Indiana's NewsCenter Internship Spring 2012
at Indiana's NewsCenter in Fort Wayne
Someone once said that one of the hardest things you\‘ll ever encounter is starting your career right after you graduate from college. The marketplace is flooded with grads looking for their first break. An internship will help you break through the clutter!
You know that the journalism business is changing at warp speed. The delivery of news content to the consumer – or user – is changing, and so are the skills you have to have as a new age multimedia journalist.
Indiana’s NewsCenter – centered in Fort Wayne – is the news entity of ABC affiliate WPTA, NBC affiliate WISE-TV, MyFOX Fort Wayne, The CW and The VIPIR Channel.
We offer outstanding unpaid internship opportunities for college students in a variety of journalism, new media and television production disciplines. While most of our interns are communications or journalism majors, we encourage any student who meets our requisites – regardless of major – to consider an internship with Indiana’s NewsCenter.
Your internship with Indiana’s NewsCenter will be special because we treat you like one of us. Our approach is simple — with our guidance, you’ll apply what you\‘ve learned in the classroom or in your campus media outlet in our working newsroom doing what you want to do for a career. To make this happen, we have structured our newsroom internship so that it\‘s broken down into ten specific disciplines.
To be considered and accepted as an intern with Indiana’s NewsCenter you must meet the requisites for the internship described in each category. Without your academic advisor’s written recommendation, you will not be considered. You must be a junior or senior, be in the upper quarter of your class, have experience with your college media outlet, and you must be able to show examples of your work with your application. You have to be enrolled for credit, and the number of hours you spend as an intern each week depends on the number of credit hours for which you are enrolled.
Once you have read our internship guidelines, discuss them with your academic advisor. A letter of recommendation from your academic advisor verifying that you meet the requisites of the specific internship category for which you are applying is required. Send that, along with your a letter explaining your desire to do an internship to: “Indiana’s NewsCenter Internship Spring 2012”, 3401 Butler Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808, Attention: Delores Long. Remember, because we generally accept only one intern at a time per category, a key to being accepted is to follow the instructions completely and to apply early.
Once you have applied and we determine you may be a good internship candidate, we will conduct telephone interviews and / or an interview on site to make a final determination. Journalism, in all of its forms is highly competitive – and news managers are always looking for good people. An internship with Indiana’s NewsCenter can help you get a head start on your competition.
Sincerely,
S. Peter Neumann
News Director
Indiana’s NewsCenter
Opportunities
Indiana’s NewsCenter Internship Categories 2012
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER:
Work closely with newscast producers in writing of stories, teases and transitions; make telephone beat calls; edit non-linear video. REQUISITE: must have course credits in a college newsroom, be an excellent writer and be in the upper half of your broadcast, communication, or journalism class. Writing test may be required.
DESK ASSISTANT:
Work with assignment editor and producers in story research, selection, and story screening. Extensive work and contact with public and potential interviews; helps set up interviews. Will do general information gathering and story planning. REQUISITE: experience in student operated campus newsroom; be effective in communicating with people both in person and on the phone to get information; an understanding of local government, regional issues and politics helpful. Internet research experience is an asset.
INTERACTIVE WEB PRODUCER:
Work with web producers in content production, both video and text, for our interactive website incnow.tv. Duties will include writing stories, adding images and video, provide links, placing graphics on the site. REQUISITE: Must be at least a junior, in the top half of your class, be goal oriented, and have excellent writing and language skills; have experience with web creation or posting in a news setting. Previous experience with PhotoShop graphic software is helpful.
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST:
Research, shoot, edit, report news stories for web and broadcast. Intern will work at the direction of the assignment desk, and will be scheduled specific coverage tasks. Intern stories may be broadcast on Indiana’s NewsCenter or published on incnow.tv with overall quality and professionalism the determining factor. REQUISITE: must be seniors in the upper quarter of their class. Curriculum history must include prior experience as a journalist in a radio or television newsroom, with experience to include non-linear video editing, web posting and web content production. Course concentration must be broadcasting, communications, or journalism. Non-returnable DVD or web samples of prior on-air reporting for college newscast must be provided as part of initial application.
SPORTS MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST:
Being a sports multimedia journalist intern with Indiana’s NewsCenter means that being knowledgeable about sports isn’t enough. You have to have a burning passion to excel. And you have to be a junior or senior in the top quarter of your class to be eligible in this internship program. As a sports multimedia journalist, you’ll cover sporting events and sports stories for broadcasts and our website incnow.tv, and may have the opportunity to participate in live sports broadcasts including occasional sports anchoring depending upon performance skills. REQUISITES: exceptional knowledge of local and state teams, players and coaches; college-level reporting for deadline media, competent non-linear photojournalism and editing, work samples are required, as well as the recommendation of your academic adviser.
WEATHER PRODUCER:
Assist weather services director in hands-on gathering of data, preparation of sophisticated computer-generated weather maps, assists in preparation of scheduled weather broadcasts and special weather reports. Interns work with state-of-the-art computer graphics system and access to weather databases. REQUISITE: must be broadcast or meteorology major with emphasis on earth sciences. Artistic ability is very helpful.
PRODUCTION:
Work with the directors learning about technical aspects of newscast production. This includes studio camera operation, teleprompter operation, audio operation and set-up, character generator operation and other facets of pre-production, post-production and live newscast operations. REQUISITE: must have some prior experience on similar equipment and/or production classes. Students interested in behind the scenes of newscast production are recommended.
Testimonials
Ryan G. – Huntington University
Reporter Intern:
Spring 2009
My internship with Indiana’s NewsCenter has taught me a lot. I received hands on experience and advice from people that have been working in this industry for years. I have been able to polish up my skills in a way that I would not have been able to in a classroom.
The staff was very encouraging and willing to jump in and help whenever they could. They took a genuine interest in me and the progress I was making on my journey. The advice I received from reporters and producers have made me a better writer and editor.
Through this internship I have gained confidence in knowing that I have learned from some of the industry’s best and now have the ability to succeed in this business.
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Jessica M. – Ball State University
Reporter Intern:
Summer 2009
Indiana\‘s NewsCenter gave me more than I could ever ask for in an internship. I was never treated as an intern and was asked to do the same work as the reporters. This experience showed me how a newsroom operates and what is expected of me as a reporter on a daily basis.
I learned a lot about the newsgathering process as an INC intern. I not only learned that news is all around us, we just have to keep an eye out for it, but I learned the importance of building lasting relationships with the community and its leaders. I was also able to shoot and edit video, write stories for TV and Web content, and assist reporters and photographers with their daily assignments. The experience I gained out in the field with these professionals was more than I could ever learn in a classroom.
Indiana\‘s NewsCenter made a big contribution to my success as a reporter. Thank you for the internship opportunity!
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Megan R. – Ball State University
Reporter Intern:
Summer 2009
One word that describes the people of Indiana’s NewsCenter is family.
Almost everyone in the newsroom went out of their way to make me feel at home. They wanted me to have an active voice in and outside of the studio.
From the moment I started my internship, I had the chance to work with reporters, photographers, and producers. I distinctly remember going home and telling my Mom, “I got to interview someone on my first day!” I couldn’t have been any more excited to jump right in.
My experience at Indiana’s NewsCenter built on my knowledge of news. I learned more about the industry, career choices, and different techniques on shooting video and interviewing people.
The friendships, learning experiences, and memories that I have made at Indiana’s NewsCenter are priceless. Even now, seven months after my internship, I still keep in contact with friends from the station.
I would highly suggest this internship to anyone who is serious about pursuing a career in news.
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Eric D. – DePauw University
Reporter Intern:
January 2008- January 2009
I never viewed myself as an intern during my time at Indiana\‘s NewsCenter. The group of reporters, producers, and photographers went out of their way to make me feel like a full-time member of the team.
From day one, I was given responsibilities that I never thought I would have as an intern. I expected to make copies, run errands, basically do the typical \“intern work.\” That never happened.
The INC staff showed me what it took to be a successful reporter in a competitive market. They helped me write, shoot, and edit my stories in ways that I have never been taught before. I can easily say this experience has shown me more about the journalistic profession than any class I could ever take at any school.
Going into my internship, I wasn\‘t sure if news reporting was the right career move for me. Now, thanks to the opportunities I\‘ve seen and the time I\‘ve spent in the field, I couldn\‘t imagine doing anything else. And I can\‘t thank INC enough for that.
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Todd D. – Ball State University
Associate Producer Intern:
Summer 2008
Throughout this experience I have been able to observe some of the state\‘s top producers, reporters, and directors execute their jobs with passion and conviction.
I have learned balancing business with friendship which is another important aspect needed to succeed. Allowing laughter and a hard-work ethic to combine in the newsroom yields news that people care about. News stories that impacts each and every viewer.
My time at Indiana\‘s NewsCenter has been an exceptional. This internship has allowed me not only to learn about the news industry, but about myself. I have learned that in whatever career path I choose to take, passion, love and commitment must be shown in order to truly succeed.
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Audra F. – Elizabethtown College
Reporter Intern:
Summer 2008
My time at Indiana\‘s NewCenter was invaluable to my success as a journalist. The INC staff equipped me with the experiences that would shape my skills as a reporter.
Everyone went out of their way on my behalf. Reporters let me know I was able to approach them with any question or problem I had. The Producers took time to review what I wrote for them so that I could hone my writing skills. Photographers game me tips on editing and sound that I never picked up in a classroom.
They had the confidence in me to assign me a story every day. The experience of gathering a news story each day is like nothing I can learn from classes at school, and only grew my passion for discovering and reporting stories.
I will surely be a more confident and competitive candidate thanks to Indiana\‘s NewsCenters\’ help.
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Beth C. – Indiana University
Reporter Intern:
Summer 2006
My internship at Indiana’s NewsCenter was an amazing hands-on experience that prepared me to enter the world of news and broadcast. I went into my internship thinking I would only help the morning producer, but I had the opportunity to work as the producer. I was able to write multiple stories for the morning, noon, and evening newscasts. By the end of the summer, I was helping produce the noon newscast. I was also called upon to go with a photographer and interview the people of Fort Wayne for VOSOTS to go on-air. Reporters encouraged me to go into the field and learn what it takes to put together serious and feature stories.
The people at Indiana’s NewsCenter truly want upcoming reporters and producers to learn what it takes to survive in the news industry. Reporters helped me work on my speaking and writing, while producers had me writing and producing newscasts by the end of the summer. I wouldn’t trade my internship at Indiana’s NewsCenter for any other internship experience. It’s a smaller market that allows interns to get the practice they need to enter into their professional careers. Everyone in Indiana’s NewCenter newsroom helped prepare me for my future.
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