Kent State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication has launched an internship database designed to streamline communication between students and intern employers.
Michele Ewing, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the public relations internship coordinator, helped create the database after recognizing an opportunity to use the Web to help better connect students to potential intern employers.
“It’s designed to provide a place for journalism and mass communication students to begin a search for internships,” says Ewing. “We’re trying to help students identify career opportunities and career tracks.”
Students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication can search for internships by major: advertising, electronic media/video, broadcast news, journalism (news/magazine/online), information design, photojournalism and public relations.
“I think the database will benefit JMC students by demonstrating the value of internships. I think the student profiles on the site will support that,” says Lindsay Ridinger, senior public relations major and president of the Public Relations Student Society of America. “School of Journalism and Mass Communication students can use the database to begin their internship search, learn about opportunities with other organizations and companies or ultimately connect with potential intern supervisors.”
All of the internships listed on the database have already been approved by a faculty coordinator, which means that they will count for full internship credit that is required to graduate.
The internship database saves time for employers, faculty and students. In the past, employers typically emailed faculty members about internship opportunities. Faculty members then forwarded the email to students and/or approached students face-to-face with the information. The database provides a quick and easy way to invite the employer to share the opportunity with students, as the database can be accessed 24/7.
“It’s absolutely an appropriate and efficient solution for matching a student’s career aspiration with employer needs while taking advantage of the online resources and technology,” says Lori Pennica Hendrick, president of Human Resources at Marcus Thomas LLC. “We use it and love it. It’s a win-win for everyone”
Students even have the privilege to read past experiences from students who have already completed the specific internship he or she might want to apply for.
“The database offers valuable insight about past school intern employers,” Ewing says. “Students can easily identify contact information for intern employers and gain understanding about a range of internship experiences they can pursue.”
Students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications can access www.jmc.kent.edu and click the internship tab to start searching the database for internships