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ECU Junior Interns with "America’s Most Wanted"
(posted Aug. 19, 2008)
by Sarah Dutton
East Carolina University student Stephanie Percoco took full advantage of a summer internship with TV show “America’s Most Wanted.”
“I decided to take this internship, because I knew that it would be something that would only come up once,” Percoco said. “You don't come across something like that very often, so I knew that I just needed to take this internship opportunity to get my foot in the door, even if that meant not having a summer.”
Usually, to be an intern for AMW, one must be in a graduate or undergraduate program, be able to receive course credit for the internship, and submit a resume, cover letter and a writing sample, but in Percoco’s case, her resume earned her an interview.
“All I had to do was send the public relations manager my resume and then go in for an interview,” Percoco said. “I got the internship following my interview.”
Percoco, along with six other interns, spent this past summer with AMW in Washington, D.C. During the three months she spent with AMW, Percoco replied to fan mail, reviewed case files and helped Walsh with quotes for different media publications.
“After [my internship] was over, I really wanted to stay and the Web team didn’t have their own intern, so they asked me to stay and help them out,” Percoco said. “I helped them create catchy headlines for the Web site, also, a lot of old stories on the Web site have a lot of grammatical errors, or other errors, so I would need to go back to each one and copy-edit them. Then if pictures needed to be re-sized I would use Photoshop to fix them. I also assisted in creating headlines that would be placed in newspapers.”
One can only learn so much in the classroom setting. The most experience one can get is by getting out there and experiencing it firsthand.
“I learned a lot, you really don’t need that much schooling to be successful in this industry,” Percoco said. “You learn everything by experiencing it. It’s all about who you know and your experiences that get you the job. That’s why I said you need to take advantage of your time there and network with the people there.”
Throughout one’s college career, many students change their majors time and time again, with hopes of finding something that can keep their interest. This internship has given Percoco the assurance needed to continue her current communication major.
“The TV industry is definitely a place where I can see myself. I felt so comfortable at AMW,” Percoco said. “It’s a tough business, but I feel that I have the motivation and drive to be successful.”
An new alumni has a big goal and another internship in the Big Apple
(posted August 18, 2008)
by Akela Yarn
A recent graduate of the School of Communication used his summer to take on yet another impressive internship.
Last summer Wayne Sampson was in New York interning for NBC’s "The Early Show." He is currently interning with "The Tyra Banks Show."
In the spring, Sampson received a B.S. in Communication with a concentration in Media Studies. He credits his previous internship with helping him get his foot in the door with "The Tyra Banks Show."
As an intern, Sampson rotates through different departments. His job spans from assisting with production management to working with getting an audience for the show. Internship coordinators give interns odd jobs to start. They want to make sure they can handle the work. This is also test of commitment. Interns learn early on that positions and trust must be earned.
Choosing to do an internship with a large or small market is a personal choice.
“I did my own research, I knew I wanted to work in the large market,” Sampson related.
Students should have a general idea of their short and long-term goals. This will help in the search for an internship.
The most emphasized aspect of interning is networking.
Sampson says, “Networking is the reason for doing an internship.”
He advises talking to everyone because “you never know who people know.” Sampson also says to get business cards and stay in touch with those contacts. Networking is useful even in looking for internships. Creating contacts with local companies, teachers and fellow students is a great way to find out about internships. Internships allow students to meet other students and people of varying positions within the company. He also says to be assertive but not annoying when networking.
Students will be introduced to both the positives and the negatives of the job market. As an intern, students will learn professionalism, responsibility and time management skills. Employees within the company will sometimes discourage students from fulfilling a dream. Sampson prescribes a thick skin and an ambitious attitude.
“Doing an internship is how you find out what is right or wrong for you,” Sampson related.
The employer has expectations of its interns and the interns should have expectations of their employers. Sampson expected more hands-on experience but those opportunities are limited. Large markets have paid employees to do assigned work but he is still learning a lot about what goes on behind the scenes.
Students must take it upon themselves to find internships that would interest them and know the requirements for the position. Sampson advises students to do their homework early. Companies have application deadlines that must be met. Students who need help in getting started can contact Jim McAtee of the Career Center, The School of Communication internship coordinator Dr. Todd Fraley, and fellow students.
Sampson's long-term goal is in entertainment news. He would like to stay in New York or move to Los Angeles after he completes his internship.
School of Communication internship fair shows students
that internship opportunities are varied and abundant
(posted April 15, 2008)
by Alyson Boltja
The School of Communication, The Career Center, and Overton’s sponsored a meeting at Mendenhall in March informing students about communication internship opportunities.
This meeting included a panel of speakers who have experience in the communication field. The panel consisted of ECU students, and graduates, who spoke about their experiences with internships.
Dr. Todd Fraley, internship coordinator, and Jim McAtee, Career Center liaison to the College of Fine Arts and Communication, gave brief introductions about The Career Center and how it can help students with their future.
“The hardest thing is to get started," McAtee said. "We are very approachable, so don’t be afraid to stop by and see us.”
After Fraley and McAtee spoke, the panel introduced themselves. The first three speakers were Carissa Etters, executive producer at WNCT; Megan George of Public Radio East; and Beth Atkins of Pitt County Memorial Hospital — each of whom are ECU alumni.
Etters explained that many students believe that interns are given tasks such as filing papers and making coffee, which is false at WNCT.
“We put our interns to work!”said Etters.
Each speaker stressed the importance of having internships throughout college, and how many employers will not except graduates without experience.
Tayleigh Davis and Erin Kate McCarthy are currently working as interns. E. Wayne Sampson interned last summer for CBS News in New York City. He is looking into future internships and recently was interviewed for a possible opening at the Tyra Banks Show.
Davis explained that her internship for East Carolina University’s media relations has helped her get a job. McCarthy, an intern for Tiffany Co., said, “Classroom experience is great, but real world experience lets you dig in and experience it front-on.”
McAtee was pleased with the turnout.
“Students asked good questions and the panel did a good job of answering and engaging with the students,” he said, adding that 52 students attended.
“We will probably do an event like the one with SOC again,” said McAtee. “We are always looking for ways to add value to ECU student experiences and helping to make ECU students more competitive in the workplace.”
Student steps into busy but rewarding world of advertising and sales
(posted March 20, 2008)
Julie Goldfarb
by Melissa Fanelli
A senior at East Carolina University, Julie Goldfarb, was the sales and advertising intern for FierceMarkets in D.C. this past summer.
FierceMarkets is a business-to-business digital media firm that gears 18 different publications toward other businesses in the following industries: finance, health care, information technology, biotechnology, telecommunications and digital media.
Julie worked with the advertising team to find new clients through prospect work. This helped enhance her knowledge in the field of communication. Goldfarb put together the Fierce Markets 2007 gift campaign that recognized over one-hundred of the most supportive clients, which are expected to bring $30,000 to $60,000 of revenue into the company within the next few months. She also worked on weekly campaign reports that made her familiar with a program called, “Sales Force—a way sales associates can keep in contact with clients. It is a way of “logging” clients.
Working under the Vice President of Sales, Jason Nelson, Julie learned how to re-figure the different sales associates’ quotas for the upcoming year, which is divided into two halves during the year, H1 and H2. Quotas are the sales associates’' goals for money they hope to bring into their business during the year.
Goldfarb is currently working for FierceMarkets via e-mail on campaign reports and quota for the company while finishing her last year at East Carolina University.
“I advise all communication majors to take advantage of an internship although it is not required because it teaches you real world experiences that you cannot learn in the classroom,” said Goldfarb.
In addition to her internship focusing on the field of communication, Julie is also very involved with the university to enhance her communication knowledge. She is the Public Relations Director for Panhellenic—the governing body of all sororities that oversee Greek life. Julie produces three newsletters a year called Chapter House that go out to 20,000 Greek Alumni. She keeps alumni updated on how Greek life is helping the community as well as supporting upcoming events.
Goldfarb is responsible for articles in the East Carolinian written to inform the University about Greek life. As public relations director, she informs incoming freshmen about Greek life and about possibly becoming a Greek member. She uses brochures and newsletters to do this as well.
“Julie is a very dedicated, hard working woman who works as a liaison between media outlets and individual chapters for every philanthropic and service events in Panhellenic on this campus,” said Jamie Harrell, Panhellenic president.
Julie was awarded the Panhellenic scholarship in spring of 2007. It goes to a Greek woman who holds the highest standards of scholarship, leadership and service. She is also a member of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and on the event planning committee to broaden her communication experience.
Harrell added that Julie works extremely hard with Panhellenic, Delta Zeta, Debu catering and PRSSA while maintaining a 3.9 GPAl.
Julie is currently studying for the LSAT and in the process of applying to law school. She hopes to attend law school in the fall as well as still working for FierceMarkets via e-mail or at another public relations firm.
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