Public Media Network Internship Program

Program Goal

To provide valuable hands-on experience and workforce skill training that prepares

individuals for careers in media and nonprofit organizations.

Program Overview

Breaking into the competitive world of television and media often requires experience, but

how do you gain that experience? Public Media Network (PMN) offers a unique internship

program that gives you the opportunity to learn on the job while working with industry

professionals to create programming for the greater Kalamazoo community. This program

is designed to offer aspiring storytellers who are either currently attending a local college

or university (or recent graduates) the chance to gain access to professional

media training and production resources

Program Overview & Objectives

Interns will be choosing from three focus areas: Production, Editor, or Talent. Regardless of

focus, all interns will gain essential media production skills, including camera operation,

editing, lighting, and audio.

Internship Focus Areas

Production

Interns focusing on production will work behind the scenes to shoot, direct, and manage

live and recorded studio or field-based productions. You will gain hands-on experience

with camera operation, lighting setups, and technical directing to bring creative ideas to

life.

Editor

As an editor intern, you’ll dive into post-production work, cutting and shaping footage to

create compelling stories. You’ll learn industry-standard editing software, sound design,

and how to assemble various elements to produce a polished final product.

Talent

This focus is for those looking to pursue a career on camera. Interns will have the chance

to perform on-air duties, deliver news stories, conduct interviews, and develop skills for a

professional on-camera presence. You’ll also learn how to write scripts and engage an

audience effectively.

Program Requirements

• Commitment: Interns must commit to a minimum of 12-15 weeks (roughly 4

months) and work a minimum of 15 hours per week.

• Shift Requirements: Interns must be available for two daytime shifts (4 hours each)

and one evening shift Tuesday–Saturdays.

• Training Sessions: First-term interns must be available on Wednesday evenings for

training.

Training & Development

Interns will be trained by PMN staff to produce programs that will be aired to the greater

Kalamazoo area. Training includes:

• Camera Operation

• Post-Production Basics

• Technical Directing

• Pre-production Planning

• Digital Storytelling

• Specialized training based on internship focus (Production, Editor, or Talent)

Instruction will be provided through a combination of group workshops, one-on-one

guidance, and hands-on training during live productions.

Future Internships / Fellowships

After successfully completing at least two semesters of the internship program, selected

interns may be offered opportunities for advanced roles.

Internship Capacity & Continuation

• Number of Internships: The number of available internships may vary depending

on ongoing internship participation and PMN’s capacity.

• Internship Continuation: Participation in the internship program beyond your first

term is by invitation only. Successful completion of initial requirements and

demonstrated growth in relevant skills may lead to continued involvement in the

program.