Boise State Public Radio has revived its internship program for Boise State students. We've had interns gain newsroom experience "unofficially" in recent years, but it's been a while since students were given course credit for their time at the station.
At the start of January 2017, Lantz McGinnis-Brown and Elizabeth Findley kicked off this new wave of internships by joining the news team for the semester. Over the course of five months they learned the daily processes and inner workings of a media organization, and eventually produced radio spots all on their own.
The internship program has specific time requirements and learning objectives in order to receive course credit. We wanted to know what Lantz and Elizabeth were really taking away from this experience. So, we asked them.
Q: How has your time in the KBSX newsroom shaped your understanding of how modern media works?
LMG: "I learned that even in an age of TV and smartphones, radio has an important role to play in bringing in-depth information and context to media consumers, in a convenient and easy-to-understand format. That ability to reach peoples' ears while they're in the car on the way to work, or just relaxing at home, seems very powerful to me."
EF: "The KBSX newsroom gave me a better understanding of what happens on a day-to-day basis in a newsroom. Before I had only written for school papers, and it is a bit different pace than an actual newsroom."
Q: What skills have you gained here that you might take and utilize in your own career paths?
LMG: "I learned how to write news stories to be interesting and engaging for radio listeners. I also learned how to look for news stories that help make local and national issues relevant and interesting for local listeners. As a student of public administration, knowing how to reach the local community in a compelling way will come in very handy as I work in the public sector to fund-raise and improve public relations."
EF: "I learned some more editing tips with audition, tips for speaking on air and how to write more conversationally. It's interesting to see the differences between the spots for the web versus the radio."
Q: What is one moment/project you're most proud of during your time as an intern?
LMG: " I am most proud of the first time that I was able to create an entire radio spot from start to finish. After going through the whole process, from finding the news, to writing it for radio, to recording it, and finally putting it online, it was great to say that I had created that little story, and I knew how to do it again. Getting to hear myself on the radio was a surreal bonus."
EF: "I really enjoyed putting together the day in a life of a page piece. I got to go to the Capitol for the first time. It was fun to get to talk to a page and the Secretary of State. I think I was most proud of turning around the Project Laura story in four hours. I found the topic, did the research, called for an interview and recorded the narration in one day."
Both Lantz and Elizabeth wrapped up their internships as the semester concluded. They played an integral role in the newsroom during their time here and we wish them best of luck in their endeavors.
Stay tuned for radio spots and web stories coming from our summer interns, Taylor Munson and Brian Millar.
Interested in applying for an internship here at Boise State Public Radio? Contact Katie John, our Office Operations Manager, at katelynjohn@boisestate.edu.
For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915
Copyright 2017 Boise State Public Radio
