Job & Internship

April 2008 Internship Spotlight

Name: Ashley Sornsen
Major: Jl MC
Emphasis: Electronic Media
Company: KCRG-TV9 News Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Duties: My internship was with KCRG TV9 news. I was the reporter, photographer, editor and producer. I was a one-man band. Coming to work was always exciting because I never knew what was in store for that day. Usually, I would take a camera out into the community to cover a story. I met a lot of people throughout Eastern Iowa including some celebrities.

I was especially lucky to be an intern this fall because of the Presidential Race. I interviewed Chris Dodd on the picket line at Cargill. I listened to Rudy Guliani speak at the University of Iowa. I had a one on one interview with John Edwards, who is a lot shorter in person and has impeccable hair. I was able to interview James Denton, star of ABC’s Desperate Housewives, while he was in Cedar Rapids endorsing John Edwards. I also interviewed Ben and Jerry, from Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, and Congressman Bruce Braley in his home.

I learned so much through colleagues and their willingness to help an intern. From the moment I picked up the big Beta camera, I was learning how to be a better reporter, photographer, editor and producer. The difference between my first story and last story is almost comical because of how much I improved. I really enjoyed my internship because it was real, hands-on experience. I can’t describe the feeling of watching my first story that I shot, wrote and edited make air.

Most Memorable Experience: I think that the most memorable experience was when I had the opportunity to sit in on a double murder trial in Cedar Rapids. The man was already convicted of murdering two college girls and I attended his Victim Impact Statements. To hear their families take the stand and express their sadness and outrage at the defendant was very emotional. I am very glad that I got to experience something like this. My colleague taught me how to handle the situation and deliver the story.

Special Contribution: It was election night in Iowa City, as I sat in the auditor’s office waiting for results. It was proposed that 19 and 20 year olds were no longer able to go to the bars in Iowa City. It was vote yes if you think 21 and older, and no if you wanted things to stay the same. I was sent down to the Iowa City auditor’s office to call back the results to this and other ordinances that were being voted on. I would call back to the news room every time a new precinct would be turned in, to keep them updated. After awhile, a reporter from a competing station showed up and called back to report to her station. As the race was going, it was very close. The “yeses” were winning by eighty votes, and it was getting closer to the end. After all of the precincts were in, the polls showed that the yeses had won by a very small percentage.

Just keep in mind that this experience is a learning one. Strive to do your best work and it will pay off in the end. Ask questions and take initiative to do things before being asked.

Advice to Future Interns: When you get to your internship, be rested, be prepared, and do not be scared to take responsibility. If you act like you can’t do anything because you are an intern, or your work lacks quality because you are an intern, your main responsibility will be making coffee. If you work to produce quality material, you’ll find yourself in the middle of some amazing opportunities.

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