Student Media Intern, Salt Lake City, UT
Attention students interested in working in media one day, I have the internship for you. Do you love to write? Then the Daily Utah Chronicle is the place for you. Do you want to become a radio DJ host for your very own show? K-UTE Radio needs you. Are you interested in more of the advertising side of media? Digital U would love your help and creativity. At the University of Utah, the comm major offers so many different career opportunities, and Student Media is a great place to find what you love. Student media provides internships in writing, producing, hosting, social media, videography and photography.
WHAT IT’S ACTUALLY LIKE
As a previous intern with The Daily Utah Chronicle, I can honestly say the internship was more fun than I expected. I was required to write at least one story a week, conduct interviews and attend events. I thought interviewing was going to be kind of weird and inconvenient for some people, but that ended up being my favorite part. I loved meeting new people and learning about what they did. I got to pick my hours and can work from basically anywhere. Since all projects and stories are submitted online, you have the freedom to work from wherever you want. And with the Utah campus being so beautiful, working outside while it’s still warm out had to be one of my favorite things.
COOL STUFF YOU GET TO DO
The coolest thing interns get to do is attend events for free. All of the events that students have to pay to get into, you get to go for free. In addition to going for free, you get a press pass. Meaning you get to stand right in the very front because you are considered “press,” making the concert even better for you. Also you get to meet and interview cool people sometimes. If someone big is coming into town for an event, The Chronicle and K-UTE Radio probably wants an interview with them. And sometimes the who needs the interview to writing the story is you. Not to mention, you get to participate and attend all the fun events that student media puts together for their interns and staff. Anytime there is a team building exercise, team BBQ or team meeting, there’s guaranteed to be delicious food, fun games and activities.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
The area of Student Media you intern for determines what you actually learn. Personally, as a News Writer for The Chronicle, I learned a lot about writing (obviously). I learned how to interview well and what really interests people, particularly students. I also learned a lot about news. Since I was always looking for different topics to write about, I constantly kept up with the news, not only in Utah but all over the country to stay informed about what went on around other campuses. And no matter what area of Student Media interns are in, they can agree that they learned to network. You meet so many people not only through interviews but within Student Media that can lead you to some awesome opportunities after you graduate. You meet one person in Student Media who has an uncle, who has a friend, who has a sister that does the exact same thing you want to do after graduation and boom, you have a connection.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR APPLICATION
The application process is pretty simple. All applications are found and submitted online. Start by filling out a basic application with your information, major, GPA and your personal info, and then, of course, your experience and sample work. But don’t include every single piece you have ever written or every single photo you have ever taken. Student Media goes through tons of applications, so they don’t have time to look at every individual file you attach. Attach only a couple of your strongest pieces or best photos. You want your best work displayed right at the beginning to make you stand out from your competition.
SKILLS THAT IMPRESS THEM
Obviously you need to provide a portfolio with your professional and/or academic work that demonstrates your abilities to fill the position you want. “It’s hard to tell too much from the application itself. We do look for diversity of experience, actual work experience and good writing. Then once you are in the interview stage I look for self-confidence, willingness to learn, eagerness, passion and communication ability,” Director of Student Media Jake Sorensen said. Not only do you need a portfolio as proof you’ve got what it takes, but it’s also best to provide a list of courses you’ve taken at the U or elsewhere relevant to the position. This shows academic experience and eagerness to learn about what you are passionate about.
COOL PERKS
If gaining real world experience isn’t enough for you, you can also earn course credit giving you a boost towards graduation. Why not complete an internship you love instead of a boring class you have no interest in? Also, after completing the internship you have the opportunity to move on to scholarship positions. AKA paid tuition. Being a part of Student Media also gets you involved on campus. “Writers, specifically, have a lot of opportunities other students don’t. They get to meet a wide variety of faculty and staff, and they get to interview guests at the U. It just makes writers more aware of events on campus as well,” News Editor for The Chronicle Emily Anderson said. You get to promote, cover and sometimes even help plan campus events. Best of all, the Student Media office has two microwaves and a fridge. Can’t beat that.
THE DEETS
You can find student media internships during spring, summer and fall semesters of every year. Each internship lasts a semester, but you can stay with the internship for as long as you want. Maybe try out a different internship or move on to a scholarship position. To view the list of all internship opportunities available right now, visit thedailyutahchronicle.com.
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