Why intern?

In the electronic news industry you need more than just a degree. Use your internships to learn if this is what you want to do… and to learn the valuable skills you will need to get and do the job.

In a class you get time to do something once. In the work environment you get to do it many times a day.

You really don’t need internship credit, you need the experience…but unfortunately some people need to be motivated by the requirement of internship credit. Further, most businesses won’t let you in the door without class credit due to their concerns about law suits and labor union issues.

Almost all employers say they consider their successful past interns for jobs first. If they don’t have a job available they often help recommend their interns into other jobs.

Why take more than one internship?

Multiple experiences are desirable because each learning environment is so different. For instance, one internship may make you consider changing majors while another may inspire you greatly. Use your three credits wisely.

What are the internship classes and when do I take them?

Your First Internship class—TCF 288—Shadowing Internship (115 hours)—to be taken after TCF 331 and before TCF 332.

At your first internship make sure your intern supervisor knows you’re just starting–that way they won’t overestimate your skills or underestimate our ability to teach you skills. And if you do catch on quickly they’ll know it is because you are wonderful!

Remember to keep volunteering after your first internship to gain experience, but at some point you will choose to do two more official internship hours.

Your other two internship credits–TCF 387—Internship (115 hours per one hour credit—2 hours required—can be taken separately)

The timing on this depends on several factors you may want to discuss with your major professor.  It is also wise to consider when possible to place these two one-hour credits in a semester where you will not go over your full-time limit and have to pay extra tuition.

Place at least one internship experience near the end of your college career to keep your contacts and your resume reel up to date. Plus, you may time your graduation with a job opening at your internship location.

What should I do when I get there?

Use you internships to learn about every aspect of the business available. You may be surprised to discover new jobs you didn’t know existed and/or didn’t know you were perfectly suited for.

Absorb… it is a wonderful form of learning.

Contribute everyday. Bring your ideas, dress for the job, come early, stay late.  Make the most of every opportunity. Balance being professional and being a fun person to work with. These are the kind of people everyone wants to work with and therefore the people they hire.

Keep a daily online journal (use WordPress or another blogging service). It is required for your internship and it will help you realize all that you’re learning. If you had a rough day it will give you a chance to vent. Further, it will help the UA internship coordinator know if there are work environment problems she/he should address.

Remember, evaluation is done more in the classroom than in the stressful work environment.

In a stressful work environment people tend to criticize you when you’re wrong but there is little time for praise. Learn from the criticism but don’t feel overwhelmed. Each day is a new chance to make your reputation.

Before you leave the internship

Write thank-you notes. They will be appreciated!

Keep up with these people through e-mail. Let them know your job goals and your graduation date often.

Make copies of all your work and references/critiques from the supervisors there.

Get your supervisor to complete and send back your critique sheet so we can give you credit for the internship. To do this simply download the Excel form from this Webpage, attach it to an email, and ask them to send it back to the email address on the form.

WARNING—Your station intern coordinator is very busy.  Multiple reminders may be required. Your intern coordinator at UA will email you when they receive the critique in their mailbox.  It is up to you to make sure the station coordinator mails the critique in for you to receive credit. Remember, you haven’t learned it all. When you return to the classroom, share your experiences but realize you can still continue to learn. You will be most successful if you remember that you should be the class leaders because of your experience but don’t shut out your teachers or alienate your fellow students.

Internship steps…

1. Read all of the information on this page TWICE.
2. Find an internship. Don’t forget that most internships don’t pay. If they do…great. If not, plan for housing costs. Consider your geographic options (usually you will base out of your home or a relative’s home but you may consider a low cost college dorm option).   After narrowing your choices to specific locations hit the Internet search engine of your choice and search for your job choice and “internships.”  It is that easy to start the search.  You may also want to talk to your emphasis coordinator for tips. (Sports production Professor Michael Bruce; Sports and Entertainment, and News in the newsroom—Dr. Pamela Tran)
3. Click here to download the internship contract.  Fill it out and get your on-site internship coordinator (at the station or company) to sign it.
4. Deliver the contract to your emphasis coordinator’s office mail box. You can also email attach it to get it to your internship site and have them email it to your emphasis coordinator.  In this case, a signature is not required.
5. Enroll in the class. To do this you will need to have a permit in the system.  This permit will not be in the system until three days after your emphasis coordinator has your signed contract in hand.  To add the class first look up the CRN number in MyBama (look up classes) making sure to choose either TCF 288 or TCF 387.  When you sign up for the class “add it”  putting the CRN number in when asked for and use the drop-down window to choose the number of hours.
6. During the internship keep your journal (see above).  At the end of your internship get the critique sheet completed and write your short paper (see above).  Contact your emphasis coordinator and set up a debrief appointment.  Your P/F credit will go on the books at the end of your sign up semester.

DEADLINES—Look up the deadline for registration for the semester you wish to sign up for.

During the ½ hour debrief we will go over your paper, journal, and critique. If all is in order, the materials will be filled in the folder until the relevant grading period and the passing grade will be awarded.

Deadlines

We cannot give credit for past internships. The contract needs to be in the TCF internship folder for the hours worked to count toward the formal internship.

You must complete your internship registration by the last day of drop/add of the registration semester otherwise we cannot register you for that semester.

You must complete your internship requirements, call for, and complete your debrief appointment before grades are due in the semester you are registered for. Do not wait until the last day before grades are due. In fact, consider that you may set up a debrief appointment as soon as you are finished with your requirements and we will all be less stressed.

Questions:  Contact Dr. Pamela Tran.