Internships

WBIR Internships

The internship program at WBIR-TV is designed to allow a student to enrich their classroom experience through participation in various news activities and projects.

General news internships are available each semester, with concentrations in producing, sports, weather and digital available. Internships may be available in the sales, production, and marketing departments upon request. Students will get hands on experience in the television industry from the business and technical sides in all areas, and will learn to work independently to gather content for all platforms.

Starting in Summer 2019, WBIR will invite two students a semester to participate in our Producer Academy. The program is intended to prepare students to become a newscast, digital, and/or special projects producer. Students will work closely with newsroom producers to learn how to select content for newscasts or website/social, write and present that content in an interesting and transformative way, and manage a live newscast in the booth, a home page, and/or social media platforms. Producers are in high demand across the country and have great potential for advancement. By the end of the internship, Producer Academy interns will be expected to produce all or part of a newscast or manage digital platforms on their own. Once a student completes the Producer Academy, they should be prepared for a job in a TV newsroom.

WBIR interns will be paid minimum wage for 20 hours of work each week.

Student Internship Requirements

Students must be sponsored by and receive credit from an accredited college and be at least junior or senior level. (Special arrangements can be made for a student in a lower level if meeting other criteria and department approval.)

• Students must have prior written approval from a school professor or counselor who will serve as administrator of this individual's internship program.
• Internships last a minimum of three months.
• Students should be pursuing communications, journalism/speech, or other related coursework.
• Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• Must be familiar with current news events.
• Must be available to work two eight-hour shifts and one four-hour shift per week and be available to work on special projects as needed.
• Interns must have their own transportation and have a responsible driving record
• Interns will be required to take a pre-employment drug screening and pass a background check.

How to Apply All candidates should submit a cover letter, copy of your resume, work samples (can be on a website). Click here to submit an application.

In addition to passing all pre-employment screenings, qualified applicants may be required to fill out an application form, interview for the position and pass a test on current events.

If you have further questions, please email Tonja Burk at tburk@wbir.com

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester: July 1st
• Spring Semester: November 1st
• Summer Semester: April 1st

Because of the time it will take to conduct interviews and do pre-employment screening, all interns should be accepted and cleared for employment the semester before their internship will take place. Applications received after the deadline may not be considered.

Posted internship openings are for the next semester. Please do not apply for Summer internships while we are accepting applications for Spring.

Volunteering
We do not have a volunteer program. Applicants must meet the above requirements for consideration.

Shadowing
We do not have a program for high school or college students to shadow our staff. Applicants must meet the above requirements for consideration.