Network Internships

[Twitch]

Hey guys,

Just wondering if any of you ever did an internship with any of the networks in New York or CNN in Atlanta.

Which network and what were you able (read: allowed) to do there?

Thanks!

[TVMattNYC]

If you can do only ONE internship during your four years in college, it should not be a network internship.

A network internship is a good *second* internship.

Go to a small market where you'll actually be able to DO things (write, shoot, edit, produce, maybe even report).

At the network you'll be logging tape, Xeroxing scripts, and fetching coffee.

[Clever Login Name]

Matt, are they even a good 'second' internship? What do you learn there besides the things you mentioned? I realize college kids think "NBC New York Intern" will look good on a resume, but anyone in the industry knows you just sat at a desk and made the occasional bagel run. Since college grads aren't going to start out at network level (hopefully), they ought to get more of a taste of the kind of station they WILL start in ... one that's going to give them a lot more hands-on experience than the nets ever would.

[Pinkie]

Originally posted by Clever Login Name:
Matt, are they even a good 'second' internship? What do you learn there besides the things you mentioned? I realize college kids think "NBC New York Intern" will look good on a resume, but anyone in the industry knows you just sat at a desk and made the occasional bagel run. Since college grads aren't going to start out at network level (hopefully), they ought to get more of a taste of the kind of station they WILL start in ... one that's going to give them a lot more hands-on experience than the nets ever would.And might potentially hire them when they graduate.

If you intern big market or network, do for inspiration and a goal to work towards someday. Then do at least one internship in a small market so you know what it's REALLY like out there.

[Tripe Face]

You people who think interning in a small market is the answer are thinking small.

Who says you EVER have to work in a small market... I started in market 28 and am at a network now.

More than a dozen people whom I work with started here out of college and have never worked anywhere else.

The intern who just finished his summer with our unit was fantastic. He never went to get bagels or coffee (unless for himself) he had editorial input on our stories every day. If he needed a job today I would bend over backwards to get him hired here.

If you can get an internship at a network, TAKE IT. Then work your tail off... learn EVERYTHING... and when you come across the TVMatt's in the business... impress them with your brains, ambition and hard work.

If you are fortunate you'll never have to spend a day working in Aplena, Michigan eating Ramen noodles and tending bar on weekends to make ends meet.

And if the internship doesn't turn into a network job, I promise you any news director in the country is going to be more impressed with a network internship than one at WOUB.

[Clever Login Name]

Given my background, Tripe, I was thinking more along the lines of on-air wannabes. From that perspective, I stand by my advice. Any of the on-air folks at your shop come straight from J-school?

[Tripe Face]

Originally posted by Clever Login Name:
Given my background, Tripe, I was thinking more along the lines of on-air wannabes. From that perspective, I stand by my advice. Any of the on-air folks at your shop come straight from J-school?Not straight to on air. But several of them have the potential to be on air without going anywhere else. (Call it the Rita Braver move)

[TVMattNYC]

Originally posted by Tripe Face:
You people who think interning in a small market is the answer are thinking small.

Who says you EVER have to work in a small market... I started in market 28 and am at a network now.

More than a dozen people whom I work with started here out of college and have never worked anywhere else.

The intern who just finished his summer with our unit was fantastic. He never went to get bagels or coffee (unless for himself) he had editorial input on our stories every day. If he needed a job today I would bend over backwards to get him hired here.

If you can get an internship at a network, TAKE IT. Then work your tail off... learn EVERYTHING... and when you come across the TVMatt's in the business... impress them with your brains, ambition and hard work.

If you are fortunate you'll never have to spend a day working in Aplena, Michigan eating Ramen noodles and tending bar on weekends to make ends meet.

And if the internship doesn't turn into a network job, I promise you any news director in the country is going to be more impressed with a network internship than one at WOUB.Tripe, do you work at a network, or a cable outlet?

I'll admit that at the cable outlets (CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etc.) interns are likely to get a little more hands-on experience than they will at the networks. Frankly, I can't ever imagine allowing an intern to have any kind of "editorial input" on my show, but I guess that's just my own quality control.

BTW ... I started my career in market 19 and worked up from there. But it was a difficult and winding path.

[ September 04, 2007, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: TVMattNYC ]

[CKMD]

I interned at Nightline.
I interned in a medium sized market.
I've worked at small, medium and large.

Only the call letters change.

The Nightline internship was interesting in seeing how things at that level got done and done quickly. Plus, I met and talked with a lot of people who offered great advice.

The medium size market internship was great in that I got to write and edit and learned how to produce newscasts.

Best learning experience was small market...you did everything.

I'd say you should get more than a network internship...but don't turn it down.

[Roy Hobbs]

Originally posted by Tripe Face:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Clever Login Name:
Given my background, Tripe, I was thinking more along the lines of on-air wannabes. From that perspective, I stand by my advice. Any of the on-air folks at your shop come straight from J-school?Not straight to on air. But several of them have the potential to be on air without going anywhere else. (Call it the Rita Braver move)</font>[/QUOTE]Or the Wita Bwavuh move. Gal had guts a plenty.