KCOU, MUTV offer internships

The internships are unpaid but will count for course credit.

By Megan Pearl

Published Nov. 6, 2009

As of this semester, KCOU/88.1 FM and MUTV/Channel 23 are offering new internships in their studios through the department of communication. The internships are for class credit to create experience opportunities for students interested in radio or television.

The internships will be offered for fall and spring semesters, and none of the internships are paid.

"People think that an internship has to be paid, but it's really a matter of, 'what did you do?'" said Phousavanh Sengsavanh, assistant director of career services at the School of Journalism. "What's important is the kind of work are you going to be producing by the end of your tenure there."

The internships differ from the typical internship in that the interns are working with other students in student-run facilities during the semester for class credit. Because they are for school credit, the students must do projects to fulfill the course.

According to the MUTV internship syllabus, the interns must complete two projects. One should relate to a specific department and the other to all of MUTV. Students must also keep a portfolio or journal to record the details of working within the studio as an intern.

KCOU has a similar program structure combining school work and work in the studio.

"The intern program is a bit of a hybrid between course work, lecture and also general station duties," KCOU General Manager Jonathan Hutcheson said.

Aside from the educational aspect of the internship, the creators of the program also aim to make the experiences more convenient than other internship options.

"The internship is partly in response to the rarity of radio internship opportunities," Hutcheson said. "Having an internship during the year that's compatible with your course schedule is also a big benefit."

The internships count for credit proportional to the amount of time the student would like to devote. Ten hours a week will equal one credit, and there is a maximum of three credits available to be earned through internships. It is generally advised students only use one or two credits at a single internship in order to broaden the experience gained through internships, Hutcheson said.

"We allow for hands-on experience right away," MUTV General Manager Katy Goodman said. "Often times when a student interns with a local television station with professionals, they do not get to produce anything themselves."

For KCOU, there are only two interns in the program. There was a limited amount of seats for the launch of the program because it was too early to tell if they had adequate resources.

Thus far in the semester, the program seems to be working out well, Hutcheson said.

Both programs are offering the internships to make experience in real world work more accessible to students. Another aspect of internships is students are able to find what they do or do not want in a career and plan their academic career accordingly.

"One of the benefits of an internship is to gain some experience, and the earlier you start, you can learn what you don't want to do," Sengsavanh said. "Some journalism students get into broadcast journalism junior year and then realize they don't want to get up at 4:30 in the morning."