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Public Media for Central Pennsylvania

Internship Opportunities

WPSU Penn State offers student internships year-round in various departments within the organization. We currently are seeking interns in the following positions:

Television Production

Digital Production Internship

Availability: Fall 2023

WPSU is a public media station serving over 1.9 million households in Central Pennsylvania. Interns will work closely with producers, videographers, and editors to assist in creating content for WPSU-TV, WPSU Digital Studios, and Penn State clients. Interns will work on studio and field productions. Duties will include assisting with shoots and edits, research, transcribing, logging footage, creating their own stories and pieces, and other support of WPSU projects. Interns will experience all aspects of the production process including project development, planning, pre-production, production, and post-production. Interns will leave with a better understanding of what it means to be a professional content creator. This internship is for up to 90 hours for the fall semester at $13.00 per hour.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

 

Apply online »

Radio Production

Paid Radio News Internship

Available: Spring, Summer, Fall

WPSU-FM, central and northern Pennsylvania’s NPR station, is hiring radio news interns to work closely with the WPSU reporting team to create local news stories. Interns’ stories will go both on-air and across the station’s digital platforms. Interns will come up with story ideas, research news topics, set up and conduct interviews, write scripts, produce air-ready final products and create web versions of their stories. They will receive guidance and editing throughout the semester to improve their reporting, writing and voicing.

Our interns have won awards for their work with WPSU, and recent graduates of our internship program include a TV reporter/anchor in Providence, RI, a podcast producer for HuffPost in New York City and a politics reporter for FoxNews.com in Washington D.C.

We’re looking for an intern who has some reporting experience, understands the basics of journalism, has strong writing skills and takes initiative. Familiarity with the NPR style of news reporting and Adobe Audition are helpful, but not necessary.

Interns will work for 8 hours/week for 14 weeks at a pay rate of $13/hour.

Please submit a cover letter and resume, and two to three reporting samples (audio/video samples are preferred, if you have them).

Apply online »

Project Development

Project Development Manager

WPSU Penn State is seeking a project development manager to conceptualize, develop and ensure the high-quality delivery of public media and engagement projects that: incorporate innovative media production (i.e., television, radio, digital, multi-media); have externally-funded budgets of $10,000 to $2 million; foster public awareness of important Penn State programs and social issues; gain significant reach locally, regionally and/or nationally; involve academic and Outreach units; and engage multiple external partners. The position is responsible for identifying, planning, funding, delivering, and assessing public media and engagement projects that benefit the missions of WPSU Penn State, Outreach, and the University. The role involves collaboration with various WPSU teams, including radio, production, education, multimedia, finance, and development. Additionally, it entails working closely with the Office of Foundation Relations, the Office of Sponsored Programs, Outreach Finance, and OOE Contracts & Compliance. This role provides strategic direction, leadership, and management for the project development function. This role also ensures project compliance with the policies of Federal, state, foundation, and corporate funders, as well as with University policies.

Education and Experience:

Critical skills include cross-functional team building, problem-solving, creative thinking, project design, budgeting, prospect identification, grant strategy, proposal writing, solicitation, project oversight, and post-award reporting. Qualified candidates will demonstrate leadership, the ability to include diverse voices, an appreciation for public media, proficiency in problem-solving, and strong writing skills, including persuasive writing or grant writing capabilities.

A Master’s degree or higher and  5+ years of related experience (or an equivalent combination) is required.

Additional Information: This is a term appointment funded for one year from date of hire with good possibility possibility of re-funding.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society and nature, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

Apply online »

Zimmerman Sales Internship

Spring 2023

Are you interested in a career in sales? WPSU Penn State offers a unique opportunity to advance the career development of an aspiring sales professional through a paid internship. The Zimmerman Internship at WPSU-FM allows you to learn about media sales by working with our director of business support, who raises annual funds from local businesses for WPSU. In addition, you will gain insight into the field of fundraising by working with other University Development staff at WPSU on annual giving, major giving activities, and events at the station. The Zimmerman Intern also has the opportunity to interact with staff in other areas of station operations and experience the breadth of work involved in running a public radio station. Strong priority for the Zimmerman Internship is given to students active with student radio station WKPS, The Lion 90.7FM. This position is 8 hours/week for 14 weeks at $13.00/hour.

Please submit a resume and cover letter with your application.

Apply online »