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 this packet. A copy of this sheet, along with other
information and forms, is to be provided by you Drew Johnson.
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 long.
What is an internship?
JOUR
499, Professional Internship, is a required course for a journalism
major. It is important in the professional education provided by the Reynolds
School of Journalism. In it, you
put to work the knowledge and skills you have learned in the classroom by
working under a mentor, a full-time professional in the field.
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.
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.
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!
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. This sheet provides
information about this requirement.
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.
reception\internships\packet\intern
criteria
rev: 10/02