Editorial:
KCOU, MUTV internships not up to snuff
Published Nov. 6, 2009
Throughout college, many students try to pad their resumes with as many internships and awards as they can gather. Having internships looks good on resumes and can often lead to jobs once college has ended, but not all internships are created equally. For instance, having an internship with CNN would be considered a bigger deal than working for the public access station in one's hometown.
KCOU/88.1 FM and MUTV/Channel 23 are working with the department of communications and are now offering internships to students. Each internship would be three credit hours. Interns at MUTV would be responsible for two pieces -- one news and one department specific (such as sports or entertainment). They would also have to create a portfolio of their work there and keep a daily log of what they did on the job. Students must work 10 hours a week to get one hour of credit.
Students at MUTV would also have to meet with the general manager of the station and a faculty member from the communications department once a week.
Students working at MUTV or KCOU are normally learning from other students, which can be beneficial, but an internship that counts for credit needs to provide learning from a faculty member or news professional.
There is a huge difference between working for the NBC affiliate or National Public Radio outlet in Columbia and working for a student television or radio station. Those are not going to be valid internships in the real world. A potential employer will not be impressed someone had an internship with a student-run television or radio station.
That also might make students think they have to get an internship in order to work at KCOU or MUTV, which is not true. Any student can come in and get involved. It is the same as with just about any student organization. These internships are also unfair to the students who are working there voluntarily. They might be putting in just as much work as an intern but are unable to get credit for their work.
No matter how much work students produce as interns for KCOU or MUTV, it is still not real world experience. This would be like a student getting political science credit for participating in the Missouri Students Association. A student government is very different from a state legislature, just like a college television station is radically unlike a major network news outlet.
KCOU General Manager Jonathan Hutcheson said these internships are a way to give communication students more opportunities. He said communications students have fewer opportunities than journalism students. This is completely untrue. Just because students in the School of Journalism get a bulletin once a week with potential internships, it does not mean they are the only ones who can apply for them. Communications students can take it upon themselves to seek out these internships and apply for them.
The school should not have to create false internships. It will not help anyone in the long run. These positions will not give a leg up to those in them over students who have had other internships. At the end of the day, a student news organization is just not real-world experience.
Comments (6)
9:55 p.m., Nov. 8, 2009
Are you kidding me? said:
"No matter how much work students produce as interns for KCOU or MUTV, it is still not real world experience." FALSE. As someone who has worked with all three groups, all three offer real world experiences. Last time I checked, KCOU is a legitimate radio station that wins awards, has a news room, has reporters, and produces quality work. Last time I checked, MUTV does live to tape recording, creates packages, has deadlines, and works just as hard as anyone at the maneater. But the difference is I've never gotten a list serve email from anyone at KCOU or MUTV about how drunk they got last weekend. The only difference is KCOU and MUTV executive make their staffers feel respected. The only difference is nobody at KCOU or MUTV has an enormous ego quite like the maneater. And I can say with confidence, nothing the maneater offers in terms of "experience" is ANY better than KCOU or MUTV. Let's also not forget that the maneater produces a 'newspaper' twice a week while KCOU is on all the time, MUTV produces a number of half-hour programs and both are utilized for more than to just look at the pretty pictures. The only reason I stay at the maneater is I get 'paid' for my work, other than that it's a joke.
4:37 p.m., Nov. 9, 2009
MU Student said:
Thank you Maneater editorial board for yet another poorly written, under-researched opinion. I hope that your readers realize that the Maneater is NOT a fair representation of MU's outstanding School of Journalism. Helpful tip: Claims such as "A potential employer will not be impressed someone had an internship with a student-run television or radio station" require some sort of factual backing (beyond some undergraduate forum editor's best guess) in order to be taken seriously. Maybe if you had been real journalists and interviewed some television/radio industry professionals, you could have given this piece a shred of legitimacy.
12:54 a.m., Nov. 10, 2009
This must be a joke said:
Of course MUTV and KCOU aren't like real world stations. They don't have the budget to be. Let's also consider that these are STUDENTS who also have to balance classes and can't devote 8 hours a day to their work. But the experience at both stations will greatly help students get a step up from those who don't choose to get involved. MUTV and KCOU are great stepping stones for KOMU, KBIA, or even MoJo Ad. While they aren't as time consuming, they help students learn how to juggle their time when things really pick up pace. MUTV and KCOU also teach deadlines which in the journalism world, is the most important aspect.
10:38 p.m., Nov. 10, 2009
MU Student with internships due to MUTV said:
None of the logic in this editorial makes any sense. Why isn't it a good idea to have internships through programs on campus? In my opinion, it is another way to become involved and to earn some school credit. Does the Maneater know that each semester, MUTV runs a recruitment campaign for students all over campus, not just the ones in the J-School? If you had known this, your argument regarding that students will think they have to intern at these organizations to become involved is rendered obsolete. I have had multiple conversations with an executive member of a highly regarded national sports network, and he was IMPRESSED to hear that I was able to gain real experience in my desired profession while still in school. He also acknowledged the leadership roles that I have had while participating in these organizations, which includes MUTV. The internships are a good idea. Maybe the Maneater is just upset they did not think of this first.
8:53 p.m., Nov. 21, 2009
Erin S. said:
“My experience with students who have gotten a head start at MUTV is that they hit the newsroom with enough experience and confidence that they almost immediately move to the head of their peers. While the programs and equipment vary a lot between MUTV and KOMU, the concepts do not, and that’s what makes the most difference. That and the passion people can develop working at MUTV beginning with their freshman year.” -Stacey Woelfel, News Director at KOMU
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9:48 p.m., Nov. 6, 2009
Maneater Alumn said:
Do I sense some jealousy? Maybe the Maneater should look into starting a similar internship program. Hey, one credit hour is better than the 60 cents a story your writers normally make.