The Mass Communications students at Alcorn State University (ASU) were occupied perfecting their craft this Summer with internships directly relating to their majors. These internships consisted of television, radio, online newspapers, and public relations.
Students who partook in internships this Summer included, Keturah Moody: Public Relations internship at Better Futures Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Aerial Robinson: Communications internship for The Fulton County Government Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Jalyn Chapman: Public Relations internship for the Dekalb County Superior Court Clerk in Decatur, Georgia, Keaundria Milloy, Broadcast internship for WDAM Channel 7 News in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, JaByron McGloster: Broadcast internship for WJTV Channel 12, Jackson, Mississippi, Travis Williams: Broadcast internship for Louisiana Public Broadcasting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Gabrielle Terrett: Communications internship for the National Park Service’s Media Department in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, Jazmin Green: Broadcast internship for the City of Vicksburg TV23 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Trevin Day: Broadcast internship for KLFY News 10 in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Fred Jackson: Radio internship, KAJM-FM and KNRJ-FM in Phoenix, Arizona.
Going into work with a positive attitude and a set goal in mind, the students were able to make the most out of their internship experience. Senior Mass Communications major, Keaundria Milloy stated, “I really cannot share every detail of my internship experience because it was so much but what I can tell you is that it was a great experience. My goal was to leave better than I came in, and I fulfilled that goal. I leaned so much from writing scripts, pitching stories, composing packages, making my own website and business cards, assisting in preparing shows, and producing. I can go on and on about the experience because initially I lacked knowledge in different jobs in the news stations, but by the time I left I had learned a lot more about the different positions and jobs. It was all about team effort there and I definitely can see myself pursuing a career in reporting and producing then later anchoring.”
Along with learning new information, students were also able to apply information that they had learned during their duration at Alcorn. Senior Communications major Keturah Moody stated, “I had a great internship experience. I applied skills such as creativity, writing and computer skills in order to complete the tasks that were given to me. These tasks included making Billboard designs, brochures, paperwork and writing articles. I learned a lot in the field of Public Relations and hopefully I will be able to use the new knowledge that I have learned and apply it to my classes.
All Communications students at ASU are required to take an internship class. An internship is the position of a student or trainee who works in an organization, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification. Internships come with the benefits of exploring career paths, developing and refining skills, gaining confidence within that field, and getting a head start in the job market.
If you are interested in the Mass Communications Department at Alcorn contact Larry Sanders at (601) 877-6632 or email @lsanders@alcorn.edu.