SPRING 2013
EAST CAROLINA SCHOOL OF Communication INTERNSHIP INSIGHT
P I R AT E P R O F I L E S
R I C H D E V I TA MEGAN HANNON “INTO THE BLUE”
A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE FUTURE OF COLLEGE GRADS
INTERN GALLERY TA K I N G A THE IMAGE
GLANCE AT OF SUCCESS
“MAKE YOUR MARK” PIRATE
Q&A
PIRATE W
hen Rich DeVita was a senior at East Carolina University obtaining his undergraduate degree in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations, he did an internship with the Orange Bowl. “I chose ECU because of the school spirit and football, the size of the school, the beautiful campus and great programs,” explainsed DeVita in an e-mail interview.
DeVita worked for an internship during the summer of 2011 at the Bowl is a non-profit organization that puts on many events in the headlined by the Orange Bowl football game in January,” said DeVita interned in August, where he had Bowl. “I worked primarily department,” says contracts with comparan important errands, worked in marketing, an FIU football camp.”
“THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT INTERNSHIPS PREPARE YOU FOR A CAREER.”
Orange Bowl. “The Orange South Florida community DeVita. Miami, Fla., from May to many duties at the Orange with the sponsorship sales DeVita. “We worked on nies to sponsor events. I also did research on companies, and helped organize and run
RICH DEVITA
AN INTERNSHIP WITH ORANGE BOWL Article by: Justin Bolton DeVita gained a lot of memories while working with other interns in Florida. “I have a lot of memories from my time in Miami,” explains DeVita. “One of the best was going to a Heat/Bulls Eastern Conference Finals game, which Miami won. I also spent lots of time on South Beach.” He relates that he got his internship. “My very important when sponsoring events,” me with my research in a good communicator business.” DeVita said his internafter college.
Rich DeVita dressed to impress at his internship Photo courtesy of ECU School of Communication
“BEING A GOOD COMMUNICATOR CAN HELP IN ANY SITUATION OR BUSINESS.”
to put his skills to use during communication skills were talking to companies about says DeVita. “It also helped marketing and sales. Being can help in any situation or ship prepared him for life
“I know that an internship can help prepare you for the real world,” says DeVita. “It gave me real experience working in a real office. I learned all about what I want to do for my career. There is no question that internships prepare you for a career.”
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PROFILE
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT OUTSTANDING STUDENTS & THEIR ENDEAVOURS.
Megan Hannon A BRILLIANT FUTURE T he road to finding a job after college can be more challenging for some than others. Students who participate in real work experiences such as internships have been proven more likely to receive jobs after college. According to aramarkcollegerelations. com, students who completed an internship had a 60 percent better chance of landing a full time job after college. East Carolina University graduate and Greenville native Megan Hannon fell into this category. Hannon graduated from the School of Communication with a concentration in public relations in May 2008. Hannon went on to receive a master’s in health communication which she completed in December 2009. The summer between her junior and senior year, Hannon applied for an internship in New York City.
students several things. First, it allows an individual to test out a certain professional areas. Additionally, students can gain amazing skills in an area that can be put to use in the next position. An internship is part of the educational experience,” Kean said. Dur-
ing her time as a student
within the School of Communication, Hannon said there were several professors
during her college years. “Dr. Kean is the most intelligent instructor I have ever had. What I loved about her the most was that not only was she a great professor but she had real life work experience,” Hannon said. “Megan Hannon is a very positive and hard working individual. She was always prepared and ready to work on whatever assignment or project she was given,” Kean said. After receiving her master’s, Hannon decided to apply for another internship in New York City in the summer of 2010. Hannon had the opportunity to work for Harrison and Shriftman. The company is a public relations, special events and marketing firm. Hannon said she worked primarily with promotional events team. While Hannon was in search of a job, she was contacted by her supervisor from her internship at Harrison and Shriftman regarding a job opening at Tiffany and Co. in New York. “She thought I would be great for this job. She said if I sent her my resume she would put it in the right hands. I got a call from human resources and had a phone interview then had another phone interview with my main boss,” Hannon said.
“I had an internship with Berk Communications in New York City and I worked mainly with the events team within the public relations portion of the company,” Hannon said. Although her internship lasted just eight weeks, it was Hannon’s first real work experience within her field of study. Dr. Linda Kean, director of the Megan Hannon, current special events and School of Communication believes that holding an internship position promotional assistant for Tiffany and Co. Photo courtesy of ECU School of Communication before graduation is extremely beneficial for students. “Having internships prior to graduation is incredibly valuable. I believe it gives the
who were influential. Dr. Linda Kean, for example, was an inspiration to Hannon
Hannon flew to New York City. The interview went well because the next day Hannon was called and offered the position. She is currently working as a special events and promotional assistant for Tiffany and Co.
Article by: Sarah Lloyd
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Into th SINK
MANY STUDENTS FEAR WHAT LIFE
Will they ace their interviews? Will they land their dream job or a j
WELL IT TURNS OUT COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO SUCCESFULLY COMPLETE
“UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR 20- TO IN APRIL 2012” NY TIMES
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND
WHO HAD PARTICIPATED IN INTERNSH KET THAN THEIR CLASSMATES WHO HAD NOT HAD THAT EXP
EMPLOYERS EXTENDED JOB OFFER TERNS, UP FROM 57 PERCENT IN 2001.
IN 2008
“Employers say
31% of new employees come from their own internship pr
heSWIM Blue
E WILL BE LIKE AFTER COLLEGE.
job at all? How will they set themselves apart from the competition?
E ATLEAST ONE INTERNSHIP STAND A BETTER CHANCE AT SUCCESS...
O 24-YEAR-OLDS WAS 13.2 PERCENT
NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES HIPS DID FAR BETTER IN THE JOB MAR-
D EMPLOYERS
PERIENCE.
RS TO NEARLY 70 PERCENT OF THEIR IN-
rograms, and
62% had internship experience of some kind.” NACE
INTERNSHIP
Gallery Lauren Keranakis interning at the ECU Campus Recreation and Wellness Marketing department. Photo contributed by Lauren Kernakis
ECU Student, Brian Taylor, featured above while interviewing Sam Mikulak, during his internship with Inside Gymnastics magazine. Photo contributed by Brian Taylor.
Internship Coordinator Dr. Todd Fraley and School of Communication Director Dr. Linda Kean, at the Spring 2011 School of Communication Student Awards Ceremony. Photo contributed by: ECU School of Communication
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Abbey Way and Amanda Winsor at the School of Communication’s Spring 2012 student awards ceremony. Photo contrinuted by Christie Church
Student Kelsey Brosi during an internship with E! Network in Los Angeles in 2011. Photo contributed by East Carolina University School of Communication
Stephen McNulty at UNC vs. ECU game while interning for Purple! magazine. Photo contributed by ECU School of Communication
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INTERNSHIP Featured above: Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers received his BS in Communciation & BFA in Art from ECU in 1999 and later formed the band. This pirate certainly made his mark. Photo provided by: ECU School of Communication
-PLORATION Make your mark.
The School of Communication
blends scholarship with real-world experience in order to prepare our students for the challenges they face as they enter today’s competitive job market. We facilitate internships for students in order to introduce them to the professional world they are preparing to enter as journalists, filmmakers, public relation professionals, and all of the many professional fields our students enter upon graduation. We have placed students in internships in such varied settings as the following media:
LOCAL INTERNSHIPS
NATIONAL INTERNSHIPS
American Red Cross Center For Family Violence and Prevention ECU Alumni Association ECU Athletics – Media Relations ECU Campus Recreation and Wellness Evolve Marketing Pitt County Arts Council Pitt Memorial Hospital Pitt County Boys and Girls ClubReal Crisis Center United Way Pitt County Uptown Greenville WITN WNCT WCTI WWAY Wilmington
CBS – LA & NY HBO Johns Hopkins Health Mercedes Benz MTV National Republican Congressional Committee NBA NBC UniversalSirius/XM Radio Sony BMG Music Sundance Channel/Film Festival Universal Records Wake Med
Students electing the internship-for-credit option must enroll in COMM 4091 & complete the registration process by the beginning of the internship semester. For more information contact: the School of Communication’s Internship Coordinator.
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F r e q u e nASKED tly QA
Why would I want an internship?
An internship is like getting immersed in some aspect of your career before you are out in the work world full time. You can learn what you like or don’t like about a profession. You can learn more about how a particular business works. You can network with professionals doing what you aspire to do. You can gain valuable experiences that make you more desirable for that first job after college. You can add the internship to your resume.
Q A
Are internships mandatory in School of Communication?
No. We encourage students to complete a variety of pre-professional work experiences. Besides internships, students should register with The Career Center and take advantage of opportunities they offer. Students should also find opportunities to observe professionals on the job, to do service learning in their classes, to do independent volunteer work, and to get other part-time or full-time paid work related to their intended career.
QA
Will I get paid during my internship?
It depends on who is sponsoring the internship. Some internships are paid. Many are not. Either way, you will be getting valuable work experience to help you prepare for your career. (By the way, we are encouraging more internship providers to offer internships with pay.)
Featured: ECU Intern Rachel Castro in Germany as part of the Fulbright Program Photo Contributed by ECU
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
Please visit the School of Communication intenship page: w w w. e c u . e d u / c s - c f a c / c o m m / c u r r e n t / i n t e r n s h i p s. c f m
NOT A COMMUNICATION STUDENT? Visit the ECU Internship page:
w w w. e c u . e d u / c s - s t u d e n t a f f a i r s / c a r e e r / s t u d e n t s / l o o k i n g. c f m
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C mmunication
has been an active force on campus and significant contributor to East Carolina University since 1989 when ECU began offering a BA in Communication in a Department of Communication. We have come a long way since 1989. Today we are the School of Communication, housed in the College of Fine Arts and Communication. We offer a BS in communication with four different undergraduate concentrations—i nterpersonal and organizational communication, media studies, journalism and public relations. In fall 2006 we began offering our MA in communication with an emphasis in health communication. Our interpersonal/organizational concentration is also offered completely online for distance education students. In total, the School of Communication now has more than 1,000 students and more than 30 faculty members and staff.
E C U
has a proud heritage. From early days as a school for training teachers to a national doctoral research university, we have continually served our region with quality and since 1907. Our commitment is an expression of our motto, Servire, or To Serve. We believe that no university has done a better job of public service than East Carolina University, and we will continue to be a for how to use university resources for the greater public good. ECU is committed to the three traditional missions of the public university: service, teaching, and research. We take great in the record of achievement and success that has been established by our many alumni. We remember the many hard-fought victories that make up the storied tradition of Pirate athletics. We are proud of our national and international leadership in medicine, health sciences, and teacher preparation. We are proud of our award-winning in the visual and performing arts. Above all, we are proud of the vital contributions our people and programs have made for the betterment of North Carolina.
commitment
national model
pride
excellence
Kelsey Brosi during an internship with E! Network, Los Angeles 2011 (Courtesy of ECU School of Communication)
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION, EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY www.ecu.edu/comm
102 Joyner E., Greenville, N.C. 27858
252.328.4227
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