Internships
WUSF is is looking for several college students ready to work in a professional newsroom – people with a passion for the headlines and for bringing news to the public radio audience. Our interns work closely with the WUSF News team of seasoned reporters learning how to research, write and produce stories for radio and online platforms. It’s a semester where students are treated like real journalists from the start, assigned stories that matter to millions of Tampa Bay area residents. It’s where they will discover how public media tries to serve its audience differently from commercial news organizations. And WUSF News interns will get a well-rounded dose of what it takes to succeed as a journalist - from deducing what stories to pursue, to gathering sound and writing stories that sing.
POSITION SUMMARY:
WUSF News Internships are considered mentorships, working with the news staff of WUSF Public Media. The scholarship duration is one semester and will begin at the start of the semester.
WUSF News interns are paid for their work. During the summer semester, these are one- and two-day a week opportunities, along with one that's five days a week. Every shift is eight hours long.
The applicant must be a student who is interested in journalism and in learning more about researching, writing and producing news for radio and digital platforms. The applicant should be a good writer, able to take constructive criticism during the editing process, and have some knowledge of public media’s unique reporting style and programming.
WUSF is seeking several interns for the summer semester. Indicate in your cover letter which position(s) you are interested in and why. They include:
WUSF Rush Family Radio News Internship (two interns) – two days a week. Position will include researching assignments, conducting interviews, writing, producing, and voicing daily and in-depth news radio stories, and writing a digital report.
WUSF-USF Zimmerman Rush Family Digital News Internship (two interns) – one day a week. Position will include researching assignments, conducting interviews, writing and producing daily audio and digital stories. Students must be enrolled in the USF Zimmerman School.
WUSF Stephen Noble Digital-Social News Internship (one intern) – one to two days a week (one must be Friday). Position will include producing visual and audio material for WUSF social media sites, as well as reporting radio and digital stories that will drive web audience, and pulling stories from the weekly Florida Roundup live call-in show.
ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY:
WUSF is a leading source of news, information, and cultural enrichment for West Central Florida. We reach over one million people monthly through our NPR news station WUSF 89.7, Classical WSMR 89.1 & 103.9, and an extensive digital presence including live streaming, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. As a department of the University of South Florida, we have a dedicated team of 90 professionals and a budget of $11 million. We are deeply committed to our community, providing valuable internships to students and delivering content that informs, inspires, and connects. Our main studios are on the USF Tampa campus, with additional broadcast and production facilities on the USFSM and USFSP campuses.
Duties: Researching stories; conducting interviews by phone; gathering sound for stories remotely and in the field; writing copy for stories; assisting reporters as needed; producing news spots and in-depth pieces as assigned (based on knowledge and skill development).
Dates of Internship: January 13, 2025-May 9, 2025. Orientation will take place at start of semester.
Average Number of Hours Per Week: 8 - 16 hours per week
Schedule: 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. one to two days a week (Monday-Friday). No partial day shifts are available.
QUALIFICATIONS (Education & Experience):
Minimum: These positions require a high school diploma, or equivalent, with one year of general office experience. Appropriate college course work or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.
Preferred: The ideal candidate will be an active consumer of local and national news (including NPR) and should have knowledge of or has taken courses related to journalism, communications and/or public broadcasting. Experience reporting and writing for other publications, including student newspapers and stations, is a plus. The student must have a working vehicle and a current driver's license class E.
Standard Learning Objectives: As a result of this position, student will be able to:
Demonstrate basic employability skills such as: timeliness to work, appropriate dress, interpersonal communication, and time management
Receive and solicit feedback from supervisor and effectively apply feedback on the job
Assess workplace and demonstrate how personal talents, skills, and knowledge fit into the employer’s goals, mission, and vision
Demonstrate their professional brand (identity)
Communicate transferable and functional skills to prospective employer
In addition, students will gain experience by:
Accompanying reporters in the field
Learning how to use remote recording software and field recording equipment
Learning the use of professional studios and microphones and voice techniques
Learning story development and interview techniques
Writing and producing short news stories and in-depth pieces for air
Writing solid online news stories for WUSFNews.org
Actively contributing news content to WUSF social media platforms
Learning photo and video techniques
Contact Information for Questions about Recruitment: Mark Schreiner at mschreiner@wusf.org
Department Name/Number: WUSF-FM/0-0662-000
College/Division: VP Business & Finance
Salary Plan: Temporary
Hiring Salary/Salary Range: $15/hour
USF Tampa
Information for Applicants
This position is subject to a Level 1 criminal background check.
Job Opening Number: 37871
Posting Date: 11/07/2024
Posting End Date: 01/06/2025
How To Apply
For full description and to apply, please go to Access Careers@USF at https://www.usf.edu/work-at-usf/index.aspx and enter 38179 under Search Jobs.
Apply online by completing the required information and attaching your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME, PLUS ANY OTHER REQUESTED MATERIAL, MUST BE IN ONE ATTACHMENT. Only online applications are accepted for this position.
To request an accommodation with the application or interview process, please contact Central Human Resources by telephone: 813-974-2970 or email HR-ADA-Request@usf.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity
USF is an equal opportunity, equal access academic institution that embraces diversity in the workplace.
The University of South Florida does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sexual harassment. Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment), in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator. Reports may be made at any time either online or directly to the University's Title IX Coordinator.
USF's Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Statement.
Federal Rights
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Equal Employment
Opportunity (EEO) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).
Work Location
Campus map and location overview: USF - Tampa Campus
About USF
The University of South Florida is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Report's national university rankings than USF. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF is designated as a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, placing it in the most elite category among the state's 12 public universities. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
Working at USF
With more than 16,000 employees at USF, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay region. At USF you will find opportunities to excel in a rich academic environment that fosters the development and advancement of our employees. We believe in creating a talented, engaged and driven workforce through on-going development and career opportunities. We also offer a first class benefit package that includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, tuition program and generous leave programs and more.