Internships

What exactly is an internship?

An internship is a period of time students spend getting supervised, practical experience in the workplace, usually while receiving university credits. You will work with and learn from professionals in the field. Internships help you gain a wide assortment of skills in the workplace you do not learn in the classroom. They are usually unpaid.

You may earn up to 18 internship credits while an undergraduate. The number of credits you are eligible for is based on the number of hours you work per week at the internship. You can do full or part-time internships. Some internships require students to receive academic credit; others do not.

When should I do an internship?

UMass requires that you complete at least 45 credits before you enroll for internship credits, and traditionally, students work on summer internships between their junior and senior years. However, the increasing competitiveness of the major internships requires applicants to have had at least one previous internship experience. So, if you can, start early and work often, even if you do not receive academic credit. As a freshmen or sophomore, you should arrange an internship during the summer at a local newspaper or other media outlet or organization in or near your home town. As you enter your junior year, having already had some internship experience, you’ll be ready to apply for the more competitive internships.

Most students do internships over the summer, but you can also do an internship during the academic year. In fact, your options widen considerably if you are able to do a full time internship during the school year when there is less competition from other students. This is especially true for internships in New York or Washington, D.C.

Another option is to do a part-time internship during the semester while you are taking classes if you are able to arrange your schedule so you have some large blocks of free time. You can then look for internships in the Amherst area.

What types of internships are available?

If you’re looking for your first internship or if you need to be at home over the summer, you can arrange an internship on your own with your local newspaper, radio or television station. You can also contact public relations firms, advocacy groups, politicians’ offices, religious and community organizations, publishing companies and sports and arts groups. Many of these places take on interns with writing skills to help with their newsletters, web sites and press releases. There are also online internships. Tell them you’re a journalism major wanting to do an internship. Most places are happy to have free help.

Formal competitive internships also are available at major newspapers, magazines, media outlets and other organizations. They can be located anywhere in the country. The applications for these internships may be quite extensive, requiring essays, clips and portfolios, and most have early application deadlines.

What if I can’t afford to do an internship?

Many internships recognize that interns may also need to work at paid employment and are willing to be flexible in arranging your schedule. There also may be stipends, scholarships and financial aid available to help you, particularly with some of the major internships such as those in New York City and Washington, D.C.. Don’t let lack of money deter you from exploring the possibilities.

What is a Co-op?

Co-ops are similar to internships but are different in several key ways. Co-ops require a longer time commitment, usually between six and eight months. A co-op is more likely to be a paid, pre-professional position and be directly related to your area of professional interest.

Where do I start?

1. Start building your portfolio. Now. If you have no clips, go to the Collegian and get some! The paper is always looking for students willing to write. Or if you’re more interested in working in radio or TV, go to WMUA, WFCR or the Union Video Center. These are all located on the UMass campus and are easily accessible.

2. Write a resumé and keep it up to date, as well as a portfolio of your best work. If you have not yet done so, attend a resumé writing workshop at the Career Services Office in 511 Goodell, which also has resources about resumés and cover letters. Take advantage of all the resources available at this office.www.umass.edu/careers

3. Think “resumé building” as you plan your time at UMass. Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can to add to your resumé, e.g., learn a foreign language, learn computer skills and programs, participate in travel or service programs or complete a certificate program.

4. Start looking in the Fall semester for Summer internships. Many of the major competitive internships have application deadlines in late Fall. Most internships, however, do not have deadlines, but it’s good to start investigating the opportunities as early as possible.

What do I do once I have the internship confirmed?

Once you confirm that you will be interning, find out if your internship requires you to be enrolled for academic credit. Many sites do require interns to be enrolled for academic credit.

If you receive academic credit:

Internship credits count toward graduation but do not take the place of any Journalism classes. You still must do the eight required Journalism classes.

In Summer and Wintersession, you enroll for the internships credits through Continuing Education. You have to pay for these credits. That may come as an unpleasant surprise, so please take note of this. If you do not need the credits, you may be able to enroll for just one or two credits, regardless of the number of hours you actually work at the internship. So don’t let this discourage you.

You are covered under the University’s insurance policy. Someone from Career Services will visit the site of your internship to be sure the internship is going well.

If you do an internship during the semester, Journalism will enroll you for the credits on SPIRE. The credits are included as part of your regular tuition at no additional cost.

You need a sponsoring professor (a faculty member of your choosing or Journalism internship coordinator, B.J. Roche). You and your faculty sponsor will fill out an academic contract, which you get from Career Services Office in 511 Goodell.

You are required to keep a journal of the work you do on your internship, as well as a portfolio, if applicable. At the end of the internship, you will use the journal to write a four to five page paper explaining and evaluating your experience. What did you learn? How did it contribute to your thinking about careers? What kinds of ethical issues did you have to deal with? What would you like to do next? Would you recommend this internship to other students? Your supervisor at the internship will evaluate your performance.

If you do not receive academic credit:

If you choose not to enroll for academic credit for an internship, you do not need to fill out any forms or do any paperwork with Journalism or with the University. But you should let B.J. Roche know how it worked out and discuss future internship plans.

What about post-graduate internships?

It is possible to do an internship after you graduate. UMass has a Second Chance Program that allows a graduate to be placed on special status so you may still enroll for internship credits. This is important because many sites require interns to be enrolled for academic credits. This program enables you to continue to take advantage of internship opportunities. You can get more information about this in Career Services.

There are other post-graduate internship and development opportunities offered through many professional organizations, such as the Poynter Institute (www.poynter.org) and the Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources (www.ijnr.org). The Hearst Newspapers (www.hearstfellowships.com) offers a two year fellowship program for students immediately after graduation. Fellows complete three to four job rotations at different Hearst newspapers around the country.

Contact:

B.J. Roche, Journalism Internship Coordinator bjroche@journ.umass.edu
Barbara McGlynn, Academic Advisor bmcglynn@journ.umass.edu
Career Services, www.umass.edu/careers