Testimonials From Loyola University Students

Anthe Mitrakos
Loyola University/Summer 2009 Intern
amitrako@yahoo.com
847-208-8531

September 21, 2009

To Whom it May Concern:

Are you looking for a GREAT opportunity to enhance your coffee/latte-fetching skills? If you answered "yes" then please refer to section (a) below; if you answered "no" then skip to section (b) below.

(a) ...You need not apply to this internship program, as there are plenty of coffee-fetching opportunities at your local coffee shop.

(b) Great. Are you skilled and/or passionate about journalism and local Chicago news? Are you looking to gain experience from some of the best in the media industry? And finally, are you the slightest bit adventurous? (This IS the special projects section and you MAY have to do some undercover reporting!)

If you answered "yes" to the above then I gladly suggest you consider Mark Saxenmeyer's Special Projects Reporting Internship at FOX Chicago News.

This experience gives YOU, the aspiring journalist, the chance to get a "Behind the Scenes Pass" to the news industry. You will get to see how news ends up on your television and the internet.

There's so much more to it than you may think. Experiencing this first-hand will not only make you smarter, but it will generate an appreciation for journalism and reporting.

Mark Saxenmeyer is looking for some serious applicants who are willing to take on real reporters' work...and though he will be getting all the on-camera attention, with a FOX Chicago internship on your resume, who knows? Your dreams of being an reporter or an anchor may some day come true!

I encourage you to apply to the FOX Chicago News Special Projects Internship.

Good Luck!

Anthe Mitrakos

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Chelsia Marcius
Summer 2009 Intern
Loyola University
cmarciu@luc.edu

October 6, 2009

Dear Prospective Intern,

Perhaps you're a student who reports for his or her college newspaper and wants to dip into another communication medium. Or maybe you've taken a few broadcast classes that shifted your interest from print to T.V. You might even be someone entirely outside the news industry yet want to break into the field.

Whatever your background or future aspirations, an internship with FOX Chicago's Mark Saxenmeyer (a national Emmy winner!) will prepare you for a career in television journalism.

You will research story topics, pre-interview potential subjects, pitch ideas and take tips, working daily with Mark and a team of interns.

He expects you to substantiate information, corroborate the facts and provide full story status updates. Dividing work among several interns from a long list of tasks, you will learn the importance of newsroom communication and accountability.

This is not a position where interns sit idly--making a few phone or typing-up the occasional press release. Knowing where the story stands, which subjects Mark has talked with, who to contact and what information is still missing, is all the responsibility of every FOX intern.

You are expected to be thorough and on top of your game. Timeliness, accuracy and persistence are non-negotiable in the news business and Mark will not accept any less than what you are capable of accomplishing.

The hard work will pay off. Mark invites interns to accompany him on shoots; it's a chance for you to meet subjects, observe his polished, skillful way of talking with people from different backgrounds and watch a story come together.

Mark might be tough, but he is by far the boss that every young journalist needs before launching their career. He is an energetic, charismatic, loving individual and you will be a better reporter--and a better person--for having worked with him.

You will reap the benefits if you put in the time, listen to the criticism and apply what you've learned. Mark truly wants his interns to succeed.

Sincerely,

Chelsia Marcius

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Trey Earle
Loyola 2010 Graduate
tearle@luc.edu
(210) 748-2663

August 21, 2009

To Whom It May Concern:

First of all it would be important to mention that this internship is not recommended for anyone who is lazy, or not driven, or hates working long hours. This internship is GREAT for anyone looking for real-world working experience in the same environment, and anyone looking to enhance their professional abilities.

Everyday, rain or shine, there would be new and different tasks that needed attending to. I never once did the same thing twice in two straight days interning. The everlasting source of work can be both daunting and welcoming depending upon how you look at it. You will always have something to do, even if you finish what you are doing, there will be something else to do.

I recommend taking the welcoming approach to all of this work. If you welcome the fact that you have all of this stuff to do, then try to complete it to the best of your ability (instead of running in fear or thinking you can't do it). The internship experience will

be that much more rewarding.

This internship requires you to be sufficient enough of a self-starter because things will not always be explained to you from A to Z. You will need to use your own intuitive abilities and creativeness to develop your own methods of researching, covering tips, etc.

There are many things I wish I had known going into this internship, so sharing them now will hopefully help others gain a better grasp on what is to be expected of you. For example, I wish I had more clearly asked, "What will I do? What is the work environment like? What role will I play? Is working at a television news station as exciting as I think it is going to be?"

First off, YES, working for a TV news station is as exciting as you think it'll be. You can go down to the airings of the broadcasts, see how stories are shot and edited together, and even participate in your own stand-up demos if you choose. It is a good place to see just how television produces it's product. You may not be on TV every night (like the reporters and anchors), but because you work here and stories you work on air on TV, you will feel a connection and a belonging.

No, you won't be getting coffee or making copies everyday (although this may happen occasionally). You are much more valued than that. The interns for Mark Saxenmeyer in FOX's special projects department do all of the researching for stories, handle tipsters with possible new story ideas, set up shoots, help come up with questions for interviewees, and many other "pre-production"-type tasks that are required on a daily basis.

Basically, your role is much more important than you probably think it will be. The environment is a great place to work in as well. The reporters, editors, technical people, anyone you could think of, they are all friendly and relaxed. You might be shocked or surprised at just how relaxed the environment is. Yes, people yell and curse occasionally (who doesn't) but everyone is nice and always helpful.

You may also be wondering, "what does typical day consist of?" An example of such a day might involve listening to the voice mails which almost always have tips to call back, or Mark delegating assignments to be completed. It's up to you to get things done as completely as you possibly can. Other possible tasks range from looking up directions, to logging tapes, to setting up interviews, to pre-interviewing people over the phone. I can promise you will never be bored.

I feel it is important to mention that me not being a journalism major, or not being sure if journalism is the route you want to take in life, was totally OK and more than welcomed. Personally, I am a criminal justice major who has always had a passion for writing, and who has always been interested in current events/news and the media. I decided to take a journalism-related internship because I wanted some real-world experience and thought that working here at FOX would be a good place to do this.

This is a great learning environment because you will always be faced with tasks or other things that you have never had to do before. Experience is the best teacher and experiencing my internship has taught me so much. I have learned, by listening to so many tipsters in difficult circumstances, that I do indeed want to help people who are less fortunate. This internship did not always give me the opportunity to do so because FOX can only cover so many stories, and can't possibly help everyone who calls. Often people call in with legal problems, or tell stories about their children being taken away, or explain who they were wrongfully convicted of crimes. Listening to these calls re-instilled in my mind that helping these people out is what I truly want to do with my life.

Yes, through my internship experiences here at FOX I learned what I really want to do with my life--which is one of the most elusive aspects of life itself. The internship gave me the opportunity to affirm my life. As dramatic as that sounds it's true. Reflecting on my experience now has provided me with this knowledge of what direction I want to go in with my life. Gaining this direction is invaluable and, again, it is thanks in part to my internship experience.

Now, after I just told you it is life-altering (in a good way) what reason would you have not to take it? Again though, I urge you only to consider the internship if you want real life experiences, if you're a hardworking/self-starter who doesn't actually mind putting in some work, and if you like a relaxed and yet "down to business" environment. I cannot stress enough how great of a life experience this internship is. You will learn more about yourself than you ever thought imaginable. I know I did.

Sincerely,

Trey Earle

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Kamil Zawadzki
Loyola University
Winter Intern 2009
kzawadz@luc.edu

June 15, 2009

Dear Prospective Intern,

If you are reading this you are probably considering an internship with

WFLD Fox News Chicago's Special Projects Reporter, Mark Saxenmeyer, and are wisely doing your research before submitting a resume and arranging an interview. Mark has won multiple awards for his work; he is determined and never shy to ask the hard questions and dig deep to get the information and craft thorough reports that give the viewers the whole story. By applying for this internship, you are making a decision and commitment to challenge yourself and learn things on a daily basis; these lessons will help you to hit the ground running as you begin your own career.

As one of Mark's assistants, you will not find yourself getting the coffee or making photocopies for your supervisor or anyone else who walks by the office. While you may find yourself spending a day making multiple phone calls or sending e-mails, none of these will be empty, useless tasks. Instead, you will be performing the tasks that any other full-time reporter on staff would be doing, including Mark himself. Any calls or e-mails you make will be in fact an opportunity for you to practice and hone your interviewing and communication skills, which are crucial in this career and life.

When you begin your internship, don't be afraid to speak up, offer input, or ask questions Mark might not have asked while you observed an interview; above all, Mark values and respects initiative and if you take ownership and responsibility during your internship, you will find it that much easier and more effective to do so once you begin your career. Observe and consider Mark's techniques while interviewing a source, editing a story package, and watch his reports when they either air or when they're posted online at myfoxchicago.com--see what you can take from them so that you can gain more perspective on your own style. Think about what you would do differently, and see what you might want to emulate for your own reporting, so that you can demonstrate your experience and value once you hit the job market.

An internship with Mark Saxenmeyer is demanding and challenging at times, but what you will learn from him will make it more than worthwhile. This is more than just another entry on your resume; it may well be an introduction into the rest of your career.

Sincerely,
Kamil Zawadzki
 

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Melissa Benson

mbenso1@luc.edu

847-528-0057

September 26, 2008

To Whom it May Concern:

This internship truly is an awesome learning experience if you make the most of it. Take advantage of going on shoots, or doing a standup when Mark lets you! The more you ask to do something, the better chance you will get to do it! If you do a great job for Mark, he will trust you with more responsibility. I really did learn a lot . Talk to everyone you can, and really make the most of your experience.

I came in not sure if reporting was what I wanted to do, but it really is a great place to learn and make up your mind. Don't get discouraged if you mess up one time, simply try again! The best advice I can give is to put all you can into this and you will gain a lot. Don't be afraid to push your expectations, and enjoy the experience! It really can do a lot for you!

Best of Luck!

Melissa

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Daniella Cataldo

Loyola University-Chicago

dcatal1@luc.edu

July 31, 2008

To Whom It May Concern:

I started my internship in the beginning of May 2008, and now my final days of this wonderful experience are soon approaching. Mark has taught me several things, but the one piece of information that stood out the most was that I need to ask more questions and research every story from different angles--because we must always think like a reporter. Being an intern for Mark is, in essence, more like being a "mini-reporter"; you research, find leads, create credible stories and, finally, hope that your reporting meets Mark's standards.

Mark has high expectations, which means that he expects nothing but the best from his interns. He is critical, analytical and very detail-orientated. He shows you that you must put your all into everything you're doing. Think of it this way: if he didn't expect you to do everything from logging, researching, pre-interviewing people, setting up interviews and overseeing editing takes place, he wouldn't be doing his job as a mentor and as a teacher. He is showing you that in order to make it in this business you must be diligent and up for a challenge.

The only piece of advice that I can give future interns is that you must take advantage of everything. Go see the morning or noon shows, talk to other people in the studio, or even sit with Mark and talk about how he's gotten all his Emmy awards! Be creative, think outside the box and research everything thoroughly. You'll have fun and you'll learn several skills that you'll keep with you throughout your career. I know I have.

Good luck,

Daniella Cataldo

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Julie

Crylen

Loyola University Chicago

Senior Journalism Student 2007

julz1508@gmail.com

November 29, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

At the beginning of my senior year, I began interning for Mark Saxenmeyer, the Special Projects reporter at FOX News Chicago. Mark has provided me with an amazing and unique hands-on opportunity, helping me to get a feel for what it's really like to work in a newsroom. I have learned more about broadcast journalism and gained more experience from this internship than I could have ever hoped. The knowledge I gained from working for Mark far exceeds what I would have learned in a classroom.

Mark is an incredibly talented reporter, and he certainly has enough Emmys to prove it. He is very intelligent, diligent, and charismatic. He works extremely hard and expects no less from his interns. However, the environment here at FOX is very comfortable and laid back. You do not feel like you are JUST an intern here. Everyone, especially Mark, makes you feel welcomed and appreciated, and Mark is always ready and willing to help you out if you have any questions. Mark also allows all of his interns to pick two different stories to work on throughout the course of the semester. The stories you pick are yours and yours alone. You do the research, make the phone calls, set up the interviews, create the outline, and log the tapes. It sounds like a lot of work (and it is), but I cannot say how rewarding it is when you finally see the story that you worked so hard on aired on the 9 PM news.

Mark is an amazing mentor and I am truly sad that in a couple of weeks I will have finished my internship here at FOX, but feel much more confident and better prepared for the future and life after college because of this opportunity. I highly, highly recommend this internship and strongly encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about broadcast journalism to apply.

Sincerely,

Julie Crylen

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Christy Brown

Loyola University Chicago

Senior Journalism Student

Expected May 2009

cbrow16@luc.edu

November 29, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

When I came to Fox News Chicago, I had a lot of goals that I wanted to attain. Being able to work with Mark Saxenmeyer helped me achieve all those goals, and more. I have always wanted to work in the journalism industry (especially broadcast), but I didn't know anything about the business. School can only teach so much, and then you need field experience, which is exactly what I have received since I began working with Mark.

Mark really lets his interns flourish, by giving them real life experience. When you begin the internship, he'll allow you to pick stories, and the entire time you work with Mark, your goal will be to work on those stories, and get them on the air. Sometimes you succeed, and sometimes you don't, but the entire process is one that you learn from. He takes you on shoots (my favorite part!). You go and actually talk to the people that are in the story, and watch Mark interview them. Then you begin putting the story in order which, Mark also lets you do. You answer phones, and talk to people with story ideas. You get to watch the news while the anchors are getting it on air, and you see all the key components that go into making the news work. You can always go into the newsroom, and talk to people about the business or just to chat (everyone's very friendly).

The only reason why anyone would ever leave working side by side with Mark, and not learn more than they could ever imagine is because they closed their eyes and ears. I cannot explain how much I know now that I didn't know when I came here, and how much the relationship I've built with Mark, other people working at Fox, and other interns has meant to me, and taught me. This internship will be one of the best decisions you've ever made when it comes to your career if journalism is the career you want to pursue. This business is competitive, but having a 23 time Emmy-award winner on my side, and teaching me is best thing I could have ever asked for.

Sincerely,

Christy Brown

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Jaime Sharer

Loyola University Chicago

Senior Journalism Student 2007

jsharer@luc.edu

November 29, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

Most students come to Chicago in hopes of landing a once in a life internship that can only be found in a big city. Mark Saxenmeyer, Special Projects reporter for Fox News Chicago, gives students that opportunity.

I started this once in a lifetime internship with Mark four months ago and I am sad to say that my time here is drawing to a close. Working with a 23-time Emmy award-winning reporter is more than just a resume booster, it is a priceless experience.

Mark has provided me with the opportunity to work hands-on in a news station. I have assisted him on interviews, watched live newscast productions, followed up on phone tips, and have even worked on two

of my very own stories. Mark allows each intern to select two different stories that will be their "babies" throughout their time as an intern. You become the "associate producer" and have full responsibility of the story up until it is to be aired. Your duties as "associate producer" include, but are not limited to: researching facts, finding people to interview, scheduling shoots, field producing, logging tapes, and outlining the story so Mark can write it. Watching your finished story air on the nine o'clock news is a truly rewarding experience.

Mark is a brilliant and accomplished reporter. Working with him has taught me more about this business than I thought possible. He expects great things from his interns and with his guidance, it is hard to achieve anything less. He may be determined, but his sense of humor allows for a unique bond between intern and mentor. He treats interns with respect and cares about our future in the business. I will graduate this May and feel confident that I will land a job based on the skills I have learned at Fox News Chicago.

If you are interested in broadcast journalism and want to learn more about the business, apply for this internship. Your skills as a reporter, researcher, and all around journalist will flourish. At the end of your time here at Fox, you will end up feeling like I do, not quite ready to say good-bye.

Sincerely,

Jaime Sharer

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Christina Koustenis

Loyola University Chicago

Senior Communication Student 2007

ckouste@luc.edu

September 7, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

If you are seeking an internship where you fill coffee cups, copier cartridges, and your head with mindless activities five hours a day, this is NOT the position for you.

However, if you are a self motivated, intelligent, willing, dedicated, and enthusiastic go getter, interning for Mark Saxenmeyer at Fox News Chicago will be by far one of the most memorable experiences you have throughout college.

It is difficult to sum up in one single page how much journalistic practice you will receive from not only observing a 20 time Emmy winning reporter such as Mark, yet having the opportunity to work on your own individual projects and encounter every aspect of the broadcasting process. In only three short months of working for Mark I was able to research three stories which aired and assist with countless others. Fellow interns and I accompanied Mark on over a dozen shoots, sat in on the editing process, watched productions of the nightly news, pitched ideas to executives, followed up on phone tips, trained with broadcasting software systems, set up interviews, learned our way around the stations archives, and even investigated leads on criminal cases.

How a student is allowed such independence seems baffling until you meet Mark and understand his persona. The fact is he trusts his interns to pursue their own projects and follow through successfully. Of course anytime along the way, he willingly offers guidance and assistance whenever one hits a dead end or road block. I would say 50% of my learning came from developing my own work style among the station environment and the other 50% came from simply studying Mark while he worked. It does not require keen observation to recognize how Mark cemented a highly coveted position in a market three station. It is quite obvious through his dedication, wit, determination, conversational skills, and earnest understanding of the human condition that he has much to teach any eager student. His copious accolades are a statement to his work ethic and the invaluable impression he has made on the industry as a whole. I cannot imagine learning under anyone more influential than him.

The stories Mark entrusts each student to will certainly make you laugh, touch your heart, and help uncover something inside of yourself you did not know prior to the piece. Each person I watched Mark interview was polite and candid about their experience. And while listening to each individuals story, it made me think about my own beliefs and standing in life. A few of my favorites were Andrew Alexander, the executive producer of Second City, Rusty Gorman, a Chicago director, and Charlotte Rappely, a very brave woman who lost her police officer husband to suicide. The news covers a wide spectrum of events and working in the special projects department, you get to witness them all.

Before starting the program, I was nervous and uncertain that a career in broadcasting was for me. After only several months of working under Marks direction and participating among the exciting activities at Fox, I am now pursuing a position in the field. If you are at all interested or curious in how the broadcasting industry works, training with Mark is the best prospect you could possibly allow yourself. It is a choice you will certainly not regret. I wish you all the best!

Sincerely,

Christina Koustenis

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Zach

Waickman

Loyola University Chicago

Senior Communication Student 2007

August 21, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Zach Waickman. I am a senior communication student at Loyola University Chicago and I am writing this letter to inform you about an exceptional internship opportunity with Mark Saxenmeyer, Special Projects reporter for Fox News Chicago.

Going into the summer between my junior and senior year of college I sought an internship that would help me to decide a career path. At the time I thought that this would require an entire summer of filing, coffee fetching, and answering phones. Interning with Mark at Fox turned out to be quite different. It was a formal introduction to the real world of broadcast journalism. Instead of taking coffee orders I worked side-by-side with Mark to produce an array of news and feature stories for the nightly newscast.

Working with Mark is the kind of educational experience that should be required for any college student hoping to break into broadcast journalism after school. Each day brings a new challenge and a new lesson to be learned. When interning for Mark I truly became part of the Special Projects Team. I was given the opportunity to research my own stories, conduct preliminary phone interviews, accompany Mark on various story shoots, and watch stories that I worked on actually air on the news. These great opportunities are offset by some mundane tasks, such as logging interview tapes, but those too add to a clear overall image of what it is like to be a reporter.

A highlight of my internship was being able to accompany Mark on interviews and learn how to conduct a successful, easy-going interview. Mark is the best interviewer I have ever met and it was a once in a lifetime gift to be able to watch and learn from a seasoned veteran (and multi-Emmy award winning) reporter. I have seen a marked improvement in my own interviewing skills and communication abilities since beginning my internship with Mark. Other highlights of my internship include researching wacky story ideas that come in on our viewer hotline; helping with Fox's two-hour live Fourth of July show from Grant Park; and eating a lunch at one of Chicago's premier restaurants, Charlie Trotter's, while helping Mark for a feature he did on "Expensive Chicago".

I have learned an immense amount while interning with Mark. I feel that I have a significant step-up on other aspiring journalists because of my experience with Mark at Fox News. This internship allows you to work on a story from its initial conception straight up through the editing process. There is no other internship that is as comprehensive as that offered by Mark Saxenmeyer at Fox News. I feel that I am far better prepared for the real world than I was after taking broadcasting classes at Loyola.

I hope you will take this all into consideration as the new school year begins. Students will gain priceless knowledge and experience in the field. Additionally, they will be able to observe one of the industries best journalists in action, and learn from his weathered approach toward creating outstanding news pieces.

Sincerely,

Zach Waickman

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Sammie Sleevi

Loyola Journalism Senior 2007

ssleevi@luc.edu

November 29, 2006

To Whom it May Concern:

This is a letter/essay about my experience at my internship. If you could pass the information on to any and all students who you think might be good for the job, that would be great.

I thought I would have to make coffee and deliver mail. I foresaw getting walked all over and criticized at least once or twice a day. I worried about a lot of things before I walked into Mark's office that first day...but none of them ever happened. This internship is a head-first dive into the real world of research, networking, interviews, and reporting. Opportunities for great experiences don't arise that often for 20-something college kids, but at Fox every day opens a new door.

The first few days will be stressful; if you're anything like me you might have thought you had a pretty good handle on how broadcast production works. You may even have thought that your classes in college were giving you an accurate idea of what it meant to be a reporter and all the work it entailed. But you'd be wrong, just like I was. TV production, especially for a major network like FOX with a renowned reporter like Mark, is nothing like you think. The only way to discover just what goes on at a TV station and if it's right for you is to get in there and do it. That's the difference between interning for Mark and interning at other stations: here, you get in there and do it. You research stories, you make calls to secure interviews, you help set things up for great shoots, and sometimes you get your face on the news for a second or two if they need people to help provide visual assistance to stories. You become so immersed in the stories you're doing you lose all

track of time. It's a helluva lot of work for a college kid with a full schedule sometimes; but there's something incredibly fulfilling about seeing a story progress from beginning to end, and knowing that you helped make that possible.

But this internship isn't all sleepless nights and grueling phone calls to strangers; it's also a really good time. I can safely say I've had some of the funniest and most memorable moments of my young life while interning here. Mark's not only a great reporter, he's also a great guy. He's extremely funny and viciously sarcastic, and I loved every minute of it. His approach to reporting isn't all about "getting the story" and "breaking the news", it's also about connecting with people and serving the public. Just observing him would be a great internship, let alone working alongside him.

To make it plain and simple, anybody who wants to go into TV reporting wants this internship. Nowhere else will you get the total immersion or the direct experience you'll get here. There is nothing like it, and I know if you look into it you'll love it as much as I did.

Sincerely,

Sammie Sleevi

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Jessica Klupchak

Loyola University Communication Senior '07

jklupch@luc.edu

April 30, 2007

To Whom is May Concern:

My name is Jessica Klupchak, a senior at Loyola University Chicago, and I am writing this letter to inform you about an exceptional internship that I experienced this past semester at FOX News Chicago with Mark Saxenmeyer. This is an internship that you should recommend to any student who is pursuing a career in the field of Journalism, Broadcast News, or Communication.

Working at FOX News with Mark does not comprise a day of retrieving coffee, stuffing envelopes, and sitting at a desk answering the phone. This internship is active and constantly hands-on. IN addition, it is a position that gives the interns an immense amount of autonomy and encourages input from the interns. Before starting my internship at FOX News, I questioned how I would do, and if I would and if I would find it a valuable experience. I view myself as an expressive, interpersonal individual, and was not sure if I would be able to employ these qualities or if I would just be a non-existent, voiceless intern behind a computer screen. This experience at FOX with Mark proved quite the opposite.

Although this can be a time consuming, stressful internship, it prepares students for the real world work environment. Interns have many responsibilities in which the final objective is to meet the deadline. On the first day as an intern, I was given two stories for which I would be responsible to research. Being internet savvy is crucial to be successful and helpful in this internship. In addition to researching these stories, I had to find prospective interviewees and conduct pre-interviews with them over the phone. If they were willing to talk with Mark in front of the camera, I would schedule an interview date. The best part of the internship was going on the shoots with Mark, as he offers to take the interns on shoots at every opportunity. Logging is a common task that interns must do, and although it may not be the most enjoyable task in this position, it definitely improved my typing skills and gave me more opportunities to watch how Mark constructed his interviews.

This internship has been the most memorable, beneficial experience of my college career. Not only did I get the opportunity to work with an Emmy-winning reporter, but I received a full grasp of what life is like within a news station. Interns are immersed in an environment in which they receive direct, hands-on experience, and I highly recommend this internship.

Sincerely,

Jessica Klupchak

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Melissa Suran

Loyola University Journalism Junior '08

msuran@luc.edu

May 24, 2007

To Whom it May Concern:

Being a journalism major at Loyola University, as well as a "professional intern", my primary goal (other than making it to graduation day) is to have as many educating internship experiences as I can before my undergraduate career comes to an end. In pursuit of this quest, I have have worked with The Chicago Tribune (newspaper), Chicago Tonight (PBS television), WLUW-FM (community radio) and WVON-AM (talk radio programming). However, my four-month internship with Mark Saxenmeyer and WFLD-TV FOX News Chicago taught me important lessons not just about journalism, but about myself. The reason I chose to intern at FOX in the first place was because Mark promised that none of his interns would be doing any so-called busy work. And he kept his promise.

Working for Mark, you're not just an intern; you're a producer. My first day on the job, I was given a stack of folders with different tag lines. I was asked to select two folders from the pile whose tag lines interested me the most. Those two folders contained the foundations