Grady College Intern Diaries – Kailyn Thomas
The following is part of a series of reflections from our Grady College students about their summer internships.
Name: Kailyn Thomas (Digital Broadcast Journalism major from Hiram, Georgia)
Company: The Bert Show, Q100
Location: Atlanta, GA
- What are some of the tasks you were assigned each day?
I arrived at the station before the hosts to prep for the show. I printed out and prepared the stories for the hourly Entertainment Buzz. I wrote articles for the show’s website. I indexed the show, which is basically transcribing what is said on air to have a record for future reference. I researched news headlines in the affiliate markets and wrote stories for the hosts to read on-air. I helped generate content for social media and the website. I also submitted my own ideas for on-air content.
- What about your internship was the most surprising to you (i.e. What did you least expect going into this experience)?
I was surprised at how laid back the atmosphere was in the studio. We were able to dress in jeans and just be ourselves. The hosts interacted with the interns just like they were a part of the show. It was like being in a room with a bunch of your closest friends.
- What is the most influential experience or important skill you learned that will stay with you when you join the work force?
Through this internship I learned a lot about the creative process that goes into creating a successful morning radio show. I learned how to pitch stories for on air content and learned how to determine what will be a hit and what won’t. I think it’s important in any job to be able to think about how a story or any idea that you have can be successful. It’s also important to be able to present your ideas to other people and make them believe that your idea is good too. These are all valuable experiences I’ve gotten through this internship that I will be able to take with me wherever I go.
- What part of your Grady education did you find most valuable during your internship?
Through my classes in Grady I’ve learned a lot about how to find and research stories. I’ve learned how to use my resources to get information even when it seems like that information is nowhere to be found. This has helped me write and research stories for my internship with ease. I’ve also been able to put my lessons in pitching stories to use. In Grady Newsource we had to come in everyday with a new story, know the basic information, why it would be a good story and how we were going to go about getting that story. This has made the pitching process much easier during my internship.
- What is one thing you wish you had known going into your internship?
I wish I would have known a little bit more about radio before I went into this position. My Grady classes taught me so much about TV and news broadcasting, but I hadn’t been exposed to much on the radio side of things. I felt somewhat out of place my first couple of days in the studio just because it was like nothing I’d ever seen before. There were some radio terms and phrases that I didn’t know, but I was able to catch on quickly and now I feel right at home in the studio.
- What advice would you give for future interns?
For any other intern at The Bert Show I would tell them not be intimidated and to be confident in themselves and what they have to offer. It can be intimidating to be in the studio with the hosts of a nationally syndicated radio show, but they really are the most down to earth people. They want your input, so don’t be afraid to speak up and get the most out of the intern experience.
Author: Katelyn Lewis, klewis@uga.edu