Alicia Alford
Confessions of a TV Newsroom Intern

This is what I "get" to do as a television news intern: Go out on shoots in all kinds of weather, log hours of video, catch random sightings of Al Sharpton and, oh yeah, work side-by-side with the people I aspire to be. I do way more than what's required of the average college intern, and that's why it's taken me three weeks to get out my first blog post about the experience.

To quickly catch you up, the first few of weeks of my third news internship in New York City went a little something like this: I got my ID card (they mistakenly labeled me as a "freelance" employee rather than an intern, and I gladly accepted), I got acquainted with the host and producers of the show I'm interning for, and I settled into my temporary reporters producer host doesn't know your skill level. They try to be informative and not insulting, while I try to come off as knowledgeable and not obnoxious. I quickly found the good middle ground and I think I'm really clicking with my new team. In other similar internships I might spend hours in front of a computer screen transcribing entire interviews so that the on-air talent can use two 10-second sound bites. I wouldn't complain about such dues-paying work-but this time around I'm getting much more responsibility. I'm very excited.

Read more about a day in the life of Alicia Alford: TV Newsroom Intern on AOL here.

Alicia Stein
CNNmoney.com Intern

When I began my internship at CNNmoney.com in the fall of 2009, I didn’t know what to expect. I was a print journalism student entering into the online, multimedia, video-based world, however it didn’t take me very long to jump right in and learn everything that I possibly could. Although I was only an intern, my on-site internship advisor, who also was the executive producer, gave me multiple tasks that made me feel like any other member of the CNNmoney.com team. I was given a camera to shoot B-roll for the videos, edited and published videos on the site, pitched story ideas, worked on the set and even went out on interviews and shoots with the video crew. Having so many responsibilities was a little intimidating at times because let’s face it—it was CNN—but, I am so glad that they had faith in me because I have thoroughly learned from the experience. I was also given the freedom to pursue and create my own video stories to be published on the website as well, which first-handedly opened my eyes to the complexity and dedication it really takes to deliver good news to the public. A video entitled “Can IMAX save the movies?” that I researched, pitched, wrote the script for, shot, produced and edited myself was published in the Business News section of the website, so that was pretty amazing. One of my favorite things about CNN is that they provide on-site classes for any of the interns or employees to take to learn about the different computer programs and applications that they use such as INews, Mediasource and MIRA. It was extremely useful to take these classes because, along with the hands-on work, CNN has given me the knowledge and resources that have transformed me into a true multimedia journalist. I enormously enjoyed interning at CNNmoney.com. It was an experience that I will take with me throughout my career, and will also remember for the rest of my life.

Dara Adeeyo
Teen Vogue Magazine Intern

The summer of 2009 began one of the best experiences of my life. I began my stint as an intern at Teen Vogue magazine in the Online department. As a fashion fanatic, web enthusiast and print journalism major, this was a dream come true. The one thing I loved about working at Teen Vogue was that I was treated as an equal and not just "the intern". My boss was confident in giving me multiple tasks at once and wasn't afraid to allow me to have responsibility over specifics on the website. I had control over multiple web features such as "Girl of The Week" where I picked a photo of a stylish girl sent in and placed it on the website. During New York Fashion Week, I got to attend shows like a normal editor. I also dealt with all our social networks, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. Needless to say, my stint at Teen Vogue didn't end as the fall semester began. The internship turned into a gig that will go on into the spring 2010 semester. I love working at Teen Vogue and would love to make it my future. I am so happy and glad to be working at a magazine that I 100% stand behind.

To see some of Dara’s work at Teen Vogue Click here

Andrea Klerides
ABC News Nightline Intern

My summer at ABC News Nightline was anything but ordinary. I went in hoping to hop on a shoot a week, pitch story ideas, advance my editing skills... (tackle the world, you could say). While I got to accomplish most of these goals, I spent a great deal of time just observing my surroundings. Nightline was #1 in its time slot for 7 of the 10 weeks I was there and it was during that time that I learned what it takes to be the best of the best--how cut throat, accurate, unique, and ahead of the curve we must be to be number one. I recommend this internship only for those who are serious about their journalistic careers (you WILL develop a thick skin). A great introduction to the world of network news-- anything but ordinary. Certainly, in my eyes, a different kind of late night.

Hofstra student Allison Smolen (third from left) interned over the summer in the NBC Programming Department. She and her fellow interns, seen here in CNBC's conference room, learned the logistics of prepping shows for air on several of NBC's networks including Bravo, SyFY, USA, Sleuth and Chiller.

Allison Smolen
NBC Programming Intern

As a two-time intern for the staple company NBC, this summer I found myself in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey at the CNBC building. There, I became the “Program Scheduling Intern” for various NBC networks. I screened shows, sat in on edit sessions occasionally, attended department meetings, witnessed how programming works, and most importantly was incorporated into the department’s team. This internship was anything and everything but a “bagel and coffee” run; however there were plenty of bagels available at any given time. For Summer 2009, I was introduced to the world of screening and as an intern, I viewed or screened various shows for NBC networks. Additionally, I shadowed edit sessions that included devising graphics, end credit squeezes, and putting the finishing touches on shows and movies to make them appropriate for air. Overall it was a great summer! I learned a plethora of information for school credit and even better, all of this learning was accomplished by not having to sit in a desk for a moment of it.