Internships at WFLD/WPWR - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

WFLD and WPWR each offer an academic credit internship program for college/university juniors, seniors and graduate students.

Internships are available in the following departments:

News Department:

• Good Day Chicago
• FOX Chicago News at Noon
• FOX Chicago News at 9 p.m.
• Sports
• Web/Interactive/Social Media
• Weather
• Special Projects

Promotion

Research/Programming

Sales

Human Resources

Community Affairs

IT

Engineering

NEWS DEPARTMENT: Under the supervision of the Assignment Editors, all news student interns will gain hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of a fast-paced news environment. Overall, an internship with the News Department will involve assisting the news staff with compiling packets of information, answering phones and other duties that will be useful in the news gathering process.  This internship may include some field experience with News Reporters to cover developing stories.  Student interns are expected to assist producer with researching, and preparing news packets for News Anchors and scanning wires. Also, student interns will assist Assignment Desk Editors and News Producers with phone calls to assist in the development of stories, as well as filing press releases, sorting scripts and writing practice scripts as needed.  This internship requires learning the news computer system.

SPORTS DEPARTMENT: Under the supervision of the Sports Producers, the student intern(s) will gain hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of the Sports Department.  Student intern(s) will be exposed to how the Sports Department covers stories; and edit and air sports for the Ten O'clock News. Student intern(s) will assist in all facets of production. Duties include but are not limited to: checking wire reports, logging feeds and games, preparing initial scripts, working with editors to produce high-lights, and retrieving and achieving videotapes.  This internship may include some field experience to cover sports events with a camera crew and Sportscaster. Student intern(s) must be self-starters, organized, and able to work evening and weekends hours.

WEATHER:  Under the supervision of the Weather Producers, Meteorologists, and Weather Anchors, weather interns will learn to operate WSI weather graphics system and be capable of creating a ready-for-broadcast weather show by the end of the internship.  Interns will learn the Baron Fastrac and Viper Radar systems in addition to live Doppler Radar and be capable of assisting the on-air Meteorologists in tracking and analyzing severe storms.  Interns will also learn the Skyalert crawl system for weather alerts and will assist the on-air Meteorologists with preparing crawls (with strict supervision) for broadcast.  Interns will study meteorological model data and create local forecast for comparison with the on-air Meteorologists forecast.  As time permits, interns will practice delivering a weathercast at the Chromakey Wall and in the WeatherCenter.

NEWS LIBRARY: Student intern will provide support to the librarian while assisting with file tapes request, cataloging tapes, searching databases and assisting with the general operation of the library. Will Interact with news talent and handle their requests. Student intern should have a desire to work in a news library and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment.

PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT: Student interns will be responsible for time coding tapes, monitoring and coding squeezebacks, screening promos for content and choosing video and music for specific promotions. Student interns will be required to perform basic administrative assistance duties, including logging tapes for producers. They will have the opportunity to write scripts, participate in daily editing sessions and go out into the field on various promo shoots, offering the student a birds-eye view of on-air promotions.

RESEARCH/PROGRAMMING DEPARTMENT: Under the supervision of the Research Director, the student intern(s) will assist with the daily operations of the Research Department. The student intern(s) will assist with the ratings analysis of television shows, distribute the ratings to various departments, and write some copy for sales presentations. The student intern(s) may be exposed to programming meetings, and provide administrative support as needed. Will learn the various research tools Nielsen, Scarborough, and BAR reports.

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT: Under the supervision of the Human Resources Manager, the student intern will receive practical application experience and exposure to fundamental human resources generalist functions including applicant tracking, applicant screening and interviewing, referencing, and employee in-processing and out-processing.  Administrative/clerical duties may include word-processing, assisting with the phone (e.g. answering, screening, referring, and making calls), handling incoming and outgoing mail, and maintaining jobline, job postings, mailing lists, and various administrative/clerical assignments.  Student intern must be customer service oriented, highly confidential, and possess good verbal, written, organizational, and multi-tasking skills, and high level of attention to details.

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS: Note: This internship is combined with the Sales Department Internship to create one full internship. Under the supervision of the Community Affairs Manager the student intern(s) will participate in every aspect of the Community Affairs office.  The student intern(s) will handle inquiries from the public, and will be involved in some production work. The student intern(s) will provide administrative support for community affairs campaigns, log incoming PSA tapes, write/change orders for Master Control, update mailing lists of community organizations and compile FCC Quarterly Issues Reports. This internship will also include pre-production work to develop WTTG'S Community Events Calendar, write scripts for the calendar, as well as conduct control room production sessions for Public Service Announcements. Student intern(s) will recommend music for graphics, screen, and critique and recommend incoming videotapes for airing. Student intern(s) will be exposed to the practices and procedures of public relations in broadcasting.  Will assist with gathering information from news talent for press releases. Student intern(s) should be a self-starter, detailed-oriented, and have good phone skills.

SALES:  Note: This internship is combined with the Community Affairs Department Internship to create one full internship. The Sales Department is responsible for generating revenue via negotiations with commercial advertisers. Student intern(s) will provide administrative support to account executives and sales coordinators. Internship activities may include typing, faxing, filling, copying, etc.  There will also be telephone interaction with clients and advertising agencies.  There may be opportunities for the student intern(s) to spend time in the Traffic and Research departments as well.  Student intern(s) must have a desire to work in Sales and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment.

IT:  Under the supervision of the IT Manager, student interns will gain hands on IT experience helping provide basic level support to administrative and News staff on hardware/software, printers, client network connectivity problems and other interface peripherals; Student intern(s) will perform hardware/software testing and installation using Norton Ghost and assist with asset management. Student intern(s) should have good communication, client interface skills, and patient manner in dealing with user questions and problems required. Student intern should also possess good technical, multi-tasking, and problem solving skills, along with superior oral and written communication skills and the ability to effectively use web applications and MS Office products.

ENGINEERING: Candidate will work directly with the WFLD/WPWR Engineering Department Vice President, Director of Engineering, and Engineering Manager. Duties include many of the same tasks performed by the engineering department management. Responsibilities include helping develop and implement systems to ensure fault tolerant and error free operation of broadcast equipment/systems. Participate in the design, construction, installation, and maintenance of broadcast facilities. Help establish and maintain internal technical standards, which ensure Station(s) compliance with FCC, OSHA, EPA, and Local regulations. Assist with training others in the operation and maintenance of equipment. Research and procure systems, equipment, and components for engineering projects. Document systems and procedures. Perform all other duties as assigned. Requirements are candidate must be in an electrical, electronics, or computer engineering four-year program or advanced technical two-year program. Audio, video, RF, computer, and/or computer network knowledge/skills are a plus. Good follow-through and interpersonal skills are required. Light sitting, standing, bending, walking, stair climbing, driving, traveling, attending meetings, and lifting a maximum of 50 lbs. are also required.

Application Dates

• Spring - February
• Summer - April
  
• Fall - August
  
• Winter - October

For consideration, please email: WFLD-HR@foxtv.com. Web site: www.myfoxchicago.com NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. EOE/M/F/D/V

WFLD & WPWR offers an academic credit internship program for college juniors, seniors and graduate students. Applicants must be receiving academic credit for internship hours. For consideration please email a copy of your resume along with our internship application to:

WFLD-HR@FOXTV.COM