For all other students, portfolios must be submitted within four weeks of the final day of fieldwork as an intern. Please note that (1) You will NOT receive credit for this course and cannot graduate from the university with a JMC major until the portfolio is submitted and approved and (2) Late portfolios will result in a lower final grade.

The portfolios, once submitted, are property of the university and are kept on file for accreditation purposes. If you want to keep a portfolio for your own use, please make a personal copy. You are also encouraged to keep electronic copies in your computer of your introduction, daily log, responses to the “post fieldwork response form” and your executive summary until you have received a grade for this class on your transcript, in the event that your portfolio is lost after being submitted.

Step-by-step instructions for JMC students

*** See updated information at the post titled "Important New Rules for JMC Interns" dated 9/8/2010 ***

If you feel unsure about what's involved in completing the JMC department's required internship, then relax. We get these questions all the time. So, here in an easy-to-follow format are the step-by-step instructions for starting and completing a for-credit internship that will satisfy our department's requirement:

1. Let's start with the basics. You must complete a 160-hour, JMC-appropriate internship in order to earn your degree from ACU with a major from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. You must also take the internship course, JMC 495, and complete the necessary paperwork (described below). Most students complete their internship during their junior or senior years. We require that you have completed 75 hours of university credits before starting your internship. You can do an internship in Abilene during the fall or spring semesters, typically working 12 to 15 hours per week, or you can complete an internship "back home" or anywhere in the world during the summer. The internship, and all supporting paperwork, must be completed before the end of your final semester of classes in order to graduate on time.

2. It's up to you to find an internship, but we're here to help. We recommend you take the internship course, JMC 495, prior to starting your internship. We discuss where to look for internships in that class. You can also browse the archive of previous posts on this blog for ideas and inspiration. In addition, this blog contains a listing of Web sites for JMC professional organizations and other sites that include internship and career information. Spend some time on those sites. Networking is probably the most common way of finding internships. Talk with professionals in your field and with JMC alumni. Attend conferences. The more people you know in your field, the better your chances of finding an internship.

3. Once you find an internship, you must e-mail me (click here) to get it approved. Do NOT start an internship without this approval. What we generally look for are: (a) Are you ready to start your internship? Have you earned at least 75 hours of credit? Have you completed your JMC core classes? (b) Is this an appropriate internship for your specific JMC major? In other words, the internship must be closely related to your chosen field of study, (c) Will you be working for an established organization and supervised (in person) by someone with training and/or responsibilities in your chosen JMC field of study? (d) Are you working for a close relative? Sorry, you can't do an internship with your spouse, mom, dad or sibling.

4. Next, you must submit to us the contract form we provide to you. You'll find a copy of this and other forms in the Internship Packet elsewhere on this blog. The contract form is due to use BEFORE your first day on the job. It must be signed by you and your supervisor. This form is largely for your protection, to ensure that the supervisor understands the nature of the commitment and agrees to submit the required mid-term and final evaluation forms.

5. Before starting your job, review the paperwork requirements for the internship portfolio, which you'll find in the Internship Packet on this blog. The requirements are also explained in the syllabus for the internship course, JMC 495.

6. From day one on the internship, be sure to keep a typed, daily log (journal) of your activities. This document will become an important part of your internship portfolio.

7. Explain to your supervisor about the mid-term and final evaluation forms. Then, follow up to be sure the supervisor mails the forms to us at the appropriate times. It's not uncommon for supervisors to forget, so don't be bashful about reminding them. By the way, we don't accept these forms from students. For obvious reasons, the evaluation forms must be mailed to us from the employer, in an envelope from the business.

8. Within four weeks of completing your internship, you must submit to us an internship portfolio, following the guidelines in the syllabus or packet. This portfolio should be in the form of a spiral notebook, with a clear plastic cover and a title page. Most copy stores or office supply stores can assemble this notebook for you at a nominal cost. If you are submitting a CD, DVD or other attachments, please include an appropriate sleeve that will securely hold your disk in place. Make sure your name is on any disks you include. In addition to the daily journal, the portfolio should include a one-page introduction, several work samples (photocopies are fine), an executive summary and your answers to the questions posed in the document titled "Post Fieldwork Response Form," which is included in the syllabus and packet. Please note that our accrediting body requires us to keep portfolios in the department, so the portfolios will not be returned to you. You may want to make a separate portfolio for your own purposes.

9. Once the portfolio is submitted and your mid-term and final evaluations are received by the JMC department, we can then assign you a letter grade, assuming you've completed the internship course.

10. That's it! You've now satisfied the requirements for the official JMC internship. However, many of you won't want to stop there. Internships are a great experience and look good on your resume. Some of you will want to pursue a second or third internship, but the good news is that you do not have to follow our paperwork and reporting process again. We only give credit for one internship.