I spent my summer as an intern at WECT news. I learned about all aspects of News Broadcasting, from reporting to the production side of things. I was able to shadow WECT reporters and help them in preparing newsworthy stories for TV. During this internship, I was able pitch story ideas, research news topics, conduct interviews, write scripts, edit videos, create graphics, learn about camera operation and much more, all with the guidance of industry professionals. Every day seemed to be something new and exciting at WECT. I was able to meet celebrities like Orlando Jones (Sleepy Hollow), interview remarkable individuals like Alice Walker (Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Color Purple), and simply connect with everyday people who were willing to share their opinions on various news topics. This internship provided me the opportunity to get hand-on experience with broadcasting industry pros, not to mention the incomparable fun I had as an intern. The lessons I learned and the connections I made will truly last me a lifetime. This experience broadened my scope of opportunities and helped me to discover a new passion.
I had been volunteering for NHCS-TV when I heard that WECT had an internship program. After further researching, I became interested in their program and decided to contact them with a resume. They invited me for an interview and accepted me as an intern. The Isaac Bear/UNCW Liaison recommended I look into the UNCW’s Certified Internship Program, which ultimately turned into the best opportunity for me. This program was the deciding factor for me joining WECT over the summer as an intern and I couldn’t have made a better decision than to follow through with this opportunity. I hoped to gain experience and learn more about the field of news broadcasting; I was particularly eager to learn about live news.
I gained a variety of hands-on experience in both the production and reporting aspects of news. One thing I had trouble with at the beginning of my internship was overcoming my shyness. I lacked the confidence needed to unlock my true potential. Luckily, the WECT staff was very supportive and they were always open to anyone’s input. This environment made it very easy for me to grow and expand my potential. Eventually I was able to overcome my shyness and begin contributing to the WECT team. I would try to come up with at least one story idea each day and pitch my favorites at their daily morning meetings. This helped me to develop my communication skills and boost my confidence while I was an intern. I learned that news itself is a form of communication and it is therefore open to interpretation. There is a creative process involved in reporting news to viewers at home. To be successful in broadcasting, you need to be a good communicator. In a sense reporters are storytellers; they try to be as conversational as possible while reporting. This experience certainly shaped my character and this job opportunity is leading me on a path that I would have never otherwise foreseen.
This internship lead to a job immediately and has caused me to consider broadcast journalism as a field of study in college. I was hired as a part-time employee at WECT and currently work as a News/Content Specialist. I am a floor director for their morning shows and create graphics as well as editing videos. I find joy in working at WECT and I believe if you find a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life. This is the reason I choose to pursue broadcasting. This opportunity went above and beyond my expectations and I could not be happier with the outcome of summer internship.
