Students receive credit for summer internships

By Jenny Cullen

Professors always tell students that internships are one of the most valuable experiences of a college career.

Three UW-River Falls journalism students found out just how valuable an internship could be when they received credit for their summer 2001 internship.

Stephanie Kimble is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in dance education. She interned at KIMT-TV in Mason City, IA, which is near her hometown of Emmons, Minn.

Kimble's mom was applying for a job at the radio station and was being interviewed. She happened to mention that her daughter Stephanie was looking for an internship and Kimble was given the job.

The rookie intern/reporter was given a variety of responsibilities and virtually wasn't left of out anything.

Although Kimble didn't get to do reporting packages, she still learned a lot of valuable things from her internship that she said she couldn’t have learned in the classroom.

"Regardless of how great the professors are here, there are just some things that we can't learn unless we do them ourselves," Kimble said. "Doing something hands on is the most important thing in journalism and now I do the things I learned without even realizing it."

Kimble said for as long as she can remember she has always been interested in the news and has always loved to watch television.

"I love how you learn something new everyday from the news," Kimble said. "That is the best part about it."

Maleah Green is also a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. She interned at KEEY radio station in Bloomington, Minn.

The internship Green received came about simply because she stopped by the station one day and asked about it. She was given the job right away.

"My primary responsibility was to make decisions about what music to play every day," Green said. "I basically organized the station's music logs."
She learned a lot of the technical aspects of radio broadcasting since she wasn't able to be on the air.

Green learned how to organize all the music in the computer and also how to operate the board.

Green said she learned a lot of things from working at KEEY and also said it was one of the most valuable experiences she has had so far.

"I gained a lot of valuable experiences and also made a lot of contacts," Green said. "My internship really gave me a feel for the area I want to work in."