Internships
Internships provide a window into the “real world,” giving you resume-building experience and connections with professionals.
As a journalism major, you are required to complete a professional internship of 150 hours with a media organization. You see this reflected as J499, a three-credit course, but you do not attend a class. Rather you work with a professional mentor to schedule your time. Mentors are a requirement for your internship. We want you working with and learning from individuals who have significant experience in the profession. We encourage organizations to offer paid internships, but that is not always possible.
The professional community in the Reno-Sparks, Carson City area and around Lake Tahoe provides many internship opportunities. You may also want to explore internships in Southern Nevada or throughout the country. The program has the flexibility for you to do a summer internship almost anywhere.
You will often receive email notification of internship opportunities. You should also discuss internship possibilities with your faculty advisor who probably has good connections. Additionally, student clubs are a great way to network with professionals who can offer internships.
Warren Lerude is the faculty coordinator for internships and a great source of insight and information. All internships must be approved by Professor Lerude PRIOR to starting the internship. He can be reached at wlerude@unr.edu or 775-784-4192.
Drew Johnson in the Journalism School office provides staff support to the program. He too can be a big help. Drew is available at the main office (775-784-6531).
Where can I do my internship?
At any print publication, public relations agency, broadcast station, advertising agency, or online medium after the internship has been approved by the professor.
Before selecting a mentor -- the person under whom you will work, usually at the mentor's workplace -- meet with the internship professor to discuss possibilities. The school has information on a number of potential internships locally and nationally.
When can I do my internship?
Anytime. You can perform your internship during a regular semester, during the mid-winter break, or during the summer. We encourage summer internships because they're more likely to be full-time. The internship experience is more valuable when you can devote blocks of time to it rather than working two or three hours a day and when there is day-to-day continuity to the work. You're also more valuable to an employer that way.
Can I be paid for my internship?
Yes. We encourage mentors to compensate interns because it creates a genuine employer-employee relationship -- one in which you are motivated to provide a valuable service.
Are there class meetings?
Just one, at 8 a.m. on the first Monday of the Fall semester or the first Tuesday of the Spring semester. The internship professor is available for consultation at all times in the office, by phone at 775-784-4192 or at home at 775-322-8400.
How will I be graded?
Your final grade will be "Satisfactory (equivalent to "C" or better) or "Unsatisfactory" and will be assigned by the professor. In assigning the grade, the professor will take into consideration the reports received from the mentor and the quality of your papers and other materials turned in.
Students are instructed that all writing must be free of misspellings, grammar errors or other unclear or ineffective writing and that grades will be lowered if such errors occur. Thus an otherwise "Satisfactory" internship could be reduced to an "Unsatisfactory" grade if such writing errors occur. The essence of journalism is to get it first but first get it right. We have three rules that we live by every moment that we practice our profession. They are Accuracy. Accuracy. Accuracy. In research. In presentation.
What else?
Interns should keep in mind that this work experience is of the highest professional nature. A workplace is different from the campus. Men and women should wear appropriate business attire. Good grooming and good manners are important attributes of the successful professional.
Promptness, reliability and honesty are extremely important. Interns should report for work at the assigned times, and the professionals with whom they work should come to know them for their reliability and sincere desire to become successful practicing media professionals.
You will find that your classroom work has not taught you everything you need to know to work in a specific workplace. If you don't know something or don't quite understand how to carry out an assignment, ask!
The internship experience can be of great value to you. Many interns find permanent jobs with the organizations where they are interning. Often, mentors or other members of those organizations can provide valuable references for employment elsewhere. The internship experience usually involves a lot of work, but it also can be fun. Good luck!
The links below provide information you'll find essential:
Importance of internships
Testimonials of former interns
Tips from faculty for finding internships
Sample cover letter and resume
Print out internship forms
To the student about to begin an internship:
This website includes evaluation forms that will be used by mentors in connection with the internship. Please read all the materials carefully.
You'll note that there are two dates that are important for you to remember:
The first date, occurring about midway through the internship, is the date by which Paper I (detailed below) and resume draft must be turned in. It is also the date by which your mentor will have provided an interim report on your progress. You will deliver this report to the administrative aide.
The second date, occurring at the end of the internship, is the date by which you will turn in the remainder of your assignments Paper II (detailed below), a final resume and cover letter, and a collection of work samples). It is also the date by which your mentor will provide a final report of your performance. You will deliver this report to your internship coordinator.
The dates change each semester and may be obtained from the administrative aide or Professor Lerude.
The work samples, detailed later in this instruction, are very important for you to have to show to prospective professional employers or other internship mentors if you are doing multiple internships. They will illustrate the professional depth you have achieved during your internships.
These dates need to be recorded on your Intern Log Sheet included with the forms downloadable here. The forms include:
The intern data sheet
The mentor data sheet
The intern log sheet
Paper I
The purpose of this paper is for you to get a sense of the professional context in which you are working as an intern. Describe the media organization for which you are working. How large is it compared with similar organizations, locally or nationally? What are its departments and how do they function together to achieve the objectives of the organization? Can organizations in this field be divided into categories or types? If so, where does yours fit?
In order to carry out this assignment, you will need to interview an executive of the organization and get an understanding from him/her about the structure and function of departments. Ask also about the industry generally and how this organization fits into it. You should also read the trade and professional magazines relating to the industry and cite them in your paper. You may find some books helpful, as well.
After writing the first draft of this paper, you will find it helpful to ask your mentor to review the draft and provide comments.
Paper II
This is an essay, requiring little or no research. Essentially it is "What I Learned From My Internship." In the essay, describe your duties, your accomplishments, and your impressions. Comment on how well or how poorly you think your classes prepared you for working in the "real world." Make suggestions.
In general, papers should be about four double-spaced pages.
How much work is involved?
(1) You'll keep a weekly log of your internship activities. This log, typed, is to be turned in by 5:00 p.m. every Monday to the administrative aide. Logs can be emailed to rsjintern@unr.edu, faxed (784-6656), or handcarried to RSJ 301. The purpose of this log, or diary, is to monitor the internship closely. Although we recognize that you'll be doing some minimal work, we want to be sure that you are learning more about the profession by engaging in meaningful work. Also, if problems develop in your internship, your log is one way of telling us.
(2) You'll prepare a draft and a final resume and a cover letter. Part of the function of the internship is to get you ready to apply for a job. A draft of your resume is due at the mid-point and the final version will be due as previously noted.
(3) You'll put together a collection of your work (stringbook, plans book, audition tape) to accompany a future job application. A professor who is an expert in your field will review your work samples. You should also have them reviewed by your mentor. This will be due at the end of the internship.
Work Examples Presentation for Interns
One of the requirements of an internship is the preparation of a collection of copies of work done by the intern. Depending on the field, this is called a "stringbook," a "plans book," a "folio," or an "audition tape." The purpose of the collection is for the intern to have examples of work to show professional ability to a prospective employer. Instructons for each of the work examples follows:
Print Journalism
Prepare a stringbook that includes a cross-section of writing examples, including straight news, features, etc. To the degree possible, examples should be clippings/tearsheets rather than typescript. The stringbook should also include photographs taken by you.
Broadcast Journalism
Prepare an audition tape, radio or television. Radio tapes should include at least three wrap around pieces, including actualities, that are written, edited and voiced by the intern, as well as a two-minute newscast written and voiced by the intern. Television tapes should include at least three pieces (and not more than five), including as much variety as possible between hard news, feature pieces and trend pieces. Audition tapes should be accompanied by a written description of their contents.
Advertising
Prepare a plans book, including materials for the campaigns produced in the various advertising class projects and competitions as well as the materials developed by you during your internship.
Public Relations
Prepare a PR stringbook, including press releases, flyers, brochures, folders, PSAs, newsletters and other public relations materials. The stringbook should also include photographs taken by you, as examples of your ability in that area.
Because your work examples will be used in seeking a professional position, they should be arranged neatly, in an appropriate format, with clear explanations of what work is represented. A potential employer will view your work samples as the most important aspect of your application.
Returning Forms
Return completed forms to the Reynolds School of Journalism by fax, mail or hand delivery. (Note: it is the intern's obligation to turn in the forms. Mentors may give their completed forms to the interns to be delivered to the school.) The forms are: Internship Log, Intern Data Form, Intern Mentor Data Form, Internships Mentor’s Interim Report, Internship Mentor’s Final Report. They are available on this Web page or available for downloading in one PDF here.
Return the completed forms via:
Fax: (775) 784-6656
Mail:
Internship Coordinator
Reynolds School of Journalism
Mail Stop 310
University of Nevada
Reno, NV 89557-0040
Or hand-deliver to Professor Lerude or to the Student Coordinator in the dean's office, RSJ 301.
Warren Lerude
Professor and Internship Coordinator
Mail Stop 310, Reno, Nev., 89557-0040
Office: (775) 784-4192
Fax: (775) 784-6656
E-mail: wlerude@unr.edu
