Intern Views: Ana Escamilla

This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience.  

Ana Escamilla is a rising fourth-year journalism major with a minor in sports management and certificates in sports media and news literacy. She currently works for ESPN as a programming intern in Bristol, Connecticut. Read more about her internship experience below.

Provide a brief overview of your role and its associated responsibilities.
As a programming intern, I support the broader Programming Department by contributing to ESPN’s content scheduling strategy across platforms. I bring forward innovative ideas to help drive business growth, especially in preparation of the launch of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service in Fall 2025.

What opportunities did you have during your internship?
I learned weekly tasks including updating the ESPN bottom line–a ticker that appears in the lower-right corner across programming–to promote events streamed or simulcasted on ESPN+ and drive viewership. Learned about media measurement tools used to track TV ratings, attended the PGA Tour Travelers Championship, served as an Intern Representative for Disney on behalf of ESPN and supported preparations for the launch of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer platform.

What is one piece of work you are proud of creating in this role?
One piece of work I’m proud of is compiling the weekly list of ESPN+ events to be featured and advertised on the ESPN bottom line, helping drive daily awareness and viewership across platforms.

How has the Grady curriculum prepared you for this internship?
The Grady College curriculum along with the Sports Media and News Literacy certificate programs have given me a strong understanding of the many roles and moving parts involved in producing what audiences ultimately see on their TV. Through experiential learning opportunities, I’ve had the opportunity to step into several of those roles, which has helped me become proactive, adaptable and a team player. These skills have been essential to making the most of my internship at ESPN.

Did you receive any mentorship or guidance? How did it impact your experience?
I was fortunate to be mentored by Abby McKinzie, associate manager of digital media programming, throughout my summer at ESPN, which provided invaluable guidance and support. I’m especially proud that several full time staff members also took me under their wing, inviting me to contribute to ideas, attend events and be part of team celebrations.

What challenges have you overcome in this role?
One challenge I overcame was learning to navigate and adapt to the various internal platforms ESPN uses to store and manage information. Gaining proficiency in these systems allowed me to contribute more efficiently and confidently to my daily work.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you gained from your experience?
The most valuable piece of advice I received throughout my time at ESPN was to have grace for yourself and also to stay true to yourself. I continued to grow my love for working with others and was able to lean in and be a sponge, taking in everyone’s input created an open environment where you could truly see everyone’s ideas come to life. That was super special to see and be a part of.

How has this internship influenced your future career?
For me, I have always kept my passion for sharing athletes’ stories at the forefront of who I am and I am happy that this experience made me want to learn more about every single department that touches the making of those athletes’ stories. It is a privilege to share people’s stories and I hope in my future career I will be fortunate enough to continue to prioritize that.

Editor: Lily Alarcon, lia52467@uga.edu