For Office Use: Approved date:___________ Approved by:_____________ Student Name: ____________________________________________________________ Today's Date:_____________________________________________________________ Name of Internship Employer:

________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________ Telephone________________________________________________________________ Email____________________________________________________________________ Start/End dates of Internship: ________________________________________________ Number of Hours of Work/Week: ______________________________________________

Sample Internship Proposal

Background [Please note those significant and substantial experiences and educational opportunities you have had in the past or are currently engaged in that relate to your Communication major and your pursuit of a career in a communication related field], for example: My background in communication-related fields is derived mainly from my extra-curricular activities and coursework. I have had coursework in [please list applicable coursework] small group communication, persuasion, studies of public discourse, and basic introductory courses in communication. My hands-on experience [please note applicable experiences in employment, extracurricular, and volunteer activities] lies primarily in the area of broadcasting. In the spring and summer semester of this year, I was employed at WPGU FM 107 as a copywriter and commercial voice talent. I worked mainly as a member of the production staff with some airtime training. My journalistic experience emanates from high school where I wrote policy setting editorials for the school newspaper. I also was a member of the yearbook staff and my duties included copywriting, layout development and other production and photography work. In addition, during high school I acquired stage and public speaking experience through involvement in the speech and theatre department and as an award winning member of the Forensics League. I currently write short articles for the Krannert Center Student Association monthly newsletter, The Callboard. This past exposure to both broadcasting and journalism has prompted my serious interest in broadcast television news, with a particular interest in the area of production. Educational Objectives The internship experience I propose [please note what specific responsibilities in the internship you will be involved in. Also, why and how this particular internship will assist you in your career goals] involves working at the WCIA television station. This semester long program will, in general, provide me with practical experience and knowledge in the field of broadcast television news. It will also aid me in my career development and planning. In addition, it will enhance my opportunities for entrance into and advancement in this field. More specifically, it will help accomplish the following educational goals: 1. Increase my knowledge of a television newsroom producers job in regard to responsibilities to the community, industry, co-workers and management. 2. Develop interviewing skills so that I may prepare myself for job searching in the future. 3. Learn to produce an entire newscast, accounting for every aspect of production involved. 4. Learn what each of the following jobs entails: director, producer, writer, cameraman, reporter, minicam operator, etc. and to find out its specific contributions to the broadcast. 5. Understand and perhaps operate basic television production equipment 6. Learn to use terminology used in newsroom communication 7. Apply my educational background in speech communication in a practical business setting 8. Learn the function of other department within the station (i.e., sales, research, advertising and promotion)

Internship Activity [Please note the specific job requirements; job description] I will intern approximately [insert number of hours/week] 10-15 hours per week in the newsroom of WCIA television station. My activities to accomplish the above goals are as follows: 1. Gathering information for stories used in broadcasting including research, reporting and possibly re-writing stories from other sources; 2. Gaining insight into all facets of broadcast television news; 3. Operating various production equipment; 4. Doing other duties as assigned to me by the producer; 5. Writing news copy; and 6. Interviewing newsroom personnel. I will be responsible to [insert supervisors name and contact information] who will be my internship coordinator at WCIA television, and to Dr. [insert Communication faculty member's name] who will be my faculty sponsor at the University of Illinois, Department of Communication; and, who will oversee my academic assignments and provide a grade at the end of the term. If this internship proposal is approved, the specific assignments and the amount of academic credit in CMN 304 will be determined in consultation with my faculty sponsor. [Note: Specifics to be determined in consultation with faculty, examples are: a weekly journal of work activities and observations as they relate to theory; a formal paper (8-10 pages) which integrates experience, applied theory, and perceptions of the job; a portfolio of work/product samples; an interview protocol and data from interviews conducted with organization personnel to obtain information about their jobs and background; a publishable abstract as a result of reading a business book on a related topic] As a requirement of the Internship experience I will also submit at the end of the semester: The Intern Evaluation form provided by my faculty sponsor and/or the Internship Office and completed by my on-the-job supervisor. I will review the evaluation with my supervisor and then turn it in to my faculty sponsor with my other assignments. The Employer Evaluation form to be completed by me on the company/organization with which I have worked as an intern. I will submit this form to the Internship Office.

If I have any questions, concerns or need assistance I will be able to contact the: Internship Office at: 127A Communication, 1207 West Oregon Street, Urbana, Illinois, 61801; comm-internships@illinois.edu; 217-333-4383. Or, my Faculty Sponsor [insert name and email address].