Intern Profile: Sophie Shaw
Posted: April 22, 2013 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, bachelor of sports journalism, christi malthouse, Cricket Australia, Crocmedia, CV, emma quayle, Interns, Internship, internship applications, La Trobe University, lions tour, mark robbinson, Media, Melbourne, network, networking, Sophie Shaw, Sports Journalism, sports journalist, Summer internship at cricket australia, the herald sun, tv presenter, Twitter, VFL Leave a comment »Today’s featured intern is Sophie Shaw.
Sophie is an aspiring sports presenter and has been networking in the industry since she was 15 years old. She has just finished a summer internship at Cricket Australia and has also interned at Melbourne metro newspaper, The Herald Sun and CrocMedia.
The basics
Sophie Shaw, 22, studying a Bachelor of Sports Journalism at Latrobe University. Graduating mid 2014.
Dream job?
TV sports reporter/presenter. Always remember watching Christi Malthouse as a boundary rider for the AFL and that’s what kicked off my desire to be a sports journalist on television.
You’ve just finished a summer internship at Cricket Australia – tell us about it.
Prior to commencing my work with Cricket Australia I had to do some serious homework. I really had no idea about cricket other than some basic rules so that was my first challenge: preparing. I printed off profiles off all the current Australian contracted cricketers and studied their history and form. I then did the same with the opposing Test teams (West Indies & Sri Lanka).
It was throughout my time at CA that I developing an in-depth knowledge of the Sheffield Shield & Big Bash competitions along with the women’s teams.
My daily jobs would begin with monitoring all of CA’s social media sites, updating these social pages and the official CA website with news and relevant content, providing live scores and updates throughout Test matches, Sheffield Shield, Big Bash, Ryobi Cup and Women’s World Cup competitions, writing articles and creating photo galleries for website, and assisting with events/marketing/PR.
I worked with camera crews on match days to film segments for CATV (CA youtube channel) and I also had to work with a team to develop and implement effective social media strategies and identify opportunities for growth. I also learnt to use photo and video editing tools as well as having complete control over the CA website. Everything that had to be added or changed on the website had to go through me.
Tell us about your previous internship experiences at CrocMedia and the Herald Sun.
My roles at CrocMedia and in the AFL department at the Herald Sun were actually quite similar. I was with CrocMedia for one day a week for most of the 2012 AFL season and I spent four weeks full-time working with the Herald Sun in February 2012.
At both of these internships I was sent out to AFL press conferences. For CrocMedia, I had to record the interviews and then edit what I believed to be the best parts of the presser for distribution. At the Herald Sun, I was sent to the pressers to find a story. At the start I found myself getting pushed to the back of the back and being too nervous to open my mouth but the end I was claiming my position up the front and demanding some answers. It would make the story that I would have to file within 20 minutes much easier to write when I knew what I was looking for.
At my time with the Herald Sun, I was also given the opportunity to attend AFL matches with high profile journalists and sit in the press box where I would watch how they went about planning and then writing their match reviews. Their stories would need to be filed within minute of the game finishing so it was very interesting to see how they do it. I once spent a night in at the MCG in the press box with Emma Quayle (from The Age) where I was her shadow for the night. The match was going one way right up until the last quarter, and it was amazing to see how Emma so calmly started all over again.
You’ve interned with some big media organisations – take us through your application process.
What I have found is that each opportunity I have been given has always led me to another, so I’m lucky that I started when I was 15 years old. You’ve got to be so determined and willing to put yourself out there. It is so hard to make it in this industry and nothing is going to come easily so I’ve never ever been afraid to ask for help. Although you may feel like you’re ‘annoying’ by continually ringing or emailing people but you’d be surprised how many people or organisations admire your desire for hard work.
I will always begin internship applications with an email, and then a follow up phone call if I haven’t heard back from them. I will always send the email with my updated media CV attached and a cover letter in the same document. My cover letter explains what I am currently doing at uni and what my career goals are. In the actual body of the email, I write a very brief description of what I do and what I’m after and I always explain that I’d be happy to have even one day of work experience if given the opportunity. Then I inform them that my CV is attached and the rest is up to them.
What is the most important thing that you learnt while interning that you didn’t learn from the classroom?
I think my internships and placements have really given me the confidence required to work in the media field. Absolutely nothing is better that on the job experience. I was never taught at uni how to hold my head high, walk into an AFL club with 15 male journalists and interupt the likes of Mark Robinson & Julian de Stoop to make sure Chris Judd answered my question in a press conference. Or how to tactically pick your spot and hold strong as other journalists try to push their way to the front.
My first press conference was outside North Melbourne Football Club and as head coach Brad Scott walked out to get in position, I casually headed towards him with the other journo’s around me. It wasn’t until I was literally blocked out by people standing directly infront of me, or having microphones held infront of my face so I could no longer see anything, that I realised I need to claim by spot in order to be good at these. You’re not going to be seen or heard standing at the back of the pack.
The pressure of deadlines is also something you learn that no book or teacher can. When you need to ‘break’ news and you’re in a situation where there may be up to five to 10 other news outlets there wanting to do the same you have to be accurate and quick.
And lastly, networking. No one can teach you how important networking within the media acutally is. Branching out, meeting people, introducing yourself and getting your name out there is something you have to do.
What’s next for you?
I’ve been continually dedicating my time to interning since a young age so honestly I’m taking my foot off the pedal for the time being after my four months at Cricket Australia over summer and going into my final year of uni. I’m lucky that I have built my resume to what it is today so I’m happy with it for now. In saying that, I have volunteered to write casually for the VFL when needed and am currently looking into the Wallabies v Lions Tour in June this year.
I’d love to be able to gain some on camera experience somewhere enabling me to create a showreel for future job opportunities. This type of work is extremely hard to find but I’m determined to do so.
Sophie shares her advice
I think I’ve mentioned it 10 times already but you have to network. Don’t be afraid to contact people or ask for help. Showing you have the passion and dedication is the best trait you can have to begin with and then doing something to make sure they remember you.
I always say what Emma Quayle told me when I asked her this exact question, “know your stuff.”
There would be nothing worse than being given the opportunity to intern and then having no idea about the sport or what is going on. Research and be prepared to learn and don’t think you’re already an expert. You might love footy and have followed it since you were four years old but be prepared to learn to accept criticism.
You can follow Sophie on Twitter.
My Interning Life: Ben Cuzzupe
Posted: November 12, 2012 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, Ben Cuzzupe, Bound for Glory, Communications, Interns, Internship, Media, Social Media, SYN FM, Twitter 4 Comments »
Today on My Interning Life, Ben Cuzzupe tells us in his own words how he chose to chase his dreams over attending university classes.
BY BEN CUZZUPE
My Interning Life Guest Post
This blog quite possibly could be the key to everything you ever dreamed of being.
Some of the advice within these pages can kick down doors that you’ve only ever seen before in your dreams.
However, you might not get that internship you’ve been after. It’s a very competitive world, so some have to prepare themselves for when it all doesn’t go to plan. But even then, your own hard work and creativity can come to the forefront.
Many of the suggestions previous interns have made, is that you start your own blog or creative outlet for your ideas. Bound For Glory is an example of what can happen when you stick to something instead of a traditional internship.
In March of this year I had begun my first year of university at La Trobe, and at this point I didn’t have my license, so two hours on that ride. With the help of a team like-minded journalism students, amateur football writers and bunch of other BigFooty forum-ites along for the ride, set up ‘Bound For Glory’, an AFL radio program on SYN FM out of RMIT over the summer.
One day, as we were planning our first episode to coincide with the season launch at the end of March, one the people on the show, who is an employee of the North Melbourne Football Club notified me of an event. (Some clubs media policies vary from the rigid and selective, to the open and carefree; and North Melbourne was one of the latter.)
He began to tell me about an Open Media Day that the club was having, where all of the players and the coaches would be gathered and I could pick openly from whom to speak to for our opening show, regardless of if I had fifty years or minutes of experience. It was the perfect opportunity, the one opening to get the show off the mark and pull a substantial audience for ten people broadcasting something out of the middle of nowhere, right off the bat.
The one flaw in the plan was that I didn’t own a recording device and the next day of university I had a tute that was critical to my marks for the semester. The thoughts dangled and wavered for a couple of days, but I stuck to Uni until I came to the day before the Open Media day. It was either the Upfield train or the Heidelberg train or whatever people in the northern suburbs use to get from one place to another; and for some reason instead of ending up at Flinders Street so I could change to get on to the Sydenham line, it ended up at Melbourne Central.
The ultimatum rattled around in my head for the past couple of days, in which I decided to make a choice in the blink of an eye:
Go to my tute the next morning, in which I would be placed in groups for the most important assignment for my semester, or ditch the class and University for a year to go interview football players.
I’ll never claim divine intervention or it was the most resoundingly intellectual decision either; but I got off the train, walked into a shop on Little Lonsdale Street, haggled down the price for the digital recorder and made up my mind.
Defer from University for a year to run the radio show along with a talented but mostly untried team, and make some contacts in the industry.
What seemed to be one of the most utterly insane decisions that I had ever made in my life, in retrospect nine months later turned out to be the smartest one I ever made. That day I interviewed several players (Sam Wright, Todd Goldstein, Matt Campbell) and coach Brad Scott.
In the space of a week, our opening show went from looking to fill air time with awkward conversation, to having a lengthy interview with Age journalist and one of the most humble people I’ve ever met, Rohan Connolly, (who got out of bed quite early on a Saturday morning to hang around a recording studio riddled with faults and a bunch of caffeine addled students), Warney of DT TALK (fantasy football analyst) fame, St.Kilda star Nick Dal Santo and the other interviews I and one of the co-producers had collected on that day.
We added some others to our team of the course of the year and we managed to interview AFL, journalists, umpires, presidents, players and many other people from the TAC Cup and the VFL. Most importantly, we grew as a team and our writing, recording, presenting abilities and audience increased tenfold.
The bubbling chemistry that this team of talented, optimistic, honest, ballsy, funny and outright insane people grew again when one of us, Matt Marsden, decided to launch and run an independent news/ opinion site in July of this year.
We’re a decent chance for AFL media accreditation and sponsors next year too, but even if it doesn’t happen, we’ll just grow again because you can’t contain that sort of raw energy and enthusiasm that exists with the idealistic and driven.
In the age of the internet, the information and ideas are now democratized and everyone is an artist of some sort. The old guard (newspapers, television, radio) are struggling to see that regular people with regular lives can create the same, if not better magic that’s created in professional environments.
I don’t want to be the editor of the Herald Sun, or rally against the system where a professional journalist have slaved their whole lives to create fantastic paid content. The whole point of this is to create interest in the job and profession, and to give nobodies a leg up and a beginning into this confusing and fast paced medium.
I hope to someday do a proper internship elsewhere, but for now, this is more than enough. Get online, get creativity and the rewards will come.
Ben Cuzzupe is the Executive Producer of @BoundForGloryFM and a contributor for the @BoundForGloryNews. You can also follow Ben on Twitter.
Intern Profile: Jonathan Demos
Posted: July 30, 2012 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, Box Hill Hawks, Interns, Internship, Jonathan Demos, Journalism, Journalist, La Trobe University, Match Reporter, Media, Melbourne Storm, Rugby League, Twitter, VFL Leave a comment »
Today’s profiled intern is aspiring sports journalist, Jonathan Demos.
He is the current match reporter for The Box Hill Hawks (VFL) and intern/match reporter for Melbourne Storm (RLC). Jonathan applied for his position at the Hawks after seeing it re-tweeted on My Interning Life.
Jonathan shares his advice on My Interning Life
The Basics
Jonathan Demos 21, in my final semester studying a Bachelor of Journalism at La Trobe University.
Dream job?
My dream job would have to be any sort of role, whether it be in journalism or digital media, which would allow me to gain an opportunity to go and cover an international sporting event. I think getting a chance to go and cover an event like the FIFA World Cup or the Olympics would be unbelievable.
You love sport – what’s your all time favourite sport?
I would probably have to say AFL. Footy would have to be what I am most passionate about, especially when I was growing up. However now, I’m interested in most sports.
Tell us how you scored both of your internships as Match Reporter for the Box Hill Hawks (VFL) and Melbourne Storm (RLC)?
With the Box Hill internship, I actually saw it re-tweeted by the My Interning Life account on Twitter. From there, after reading about the role I applied, had an interview with the General Manager for Box Hill and was then lucky enough to be offered a role match reporting for Box Hill.
With Melbourne Storm it was a little different. Over summer I emailed a few places, Storm being one, my resume just saying I was interested in gaining some work experience. To be honest I didn’t think much of it would come of it. A month later I received a phone call from Storm’s Digital Media Manager asking if I would be interested in match reporting for their website. Since then I have also been fortunate enough to spend some time mid-week in the offices at Storm.
It all has been a fantastic opportunity. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some great people through my experiences and have learnt heaps from them.
Explain what you do on a weekly basis at the Hawks and Storm
For Box Hill, apart from the match preview I write during the week, my other tasks are all on game day. I report on the match for Box Hill and Hawthorn’s websites and interview the coach after the game. As well as this I update Box Hill’s Facebook and Twitter with scores and generally just what is going on.
At Storm when I spend a day there mid-week I usually a few weekly articles for the website, for example a wrap of each NRL round. Other than that, during the week it really depends what is happening in that particular week. Usually there will be a press conference or video to shoot I can help out with and report on. On game days, basically it’s pretty similar to Box Hill. I just report on the match and then go to the press conference following the match to see what the coaches say (links are to Jonathan’s match reports).
How have you juggled your internships, university and having a social life?
It has actually worked out okay. Uni holidays have taken up a fair chunk of the middle of the season. Also, in the VFL, each team has four byes in the season and with the NRL each team has three byes. So there have not been too many weekends where I’ve had to cover two matches.
Do you think one or two internships is enough? Will you do more? Why/ why not?
That’s a good question. I guess it is always good to get more than one perspective on something. Having said that it probably really depends on how much you are getting out of the internship. I guess there is probably not a lot of point in doing four or five internships just for the sake of having on your resume if your not enjoying it and learning.
Is Twitter a useful tool for media students like yourself – how has it helped you?
Apart from seeing the Box Hill internship as I wrote above, there probably haven’t really been too many other cases where it has specifically helped me. But it’s definitely a good tool to see what people in the media and journalism industry are writing and thinking about.
Jonathan gives his advice
You can follow Jonathan on Twitter and read his match reports for the Box Hill Hawks and Melbourne Storm.If you get a chance to gain any experience then take it. The worst thing that could happen is that you find that you actually don’t like something – and that’s probably not such a bad thing.
Asking questions and trying to learn as much as you can once you are doing an internship would probably be the biggest thing. Most people will only be too happy to help.
Intern Profile: Anne Fedorowytsch
Posted: November 28, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: A-League, ABC, Adelaide Crows FC, Adelaide United, AFL, Anne Fedorowytsch, Botanic Gardens, Crows Blog Squad, Jared Petrenko, Journalism, PR, Public Relations, Richard Douglas, SANFL, Tour Down Under, University of South Australia 1 Comment »
Anne Fedorowytsch is a passionate Adelaide Crows (AFL) and SANFL football fan. She has recently completed her Bachelor of Journalism (Public Relations) at the University of South Australia.
Anne has interned for the ABC, Botanic Gardens, Tour Down Under and A-League club, Adelaide United while at university. However her first preference for work experience in the media industry was the Adelaide Crows Communications and Media department.
“I’ve been a Crows supporter since I was a kid and have been interested in writing about football since I was in high school. Working for an AFL club one day is something that I’ve always entertained so the choice was easy,” says Anne.
Anne has also been blogging for the Crows Blog Squad for the past four years, where she writes about her experiences and thoughts on each game. Working for her favourite AFL footy club has been a dream come true.
After doing a one-week stint at the footy club, Anne says the footy club made her feel welcome and never just like an intern. On her first day at the club, Anne watched the Crows players train and was then asked to work on some things for the club’s website.
Later in the morning Anne was invited to watch Jared Petrenko’s press conference. Anne says her most embarrassing moment came after her lunch break when she couldn’t get back into the Crows Westpac Centre. Just as Anne was about to panic, Crows player Richard Douglas came to save the day and opened the door for her.
“He opened the door before I could chirp back, “Thanks Dougie!” and I raced out thinking I could get used to Richard Douglas opening doors for me,” says Anne.
During her time at the footy club Anne was also asked to write articles such as “Crows in the SANFL” and “Crows in the media round 22.” Anne interviewed two Crows players and wrote articles about them.
She also worked on match summaries for the Cover It Live coverage of the Club Champion award. Anne also worked on a match day where she observed the Communications and Media managers and the things they did before and after the games.
After her several work experiences, Anne feels that her time at the Adelaide Crows footy club has made choose the path of working for an AFL club. Ideally, Anne would like to work in the communications department of a sports club or organization.
“I’ve always been torn as to whether I’d rather be in journalism or communications but by completing my placement my preference is a lot clearer,” says Anne.
She also says that her internships and work experiences have helped her become a more confident person not only in herself but also in her abilities. Anne has been searching for a job within the AFL, she recently applied for the Collingwood Football Club Digital Content Producer but missed out.
In the meantime, Anne is a match day media volunteer for Adelaide United. Her primary role is to handle the club’s twitter content before, during and after games.
My Interning Life wishes Anne all the best in her hunt for her dream job.
“Go for it. You may feel out of your depth and a little scared at first but it really is worth putting yourself out there and confronting your fears. It really is the best opportunity to learn about the industry you’re interested in and also gives you the chance to decide what you really want to do in the future.”
You can follow Anne and the Adelaide Crows Football Club on twitter.
My Interning Life: Aubrey Hamlett
Posted: November 21, 2011 Filed under: Aubrey | Tags: AFL, Ashleigh McIntosh, Aubrey Hamlett, Beyond Coconut Water, Blog, Bomshell McGee, Cliff Bingham, Collingwood Football Club, Communications, Cosmopolitan, Ellis-Jones, Gyan Yankovich, Interns, Journalism, Journalist, Kalgoorlie Miner, Katey Power, Luke Mason, Matthew Dixon, Media, PR, Sexpo, Twitter, Western Bulldogs Football Club Leave a comment »Hi everyone, thanks for reading another post on ‘My Interning Life.’ This week I’m just going to update you all on what I’ve been doing and sharing some news that I have.
In October, I went along to the Heart/Def Leppard concert because our client, Kristian Attard was playing the bass for Heart. My boss, Shereen loved the concert and we both had a great time. I helped out by getting publicity for Kristian and some airplay on radio stations.
I’ve just finished university for year and have immediately started working 2-3 days a week at Milk Kiddle Langmaid (aka Milkk PR). Shereen said that November is her busiest month and she needed me to help her out more than just one day per week. So there goes my holidays – just kidding. I was planning to catch up on some sleep and be a bit of a couch potato, but it seems life has other plans for me.
As Cliff Bingham said to me on twitter, “The perils of moving on up in the world. Couch potatoes rarely realise their dreams.”
In the next few weeks, the Milkk PR office is going to be busy with Sexpo Melbourne (24th-27th November) and launching the new Beyond Hibiscus Infused Coconut Water. During Sexpo, we will also be looking after Michelle ‘Bombshell’ McGee. You know, the lady who reportedly was the other woman in Sandra Bullock’s divorce with Jesse James. Bombshell is going to be on the Kyle and Jackie O show today (Sydney breakfast show, Melbourne drive show) promoting Sexpo and discussing plenty other things.
Featured intern, Aimme Briggs has gone to Sydney with Shereen to help with Bombshell’s appearance on the Kyle and Jackie O show.
I’ve been mostly working on getting media buzz around the Beyond product, Kiddie Concepts and Slim Secrets while Aimme has been working on Sexpo. I’ll also be helping out at Sexpo and I am very excited to meet Bombshell McGee. Stay tuned for tweets and photos.
I also applied for a work experience position at Cosmopolitan magazine. After a week of not hearing any news, I got an email from Gyan saying they’d love to have me in April next year. I was thrilled to hear the news. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a teenager to work in the Cosmopolitan offices, even if it’s just work experience.
Networking is really important and I’ve found twitter and this blog to be really helpful. I had an interview for another internship and am going to follow up some contacts about internships or work experience opportunities. I love working at Milkk and will continue to do so, but I want to try and gain some more experience in different media organisations.
If ‘My Interning life’ has taught me anything, it’s to get as much experience under your belt while you’re still at university. So I hope all of my blog entries each week really motivate and inspire other students to get out there and do some work experience. Or for those who are already doing some experience, to not lose faith and read about the successful graduates who have found jobs in the industry.
I am happy to announce that Luke Mason and Ashleigh McIntosh both scored jobs in communications at AFL Clubs. Luke will be the Collingwood Football Club Digital Content Producer and Ashleigh is the new Digital Marketing Assitant at the Western Bulldogs Football Club. As may have already read, Katey Power after interning at Universal Music Australia is now a PR Account Manager at Ellis-Jones. Matthew Dixon who was on this semesters editorial team for upstart magazine has just completed his third week as a journalist at the Kalgoorlie Miner Newspaper in WA. All four students are 2011 graduates.
When I congratulated Luke about his fabulous news he asked me, “so what job are you gonna pinch in 12 months time?” I don’t know the answer to that question and a lot can happen in a year. 2012 will be an exciting year and I hope its filled with opportunities and more stories of successful interns.
Perhaps in a year’s time, I’ll be able to announce my own news of a career in the media industry and share the news of other 2012 graduates.
Best of luck to everyone, please keep on interning and never give up in your search to find work experience or that dream job.
2012 will be the year that YOU make it work!
“It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.” – Jim RohnIntern Profile: Ashleigh McIntosh
Posted: October 17, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, AFL Queensland, Ashleigh McIntosh, Brisbane Lions Football Club, Brisbane Roar, Collingwood Football Club, Courier Mail, Football Queensland, Griffith University, Interns, Journalism, Sport, Western Bulldogs Football Club Leave a comment »
Instead of spending her university holidays taking a break, Ashleigh McIntosh flew from Brisbane to Melbourne to complete a two-week internship with the Western Bulldogs Football Club.
“As I want for work for an AFL club it seemed ideal and I wanted to start getting my name out and building my brand in Melbourne” says Ashleigh.
Ashleigh paid for her own accommodation and navigated her way around Melbourne’s transport system to get to the footy club in West Footscray.
While at the footy club, Ashleigh helped write stories, match previews and reports for online and print media. She also helped coordinate press conferences and interviews and assisted with social media.
However, this isn’t the first internship Ashleigh has completed.
Over the past few years while studying her Bachelor of Journalism (Marketing and Sports Management) degree at Griffith University, Ashleigh has completed a total of 10 internships.
“My uncle is a journalist and always insisted that work experience is just as important if not more than a degree,” says Ashleigh.
Ashleigh has completed three internships with The Courier Mail Sports Department, two with the Brisbane Lions Football Club, The Brisbane Roar, AFL Queensland and Football Queensland. As well as helping out with Media Training for Athletes, and of course most recently, Ashleigh worked with the Western Bulldogs.
Ashleigh is enthusiastic about gaining experience in her chosen industry to say the least.
“While ten seems a bit obsessive I am certainly glad I put in the extra effort…plus internships are the fun part of [a] media degree,” says Ashleigh.
From her various internships, Ashleigh has found confidence in her writing and in herself. She also says the positive feedback she receives from her experiences have cemented her belief that she has chosen the right profession.
“I am lucky enough to know the exact type of role I want and hopefully am building the experience that I need to stand out,” says Ashleigh.
Although Ashleigh had family connections in getting her work experience started, she recommends being proactive in seeking out experience.
“Make yourself known in the media industry while still at university,” says Ashleigh.
Using social media helps Ashleigh connect with the media industry and her fellow competitors in Melbourne. It also helps showcase her online portfolio to prospective employers and be able to further network within the industry.
“Most of my competition will be Melbourne students who are equally obsessed with AFL and it is quite easy to find and communicate with them via Twitter,” says Ashleigh.
Ultimately, Ashleigh wants to work in the media department of an AFL club or as a sports journalist. From her experiences, Ashleigh has found she prefers a combined media and public relations type role.
Ashleigh says she originally wanted to work in a sports newsroom but wants to be able to write, conduct interviews and also to be involved with crisis management and building a brand.
Despite being a self-confessed “footy tragic” Ashleigh is also a girlie girl and loves being social with her friends and family.
Ashleigh has no regrets about doing so many internships, as she is a firm believer in learning on the job rather than in the classroom.
You can follow Ashleigh on Twitter and visit her online portfolio. Ashleigh has also applied for the Collingwood Football Club Digital Content Producer position. You can view her application here.“I don’t think you could realistically get a decent job without experience. The media industry is hugely competitive. Internships are also a fun way to develop your writing and interviewing skills and get a backstage look into an industry that you are interested in,” says Ashleigh.
“Get a resume together and a portfolio (whether online or not) and send them in to any company that you would want to intern with. It is like searching for a job, it can be a bit hit and miss, but it is definitely possible to find internships.”
Intern Profile: Morgan Stewart
Posted: October 3, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, Collingwood Football Club, Herfooty, Hotch Potch, Interns, Sunbury Leader, Twitter, University of Ballarat Leave a comment »
Morgan Stewart is an aspiring writer and passionate AFL lover. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing and Editing) at the University of Ballarat.
Combining her two loves, Morgan currently blogs for Herfooty a website for AFL, written by women for women. Morgan is also the Assistant Editor for her university’s student magazine, Hotch Potch.
“Herfooty is a website and social media tool designed for women who love AFL”, says Morgan. “They keep fans up to date with scores etc via social media, and with articles and merchandise on the website.”
Although Morgan submits her articles online to Herfooty, she finds this fits in perfectly with juggling her Hotch Potch editorial duties, university studies, part time job and social life.
Morgan says that interning is crucial in building her portfolio to get a job after she graduates. “There’s no way that you can just complete your degree and expect to walk in to a job”, says Morgan.
From her internship with Herfooty, Hotch Potch and previous work experiences with the Sunbury Leader, Morgan has made useful contacts and gained invaluable industry experience.
Morgan says the more experience she has had, the more confident she has become in her writing.
Another invaluable tool that Morgan has used to gain contacts and network is Twitter. Twitter is where Morgan found out about Herfooty and contacted them via their Twitter account about writing for the website.
Without creating her Twitter account, Morgan wouldn’t have found her current internship or be in touch with the media industry. “The best thing any Journalism, Media, PR, Communications student can do [is] get a twitter account” says Morgan.
Not only is Twitter and useful tool, Morgan recommends interning and getting hands on experience in your chosen media industry. Morgan says that interning is the best way to gain experience that can open so many doors to other opportunities.
“It’s not enough to just turn up to uni, do the work and that’s it”, explains Morgan.
In an effort to gain more experience, Morgan will be completing work experience with The Ballarat Courier in October.
Ideally, Morgan wants to work in print journalism, whether it is in AFL, youth news or current affairs. However Morgan says she is also open to the idea of working in magazines and can picture herself living in Sydney working on Park St.
But ultimately, Morgan’s passion for AFL and the Collingwood Football Club is what she dreams about “I would be a very happy person if my future job involved writing and the AFL.”
Morgan is definitely on her way to turning that dream into reality.
You can follow Morgan, Herfooty and Hotch Potch on Twitter. You can also read all of Morgan’s published work on her website.“Do it. In an industry like this, which is so difficult to crack, you only get out what you put in. Interning and work experience is such an important tool in gaining experience and contacts. And as we all know, contacts are so important. Also, don’t feel dejected and give up if you don’t get one that you apply for, it’s bound to happen in an industry with such high competition”, says Morgan.
“Just continue to apply, and apply and apply. If it’s what you love, and it’s what you want to do, don’t be afraid to work hard and put yourself out there. You’ll regret it if you don’t, and you’ll be thanking yourself for years if you do. Whatever you do, DON’T GIVE UP. Despite what anyone says, you can do it.”
Intern Profile: Brittany Shanahan
Posted: September 12, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, Brittany Shanahan, Cricket, Cricket Victoria, Herald Sun Local Footy, Interns, Journalism, Leader Newspapers, Sports Journalism, Swinburne University, The Roar, Twitter, VFL, Victorian Bushrangers Leave a comment »
Brittany Shanahan is an aspiring sports journalist. Trying to crack into the sporting world dominated by her male counter parts, Brittany has been successful by interning for several Australian sports organisations.
Brittany, 19, has recently completed a nine-month internship with Cricket Victoria. She is currently doing work experience on a weekly basis for AFL Victoria’s VFL website and Leader Newspaper.
“As the footy season was coming to a close, I jumped on Google and found that Cricket Victoria were after a media intern over the summer” Brittany explains.
Brittany found out about the Cricket Victoria internship with only two days left to apply. She sent in her resume and based on her application, Brittany was invited to Cricket Victoria for an interview.
Brittany felt as though she had “blown it” after her interview but was delighted to find she was successful and started interning with Cricket Victoria in November last year.
Brittany’s work at Cricket Victoria, involved organizing the media coverage for the Victorian Bushrangers. Brittany also wrote articles, recorded press conferences and even attended Cricket games.
“I was the designated photographer at major event such as the Bushrangers Twenty20 and one day games, and the Gala Awards. The most rewarding part was being able to stand on the MCG in the middle of play and take photos,” says Brittany.
She was also required to publish articles and photos on the Victorian Bushrangers website and Facebook pages.
Brittany is well on her way to reaching her goal as becoming a sports journalist. She started her Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) course at Swinburne University in 2010 and decided to create an account for online sports publication, The Roar, where she submits articles of her own opinion.
Brittany also has had her footy match reports published on the Northern Football League (NFL) website and footy record. Her current internship with the VFL involves her attending and reporting on games across Victoria.
Her additional work with the Leader Newspapers also publishes Brittany’s match reports on the Herald Sun’s Local Footy website.
Brittany also has her own sports blog, which contains all her published work and features exclusive to her blog. She has found that her industry experience has improved her sports journalism skills.
“One thing I have learnt so far in my course is that it’s pivotal to have a blog to showcase all your work and capabilities to potential employers” says Brittany.
Brittany says interning has helped her understand how to work in an office and has become more confident with small things like answering phones, to the way she dresses.
Interning has also made Brittany think about her other career options such as marketing or PR. She has found that she isn’t confined to only doing journalism. Ideally she’d like to be a sports journalist for a leading Melbourne newspaper, along with regular sports radio and TV appearances.
Brittany’s sports industry experience is representative of her hard work and persistence to stand out from the rest. Brittany juggles university, a casual retail job, family and a boyfriend, but says the long-term benefits of interning out weigh the cost of having a huge social life.
You can follow Brittany on twitter. She regularly tweets live from VFL matches. Don’t forget to check out Brittany’s sports blog and her opinion articles published on The Roar.“It’s all hard work and dedication. If you really want it, you will work hard and things will start to fall into place. It’s by no means easy but people will begin to recognize you and reward you for all your hard work”, says Brittany.
“Get out there and do as many internships/work experience as you can because it will be a huge advantage in the future. Don’t use a lack of time as an excuse because if you really want it you will put the social life aside and get your priorities straight.
La Trobe University is now offering a Bachelor of Journalism (Sport) because of the high demand for a specialised degree.
Successful Intern Profile: Anthony Alsop
Posted: August 29, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, Anthony Alsop, Communications, Digital Sports Summit, Essendon Football Club, Interns, Media, Melbourne Tigers, Richmond Football Club, Social Media, Sports Spiel, Swinburne University, Twitter Leave a comment »
Anthony Alsop has found his experiences as an intern, landed him to the dream job that he has today. Anthony is the Digital Marketing Coordinator at the Richmond Football Club and is able to combine his passions for technology and sport in his every day professional life.
After being an intern at the Melbourne Tigers Basketball Club (NBL) and Essendon Football Club (AFL), Anthony now finds himself hiring interns to help him with his job at Richmond FC.
Anthony interned with the NBL Melbourne Tigers for three years, while studying a Bachelor of Business (Ecommerce) at Swinburne University.
On his first day at the Melbourne Tigers, Anthony got to work straight away by doing admin for the basketball club, something he didn’t expect.
“I was a bit under whelmed by the facilities there, but that only made me realize how much more they needed interns like myself”, says Anthony.
He helped out at the basketball club once a week and then started working on game nights. Anthony had an incredible time working with the Melbourne Tigers, learning about the inner workings of a sport organisation. He also got the chance to meet some of his basketball idols like Andrew Gaze, Lanard Copeland and Chris Anstey.
In 2007 Anthony graduated from university and worked in IT for two years, but felt that his passion for sport was urging him to reconsider his chosen career path.
After leaving his IT job and a brief trip overseas, Anthony found that he could combine his passions for technology and sport by working at a sport organisation.
Anthony realised that one internship wasn’t enough, so he emailed the Essendon Football Club to apply for an intern position. He says that his three years experience with the Melbourne Tigers helped his application stand out from the rest.
Even without a sports degree, Anthony’s references and real world experience granted him the opportunity to intern at Essendon FC for six months in their digital department.
“My internships made me realize how hard it can be to get a job in the industry you love. Landing that dream job is a combination of hard work, luck, the right time [and] who you know all working at once”, Anthony explains.
On a day-to-day basis Anthony looks after all of the Richmond FC social media, like Twitter, Facebook and youtube, the official Richmond Football Club website, three weekly newsletters for members, forums, videos and photos.
Anthony has two interns come in once a week to help produce videos for the Richmond FC website. The Richmond footy club posted video internship positions on Twitter and on university job boards. However, Anthony says another intern emailed Richmond FC and they were given a position based on their application.
Anthony tries to make his interns experience at Richmond FC as enjoyable as possible, because of his own experience as an intern.
“I try to get them to meet the players, or get them into some behind the scenes areas they wouldn’t normally get into. We can’t afford to give these guys a wage but we try and say thanks with tickets, merchandise, etc where we can.”
Anthony’s advice to students looking to intern at a sport organisation recommends using social media as a way to create your expert online identity. He says using Twitter, LinkedIn and having a blog can help students network and connect with organisations that they want to work for in the future.
But most of all, Anthony recommends getting out there and putting your degree into practice by interning.
You can follow Anthony and Richmond Football Club on Twitter. You can also connect with Anthony on his LinkedIn profile.“[I] can’t stress enough how much I think it helps you elevate yourself from your competitors for that dream job,” Says Anthony. “You need to not only know the right people but once you’re there you need to know your stuff too, get as much real work experience as you can because that is what will stay on your resume forever. And while everyone has their different stories, I wouldn’t be working where I am today without my two stops interning.”
Anthony also has a blog called Sports Spiel, that organises the Digital Sport Summit, Australia’s premiere sport and digital media event.
For students wanting to apply to intern at the Digital Sport Summit, please email info@digitalsport.com.au
Intern Profile: Aimme Briggs
Posted: August 22, 2011 Filed under: Intern Profiles | Tags: AFL, Aimme Briggs, Communications, Interns, Media, PR, Public Relations, Soul Fusion Records, Trail of Ink, Victoria University, Western Bulldogs Football Club Leave a comment »
On her first day interning with the Western Bulldogs Football Club, Aimme Briggs giggled like a school girl when former player Brad Johnson walked into the room.
Being a fan of the Western Bulldogs FC since she was born, Aimme was excited, nervous and scared about working with the footy club she has adored her whole life. She says meeting all the Western Bulldogs players was a dream come true.
Aimme, 21, has done several internships and work experience while completing her Bachelor of Communications (Public Relations) at Victoria University.
She has interned with Soul Fusion Records and Trail of Ink who are independent record labels and managers to local artists. Aimme is currently at Milk Kiddle Langmaid PR interning with Shereen Kiddle.
After reading an email sent out by Victoria University, inviting students to apply for an internship with the Western Bulldogs FC, Aimme jumped at the chance and sent in her application within a few hours.
Although she said she didn’t know anyone at the footy club, her previous work experiences made her application stand out. Aimme felt that working for the footy club was a great opportunity as this is where she sees her career heading.
“Ideally I would love to work for a sport club or the AFL” says Aimme. But her dream job is to be head of communications at the AFL or a footy club.
At the start of her Western Bulldogs FC internship in February, Aimme was in her last semester at university and juggled interning with Milkk PR and working part time at Safeway.
Each week Aimme would arrive at the Western Bulldogs FC and start her day by going through all the newspapers for stories written about the footy club or players. Aimme would and then head to a training session where media were in attendance.
“I would go with my boss and speak to the media to get the vibe on the questions they would be asking the coach” Aimme explains.
She was also asked to write biographies on coaches, players, game day wrap-ups and any functions that the footy club was hosting.
Everything Aimme has learnt at the footy club has been beneficial to her. Working with a sport organisation like the Western Bulldogs FC, shows that she knows how an AFL club works, and most importantly how they deal with the media.
“It has made me more aware on where I want to go with my career and shown me what I need to do to get there” says Aimme.
Aimme says that her colleagues at the footy club made her feel like a worker not an intern and loved her experience there. Each week Aimee was experiencing what it would be like to have her dream job.
“I kept looking at my boss thinking one day I’ll be where you are,” says Aimme. “I think that if you have [a] dream industry you must try and get work experience in that field even if you get shut down a few times you must keep trying.”
Although she found it hard juggling two internships, university work and her part time job, Aimme still found time for herself. She was determined to make it work and she was successful in doing so.
Working with the Western Bulldogs FC has strengthened Aimme’s belief that she wants to work in the AFL and nothing will stop her from achieving this.
Aimme also says that her varied work experiences with different organisations and industries have helped strengthen her resume. “Work experience is all about showing what you can do in the hopes that in may lead to a job or give you a contact to put on your resume” says Aimme.
Aimme believes that there is no greater experience than being an intern, it will give you great insight into your chosen career or industry.
You can follow Aimme on Twitter here You can also follow the Western Bulldogs Football Club on Twitter here. Aimme wrote this profile on Western Bulldogs assistant coach Brett Montgomery.“With every internship there is meeting new people, that is vital within this industry, it’s all about who you know and interning is the best way to show people what you can do and build your own name within the industry.
It’s always hard entering the work place as an intern you’re not going to be perfect to start off with that all comes with time and trying different things. Interning helps create and shape you into the career person you will be, employers expect interns to make mistakes and we need to in order to learn. Never be scared to try something new or ask a question because that’s what employers expect you to do in order for you to learn and grow.
So just go out there and try no matter what you have to do or even if you think you won’t get the job there is nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
