Marist Communication & Media Studies Internship Program – Copyright 2013
How to begin planning for a
Communication internship
Internships are competitive, engaging and valuable experiences. But they rarely happen by accident. Planning is the
key to successful internships. Here are some items to consider when beginning your internship planning:
WHO…It is best to “target” employers.
Perform research. Meet with the Internship Program staff. Scour job boards. Speak with your professors and with older
students who are already interning. Develop a target list of employers who meet your needs. Your list might be just a
small number of companies – especially if you’re looking at a small market, such as Poughkeepsie. But if you’re seeking
an internship in New York or another large city, your list should be much longer.
WHAT… Identify media jobs that interest you and educate yourself about them.
You will find this approach extremely helpful, both while researching internships and during the interview process.
Research will show you the alternative paths open to you in a variety of majors. As you learn more about the field, you
will make better selections because you know more and you will interview better because you are more knowledgeable.
Drill down, be specific. It will pay off.
WHEN… Plan well ahead to be competitive.
Students must register for internships at the beginning of a term. Employers choose candidates months ahead. You will
need a minimum of 4-6 months lead time for a Fall/Spring internship, and 6-12 months lead time for a Summer internship.
See the Internship Program staff for deadlines.
WHERE… You could intern anywhere – anywhere the internship is.
Internships can be done locally, here in the Poughkeepsie/Hudson Valley area, or in a big city, such as New York, or even
in your hometown. You will find that the selection of internship opportunities varies widely, so you need to think about
where your will take you. The big TV companies are in NYC and LA, but you could do public relations for a non-profit
almost anywhere. Choice is what drives the process.
HOW… Internship travel and work schedule demands can be heavy.
Time management is key; beware of overloading your schedule. Costs are another factor. Most internships are unpaid – so
plan for travel expenses and factor in that your internship is likely to run 8 weeks or more in Summer, 12+ weeks in
Fall/Spring semesters.