How to pick the right Sports Journalism Internship
There are many different ways to go about internships. However, some can be more beneficial than others. Some broadcasting internships are paid, others are not. You are able to earn college credits for most of them and get valuable experience, but if it is unpaid you may have to work a summer job depending on your financial situation.
Having a hands-on experience is the most important aspect. I believe it would be better to take an unpaid internship that will allow you to do more, over one that pays and you are making coffee and copies all summer. For students that attend college out of state there is a choice to be made. You can complete an internship in the city where you attend school or go back home for the summer and do an internship there.
The big question is how much will you be allowed to do? The answer depends on if you intern with a national network like CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, CNN or ESPN where your personal involvement with the on-air product will likely be limited. But, if you intern at a local news station it is likely you will be more hands on.
I completed an internship the summer following my sophomore and junior years, and then my final semester before graduation. If you only choose to do one internship (although I suggest more), I would recommend that you do it during your last semester. This will allow you to make valuable connections that could help you land your first job. In some cases if you do an outstanding job and make a good impression you may be offered an entry level job when you graduate.
You need to make a resume tape before the conclusion of your internship if possible. Many local stations will allow you to go out with reporters and shoot stand-ups to help build material for your tape. You should also be able to take one or two of the reporters’ stories, rewrite it, voice it, and edit it for your demo tape.
Gaining the college experience is great, but having a resume tape from a local station when you graduate is a must. You should not walk in the door demanding that you make a tape, but when you speak with the internship coordinator prior to the internship that is certainly a question to ask: “Are students allowed to shoot stand ups if time permits and are they allowed to make tapes?”
Some local stations even let interns sit on the anchor desk to record news or sports segments for a resume tape. Many of the anchors have been down this road and are very open to helping a young broadcaster get started. However, this should be in the back of your mind as something that could take place towards the end of the internship. Before you can expect to make a tape, you need to be an asset during your internship. In my next post you can find 5 tips that will lead to a great internship experience. Was this post insightful? If so, leave your main takeaway in the comments below.