Internship Review

The IUP Communications Media internship helped me to develop many notable and professional characteristics over the summer. Since it was an unorthodox process due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing internships to go online, this opportunity allowed me and the other interns involved to change how we go about completing an internship.

Not only did we, as interns, learn how to produce content and operate professionally over an online platform, but we were also taught valuable problem-solving skills for when face-to-face opportunities are not possible.

We had to rely heavily on technology as means of communication when problems occurred.

But while these issues resulted in delays in production, we found different ways to produce content. One example would be that instead of having Adobe Audition to complete audio productions, we utilized Audacity to get recordings out. While some capabilities were restricted due to the lack of resources Audacity offered, we still found ways to produce clean audio files meant for incorporation in audio lectures and audio theater pieces.

Another breakthrough we experienced was the efficiency in utilizing the Zoom video conferencing software. In addition to using the platform to meet regularly and discuss projects, we were able to capitalize on Zoom's ability to record video for Public Pictures Theater and podcasting purposes.

While it is not as clear in video quality as recording in our television studio at IUP, we were able to pull off commentary on films, panel discussions, game shows and professional interviews that can be edited down for a clean and professional program.

General issues that interns experienced were:

1) Adobe Creative Suite either crashing on interns or trials running out, making the suite unavailable for interns and halting projects that were in progress.

2) Timeliness of the completion of projects - we did not produce first rounds of projects until the midway point in the summer.

3) Getting pulled in other directions while trying to complete projects, delaying the production time of them.

Zoom Video Conferencing played a crucial role in the success for interns this summer, as it was used as a platform to meet and also to produce content.

August 5th, 2020 - Source: Wikimedia Commons

I grew from this internship both professionally and personally because I now have a clearer path for how to produce content on my own, how to overcome adversity in an online setting and what kind of career suits me to where I can produce efficiently both in-person and online.

I realized my strengths and my weaknesses throughout this experience to where I know now that my weakest points are scripting, scheduling conference calls that suit all participants' time restrictions and lack of production if there is an overload in my workload, with scripting being the biggest weak point.

At the beginning of the internship, I was tasked with writing an original script for a public domain story that can be turned into an 8-minute audio theater piece. After gathering story ideas, I experienced a massive writer's block since I've only scripted radio commercials/PSAs and pregame shows for live sports broadcasts through IUP and commercial radio stations. However, this allowed me, with the help of Marques Ross, my supervisor for Audio Theater, to take my radio mindset and find appropriate sound effects and bed music for our other productions. This saved other interns time to focus on scripting while I found other resources for in-production use.

My strong points were my on-air presence for Public Pictures Theater and podcasting purposes, which solidified where I want to go professionally, teamwork, as I helped other interns produce content for different platforms, and critical thinking. Since I want to be on-air in radio and television, this internship helped strengthen my background in this area by allowing me to host panel discussions and commentary panels for Public Pictures Theater, act as a character in the audio theater production "Heart-Shaped Dollars" and as an interviewer with Dr. Leidman's podcast episode.

One major attribute I improved upon during this experience was my critical thinking following multiple times where we had to find secondary and, sometimes, tertiary means of producing content. One was using Kast to record movie panels since it allowed users to edit a screen live using telestration. We were unable to use it due to lack of video quality, so we resorted to using Zoom instead. Then, when Adobe ran out for interns, we used different methods, like using Audacity as previously mentioned, to complete work in a timely manner while we either waited to purchase the fill Adobe Creative Suite or found another way to get a trial version.

What was met from the internship proposal:

1) Develop skills, knowledge and experience in areas specific to the internship setting.

- Since I came into the internship with knowledge on how certain technological resources ran, it made the production factor much smoother and allowed me more opportunities since there wasn't a major learning curve to overcome. I now know how to produce a professional and educational podcast, a clean television program and a clean background for audio theater productions.

2) Develop professional contacts.

- I came into the internship not knowing many people involved. However, at the end of the experience, I made four close contacts (Sean, Gram, Patricia and Tristan) and sent them my resume for future opportunities. It enhanced the productivity among interns and we created different products with our ideas.

3) Refine interpersonal skills.

- Prior to the start of this internship, I was more introverted and only did work when told to. This experience refined my leadership skills and helped me to take charge of projects. In addition, it allowed me to work on how I address those I work with in a proactive manner.

4) Compile materials suitable for inclusion in a professional portfolio demonstrating the intern met site objectives.

- Those will be available on the "Assignments Portfolio" page.

What was NOT met from the

internship proposal:

1) Gain experience in a professional work setting consistent with the student's career goals.

- While I've gotten experience producing scripts for audio productions and editing video for PPT, I, as an aspiring sports broadcaster and radio personality, felt that this internship didn't gear towards my career goals. I definitely gained valuable skill sets through this internship, but not for what my career goals are.

2) Develop an understanding of the work environment and use this understanding to refine career goals.

- While I got a general understanding of the 8-hour working environment, I did not get the full work experience since it was all online. The lack of a face-to-face environment made the working environment different since all meetings were over video conferencing and we were left to do all projects on our own, essentially. Lastly, myself, along with the other interns, felt we were given work that was meant to get us through the summer rather than projects that were unique and different than what we could do.