ASU downtown campus maximizes student internship opportunities

ASU downtown campus maximizes student internship opportunities

By Julie Fales, Julieanne McClain, and Cindy Reves

Twice a year, students at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University prepare for an internship interview day. Dozens of local companies, including Patch.com, The Arizona Republic and Arizona Diamondbacks
are invited to the school to meet and interview potential candidates.

With a variety of major media outlets easily accessible from the downtown Phoenix campus of ASU, students are able to participate in internship opportunities while still taking a full load of classes.

Because of the large number of students involved, the Cronkite School divides them into three groups: broadcast, publication/digital journalism and public relations/social media. Each internship interview event includes up to 230 students.

“We actually help students with their resumé, we tell them how to dress, we tell them what to expect from the interview and give them pointers on interviewing techniques,” said Mike Wong, the director of Cronkite School Career Services. “Then we set up all those interviews for them.”

Before participating in internship day, students are required to complete an internship application and prepare a resumé. Although students are required to participate in at least one internship during their undergraduate program, most pursue at least three before graduation.

Deanna Benjamin, a 2013 Walter Cronkite School of Journalism graduate, completed nine internships during her time in Phoenix. Her last internship was with the Arizona Rattlers arena football team. After graduating this spring, Benjamin said the team’s producer is keeping her as an assistant producer.

“I’m going to be an assistant producer with him until I find a job, a career,” Benjamin said.

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Student Noemi Gonzalez helps out with the Reynolds High School Journalism Institute taking photos. She has also held an internship for a fashion magazine. (Photo by Cindy Reves)