For more information on my work from the internship:
The Internship:
IUP Communications Media
Source: IUP Communications Media Facebook
An Overview:
I was hired for IUP's Department of Communications Media in Indiana, Pa. under their WIUP-FM/IUP-TV summer internship for the 2020 summer semester. I was hired by Dr. Mark Piwinsky (Executive Supervisor) and Sarah Everett (Site Supervisor) on May 1st after the Coronavirus pandemic shut down my first internship with the Altoona Curve. I am very thankful for the opportunity as it was last-minute, but their efficiency in adjusting to the pandemic not only helped me, but helped other students secure an internship in order to graduate on time.
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I began the internship on Monday, May 18, 2020 and worked through Friday, July 31st, 2020. In addition, I was asked back and continued to do volunteer work after the internship was completed for Dr. Piwinsky.
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Description of My Work:
During my time working for IUP Communications Media, I worked closely with three groups that range from producing content for IUP-TV's movie show, Public Pictures Theater, to creating audio theater productions that will be aired on radio stations across Indiana to putting together a plan for designing plans to move audio production classes online for the Fall 2020 semester.
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My Duties:
IUP-TV:
For Public Pictures Theater, I produced four productions that we shot over the summer including a horror movie marathon that will air during Halloween. It includes three panel discussions with myself, Sean Mellor, Gram Drumgoole and other interns who volunteered to discuss the films.
My first production was a commentary panel including myself and Sean Mellor where we "riffed" or satirized "Plan 9 From Outer Space," which I finished production on in June. In addition to those I helped produce a commentary of "Nosferatu" which was led by Sean, and we started production on a Monsters and Westerns movie marathon.
July 2, 2020 - Retired IUP faculty member Dr. Mary Beth Leidman joined myself, Sean Mellor and Gram Drumgoole to discuss her career in the media industry as a radio and television personality.
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Source: IUP Communications Media Facebook
July 7th, 2020 - This photo was taken during our panel discussion for the Horror Movie Marathon. Guest Patricia Pinson (bottom right) joined us to talk about "The Ape."
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Source: IUP Communications Media Facebook
Extra Opportunities:
During the internship, I also volunteered to assist in the production of an IUP-related podcast where I, along with Sean and Gram, interviewed retired faculty member Dr. Mary Beth Leidman.
The episode focused on her career in television and radio and how she incorporated her career as a media producer into both a novel she co-wrote and into the classroom.
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I also volunteered to participate in a video/photo shoot for IUP's Marketing and Communications Department that promoted social distancing and mask regulations for the fall 2020 semester. In the video, I narrated lines and appeared on camera.
July 29, 2020 - Source: Indiana University of Pennsylvania Facebook
Audio Theater:
As part of the audio theater group, I helped produce voiceovers for one of our productions, Heart-Shaped Dollars, and I was in charge of finding sound effects and bed music for that as well as our other production, The Elves and The Shoemaker.
While scripting wasn't my strongest point, I was able to find success in finding music and sound effects that accurately related to the productions.
Audio Class:
I volunteered to join the audio class team midway through the internship since they had a low amount of interns for that specific group. While a part of the group, I helped design ways to push the Basic Audio Production course (COMM 249) to an online-only platform for the Fall 2020 semester.
Some ways were recording lectures that will be accessed by students on Desire2Learn (D2L) and Microsoft Stream, and by thinking of ways that would make a student's transition online easier.