Best Schedule for internship

[kreporter]

I recently had a thread entitled "Preparing for internship". I received great feedback and have now been at my internship for 2 weeks. My parents don't like how I'm at the station 5 days a week full time, and not getting paid. I just love the environment of the newsroom, and if I weren't living with them, would spend even more time there.
I've gone out with reporters a few times and write packages along with them, to compare and get feedback. I'm wondering what the best weekly schedule would be. I don't want to cut down days per week, but if I have to I will. I'd rather do that, than cut the entire internship off in a few weeks. I'd like to go all the way until August with this internship. My father keeps asking me about goals i'm trying to accomplish and such.
What would be the best time of day, and days of the week I should go in. Any advice helps, thanks!

[Spike]

Work whenever you can, as much as you can within reason. If given the chance, work a variety of schedules so that you can see the differences in how dayside, nightside and weekends operate. Each shift has its own unique quirks that you won't understand until you're on them.

As for your parents, tell them that even though you're working for free, this is on-the-job training that puts together everything you've learned in school in a way that you simply cannot get in a classroom. This is an important step in the development of your career. The internship could possibly land you a full time job at that station when you graduate. Or it could get you work at another station, since people move around in the business, and many of the contacts you make at this job will be working at other stations in a couple of years and may be able to help you move up. For these reasons, it's important to show them you want to learn and work hard, and that means working a full time schedule (or close to it) to demonstrate that you're not just a silly college student having fun on their time.

Further, you can impress upon them that if you don't get the most out of this internship now, you will likely have to do it all again later on when you graduate. For many people, the internship is the doorway into the business. Does your dad want you working for free through two internships, when you could make the most out of this one instead and be ready to go to work when you graduate? By asking you to cut your hours, your dad is essentially asking you to waste this opportunity.

That's what you tell your parents. That said, don't overdo it at the station. If you're always in the newsroom, such that people wonder when you sleep or if you have a social life at all, they may begin to think of you more as a news groupie than a colleague. Work a full time schedule as if you work there. Because you do.

[wxgeek]

As for your parents, tell them that even though you're working for free, this is on-the-job training that puts together everything you've learned in school in a way that you simply cannot get in a classroom.

And remind them that, once you graduate, you'll basically be working for free anyway.

[newz2me]

My parents don't like how I'm at the station 5 days a week full time, and not getting paid.
My Mom gave me a bit advice that I'll share with you. "You can't pay for experience". After graduation I spent 6 months looking for a job. The ecomony at that time wasn't too good either and no one was hiring. I finally got a lead about a small station no far from home. I went for the interview and was told there were no paying positions but I could stick around and learn the business. I thanked the manager and went home disgusted. When I told my mother she said take the job, you can't pay for experience. You're getting your foot in the door, making contacts and learning the trade. She was right. I learned more practical experience in 6 months there than I ever did in school. Tech Directing, Tape Op, Floor Director and my favorite shooting news and sports. That experience lead to my first paying job and so on.
I would say if you are volunteering 5 days a week I would make two of those days weekend days. On weekends they are always looking for help and you will have more of an opportunity to get hands on experience and people who have the time to talk to you and explain stuff.
Stick with the intership, learn all you can and make contacts. I t will come in handy in the future.

[LAWEATHER]

Feel free to have your parents email me directly and I would be glad to answer any questions they might have.
As to the hours.... When I started my 1st, 2nd, 3rd internships I did them all for free and begged for more hours. I would have taken my first job for free, I wanted it that bad. Finally I got someone to pay me, not much over min. wage, but I was happy.

[News Is Broken]

I recently had a thread entitled "Preparing for internship". I received great feedback and have now been at my internship for 2 weeks. My parents don't like how I'm at the station 5 days a week full time, and not getting paid. I just love the environment of the newsroom, and if I weren't living with them, would spend even more time there.

Yeah, whatever. Where's my coffee, cupcake? I ain't got all day.

[NewsguyMark]

Great advice, Spike... I could not have said it better....

[Another OMB]

I echo Spike's advice about trying different shifts so you can learn the differences, and I would especially suggest working weekends. You're much more likely to be able to do something instead of just watching, since there's much less happening on most weekends and things tend to be more laid back.

During my internship, I worked from 2:30 until 11:30 Sunday-Thursday. Coming in during the early afternoon let me do some work for the 6 and I was also there for the 11. And while working on Sundays, I got two packages on the air. There's often not a lot of news on Sundays and they were eager to fill the time, so when I came up with story ideas of my own, shot them and edited them, they were happy to air them.

[Tripe Face]

I echo Spike's advice about trying different shifts so you can learn the differences, and I would especially suggest working weekends. You're much more likely to be able to do something instead of just watching, since there's much less happening on most weekends and things tend to be more laid back.

During my internship, I worked from 2:30 until 11:30 Sunday-Thursday. Coming in during the early afternoon let me do some work for the 6 and I was also there for the 11. And while working on Sundays, I got two packages on the air. There's often not a lot of news on Sundays and they were eager to fill the time, so when I came up with story ideas of my own, shot them and edited them, they were happy to air them.

Jeez how times have changed. My first TV internship... I was paid by the hour... but no interns were allowed to write anything for air. I would write vos or vosots... and dictate them word for word to a writer who would type them up (on six part no less).

But that internship got me my first job in TV.

BTW... some states/companies have policies about how many hours a person who is not getting paid can "work" if you were at my network, you'd be WELL over the weekly alloted time you can spend at the bureau.

[east coast producer]

I didn't know the Cartoon Network had bureaus. Neat.

[News Is Broken]

I didn't know the Cartoon Network had bureaus. Neat.

They have curios and quaint little end tables too.

[Charlie Brown]

But don't overdo it. You don't want to burn yourself out too quickly because you're young, enjoy that while it lasts because it comes to an end all too fast.

In this line of work, you learn more by actually doing than by sitting in a classroom taking exams and all that other nonsense. During an internship, it doesn't matter how much time you spend in a newsroom but rather what you're doing while you're there. I've worked with interns that I saw more than I saw my colleagues who didn't amount to anything because they were just there, they weren't writing vosots or sitting in the booth during a show or going out in the field.

You want to emerge from this a winner? Here's how. If you want to be a reporter, volunteer to go out with a crew first thing you get in. Watch as the photographer sets up the shot (because in all likelihood, you too will at some point have to shoot during your career) and how the reporter goes through the process of getting the information and writing the scripts.

On the days you're not in the field, make beat calls for the assignment editor. Ask the producers if you can write vo's and vosots for them. Get feedback once you're done.

But above all things, keep your mouth shut and keep it professional. Nobody cares how you're the star of your college television station. Nobody cares what you're doing in your personal life. What we as news professionals care about from you as an intern is how you can make our lives easier and what we can teach you. Because here's a dirty little secret -- most of us LOVE helping out the next generation of broadcasters...provided they're genuinely interested and are willing to do what it takes to succeed. Hope this helps.

[scotman1]

I agree with Spike.

I also agree with everything but this...to a point:

But above all things, keep your mouth shut and keep it professional.

I agree completely...outside of the principle that you should always be yourself. Right, don't be a arrogant jerk and push every around; no one likes that. Don't come in acting like you run the ship; no one likes to be threatened or told how to run things. But be yourself. Don't come in being who you aren't. The best internship experience will provide you with the opportunity to shine and prove yourself as a credible person. In the "worst" internship situations, you'll be ignored and called arrogant for any challenge to authority, even ones that are insignificant. I've had both experiences, and learned from both.

Be passionate, not aggressive... I say. Seize the day...work hard, and always be contributing to the product. As silly as it may sound, take on things like Twitter and blogs. Ask if you can help. As a weather intern, I asked the chief I could compile some relevant weather/climo data for him to use in a weathercast or in a graphic. Take on similar tasks in the newsroom. But...caution...don't go out of your way to help people LAZY people be LAZIER; do this carefully.

And last, but not least, realize that some in this business forget what it was like to be an intern. Don't let arrogant people in this business soil you. There are many people in this business that think they are the best at covering severe weather or covering breaking news; you'll know exactly who they are when you see them. Do your best to shake off anything rude they say to you. If someone gives you advice, take it seriously. If someone spits a bunch of "stand down, small fry; I'm the news/weather expert here" attitude, do your best to move on. Respect for others - just in any profession and in all aspects of life - goes a long way.

[3.58 mHZ]

Your parents are meanies and *don't* let them take this away from you if you really want to learn some great stuff. You're in prime position. In fact, print out all the posts from us already in the business to show them. In fact, if you have a professor from school you could contact, to have a conversation with them, that would be great.

In fact, if your anchors are friendly and amenable, *and* your parents seem to like them, have one of those anchors call them, and THAT will make an impression.

Parents don't always get it.

Good luck and hang in there!

[Spike]

In fact, print out all the posts from us already in the business to show them.

Especially the ones that suggest that you change your major to something else.

[WalMartNation]

My parents don't like how I'm at the station 5 days a week full time, and not getting paid.

Than they're really not gonna like it when you hit them up for money to borrow! :) Seriously, nothing prepares you for working in news than being around news (and of course in the newsroom). If your folks don't like it, send me a PM, I'll talk to them for you. My Dad didn't like my internship because it was 5 days a week unpaid (actually more like 6), but I told him "Dad, thanks for your concern, but I'm an adult now and paying back my student loan, so please zip your lip and let me get on my life" He never complained again.

[Clever Login Name]

Hi WalMart! Long time, no read!