MASS COMM. STUDENTS’ INSIGHTS ON INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES

By Princess Uzo-Emeahu

The third and final year students of mass communication department at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), have just concluded their respective one month Industrial training (IT) at various media institutions of their choice. I spoke to some students to gather insights on their experiences and how these differ from what they learned in the classroom.

General Question: What type of internship did you complete and where was it located?

Question 1: What was your experience and how was it different from what was taught in class?

“My internship was on the broadcast aspect, I dit it at Lion FM here in Nsukka and it was a real eye-opener for me. There was much difference from what was taught in class to what I experienced. We learnt the theory aspect of broadcast and also the various equipment used in a broadcast station during lecturers, however we only saw pictures and notes. In Lion FM, we were able to know the various uses of these equipments and get first hand experience.” Miss Naomi Unamba.

Question 2: What was the most valuable skill you learned during your internship?

“I did my internship at Signature TV located at Tin can Corner, Enugu State. The most valuable skill I learnt there was the vox pop interview. I learnt that there are steps that are needed when conducting these interviews. It was not just about going into the streets and asking people questions. Being able to experience it physically was really a new but insightful experience for me. Also, I now understood more on the aspect of news sourcing for the television and following the relevant media house style which was different from our school’s Record newspaper house style.”-Miss Gaddiel Soludo.

Question 3: What advice would you give to fellow mass communication students about choosing and preparing for their internship?

“I had a lot of theoretical knowledge about media production, but my internship at Edo Broadcasting Service located at Benin, gave me hands-on experience with the practical side of broadcasting especially regarding editing and news writing for the radio. I will advice students who are choosing a place for their IT to start with the radio aspect but most importantly you can decide your place of passion when making a decision. Another advice I’ll give to them, is that they should be prepared to work diligently, ask questions and go with an open mind for learning. The employees at these media houses are more than ready to teach students who are eager to learn.” – Miss Rejoice Obi.

Question 4: How did your internship experience influence your career goals or aspirations?

“ I did my internship at NTA news, Owerri. There, I discovered that there is a lot more to media production than just writing scripts; it requires technical skills and creativity to tell compelling stories through visuals. This experience has greatly influenced my career goals as I am determined to work in a television Station in the future. I am excited to be among the people behind the successful production of future television programs.”-Miss Chinenye Ogbonna