Overview

Gain additional experience and credit for up to 3 semester hours through internships at newspapers, magazines, book publishing companies, television and radio stations, web companies, advertising and public relations agencies, and large and small businesses throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth region and the nation.

The internship program maintains strong ties with industry leaders in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, which provides students with excellent networking opportunities.

The Mayborn School of Journalism offers journalism internships and jobs at the UNT Career Center website. Students and alumni can log-in to see all listings for internships and part-time and full-time jobs. Students currently enrolled at UNT will use their EUID and password. Alumni can access the Eagle Network by registering. Directions can be found by selecting the alumni tab.

The school provides the services of a full-time career specialist who assists students with internship, job, professional and academic opportunities. Rachel Smith, UNT Career Development Specialist, is assigned to the Mayborn School of Journalism. Ms. Smith makes regular visits to the first floor of the GAB to meet with journalism students. To visit with her about careers, resume creation, or any related advice, please contact the Mayborn office for her scheduled times. The Mayborn office number is 940-565-2205.

How to Earn Credit for a Journalism Internship

1. Find an internship. Contact the newspaper, ad agency, public relations agency, television or radio station, web media organization or other organization and apply for an internship. Many organizations list internships on their websites. The Mayborn School of Journalism posts internships on the UNT Career Center website. Use your UNT EUID and password to log-in to view available internships. Also be sure to check for internship opportunities on our Facebook page. The internship must be directly related to your major. If you are unsure about this, speak first with your division head (Strategic Communications or News).
2. Have the internship approved by the division head who will supervise your internship. Before you can get a code to register for the internship, you must download and complete the Journalism 4800 Internship Placement Form and get your supervising professor and your department chair to sign it. A letter of confirmation from the employer must be attached. Give the completed and approved paperwork to the Journalism secretary, who will provide an enrollment code for you.
3. Consult with your division head about the number of hours per week you will need to work. Three hours of course credit = 300 hours of work; two hours of course credit = 200 hours of work; one hour of course credit = 100 hours of work.
4. During the internship, you must regularly submit a typed report to your faculty supervisor outlining what you have done and any problems you have encountered during your internship. The reports must be received by an assigned deadline. Check with your faculty supervisor to see how often and where to send them.
5. Have your supervisor on the job evaluate your internship. Your supervisor on the job will receive evaluation forms for midterm and final exam time. The supervisor must return the evaluations in order for you to receive a grade for the internship.
6. Fill out a final report form to assess your internship. Download the Final Student Internship Report and Evaluation form or pick up a copy from the journalism office. You must submit it to your faculty advisor by the end of dead week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the course numbers for internships?

The course numbers for internships are JOUR 4800.701 through 713 depending on your faculty adviser. The Journalism secretary will give you the code for your faculty advisor’s section.

Does a student need to have “major status” to qualify for an internship?

Yes.

Can a student be paid and get credit for internships at the same time?

Yes.

Are internships pass/no pass or are grades assigned?

Grades are assigned by the supervising professor, with the feedback and help from the supervisor in the business or organization which is hosting the student intern.

Is there a minimum GPA before someone can apply for and receive an internship?

Yes. The student must be a major in good standing. That means the student must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 based on all courses taken.

How should students turn in their weekly reports?

The supervising professor and student will set up specific dates on which the reports are due. Deadlines must be followed. Missing a deadline will result in a lower grade for students.

Can students get credit for the same Internship through Journalism and other programs at the same time?

No.

How many hours does a student work for Internship credit?

100 hrs. = 1 hr. credit; 200 hrs. = 2 hrs. credit; 300 hrs. = 3 hrs. credit

Does each professor have a section number for Internships?

Yes. Consult with the division head to approve your internship and to be enrolled in the correct section.

Internship Tips

What are you doing now that will get you the job you want tomorrow? Your self-motivation shows by the actions you take today.

Join a professional organization. You will learn more about your field and will have the opportunity to meet professionals who can become part of your network.

Meet with the professionals at their offices to learn more about what they do and their likes and dislikes about the industry.

Volunteer to write that PSA or design that brochure for a United Way agency. You will not only help the agency but you will also be adding to your portfolio clips.