Reflection of My Experiences at WAVY- TV

I started working as an intern for WAVY-TV's Hampton Road Show. The experience i gained working at this internship is invaluable. By doing this internship I received a real glimpse into the field I would like to be a part of in the future. I was able to see how all facets of this station work while simultaneously juggling several projects at one time. This internship taught me a grossly underappreciated skill: time management. Time management was such a crucial part of this internship. Not only did we have to do our daily jobs, but as interns we had to complete other side assignments like our blogs, tweeting daily, scheduling times to meet with department heads to get some boxes checked off of our prepared checklists, and prepare for our final projects. All of this while cultivating and maintaining good relationships with our new semi-coworkers so we may be remembered enough that when we apply for a job, we may get hired on. Working as an intern for WAVY, there was really no way I could have prepared for this internship beforehand because it is unlike any job i have ever had before. I worked at a news station when I was living in Youngstown, OH, but it was still vastly different from my experience at WAVY. There, I was just a receptionist and did not get to interact with the reporters or meteorologists as often as i do with WAVY. Also, the market here is larger so there are more people available to help you out versus at a smaller station. Overall, I experienced a lot of growth as a result of having participated in this internship. I learned to take initiative more by seeking out opportunities instead of waiting for them to pass me by. Also, I became less and less afraid of asking for assistance or extra practice such as working with Jeremy Wheeler and Deitra Tate on my meteorology presentation or working with Kiahnna Patterson and LV on my reporter stand-ups. I really grew in my understanding of knowing when to take an opportunity to get a little piece of work completed towards my reel. I improved my professional presence after taking COMM 368 because now my website looks more professional in how it is structured and I was able to make myself look more interesting by taking your advice when writing about myself in my 'About Me' section. I think COMM 368 has made me a stronger candiate for future employers.