Thinking about doing a journalism internship?
          The sooner you start thinking seriously about possible internships and begin exploring your options, the better your chances of working out an ideal situation. Where and with whom you do your internship is limited only by your initiative and your persuasive abilities.

If you haven't already done so, read and think about the Overview of Journalism Internships Web page. It will help you decide if an internship is something you really want to do.

Journalism majors should remember the requirement that they earn at least three credit-hours for experiential learning can be fulfilled by any combination of practicum and/or internship credit. An internship is not specifically required, and it may not be the best choice for everyone. Some students may be happier and better served fulfilling this requirement solely with practicum credit earned by working for the campus media.

If you want to do an internship, the first thing to consider is the type of career you hope to pursue and the kinds of entry-level jobs that are most pertinent to it. Your internship should be as close to one of those entry-level jobs as possible so you can find out, while you're still a student, if this is really a path you want to follow. At the same time, it will give you relevant experience that can be cited on your resume to make you more attractive to prospective employers.

Once you've decided on a general direction, consult the internship bulletin board across from the front desk in the Communication Department office or talk with Dr. Turney about already established internship sites -- organizations that have successfully used NKU interns in the past and/or those that are actively trying to recruit interns. You should also take advantage of any professional connections you have and such general resources as the "Yellow Pages" to identify possibilities.

You'll also want to start putting together a resume. Securing an internship is very similar to job-hunting, and most places where you'll apply will expect you to have a resume summarizing your background and your preparation for doing the kinds of work that will be expected of you during the internship.

The best time to apply and when you have to apply are two different things. If you're interested in a nationally competive internship -- e.g., with The Baltimore Sun, USA Today, The Louisville Courier-Journal, The Arizona Republic, CNN, the Pulliam Newspapers, Shandwick Public Relations, or a national magazine -- you'll have to apply before what ever deadline they set. Most are six to ten months before the expected start of the internship. The Baltimore Sun, for instance, has the same mid-November deadline for both its summer internships and fall semester internships. In most cases, -- The Cincinnati Enquirer is the most notable exception since it does national recruiting for interns. -- arranging a local internship requires much less lead time.

However, if there's one particular local internship you have your heart set on, or if you absolutely have to find a well-paying internship, begin applying and asking for interviews at least three months ahead of time. Otherwise, try ...

• March for summer internships,

• late April and May for fall semester internships, and

• October for spring internships.

If you really haven't narrowed things down that specifically and if being paid is not a major consideration, wait until after mid-term and after priority registration for the next semester before you start looking.

If you have any questions or need suggestions on what to do next, e-mail, call, or stop by and see Dr. Michael Turney in the Communication Department. His office is 125 Landrum and his phone number is (859) 572-6394.