Life as an Intern
Want to know what it's like to be an NPR intern? Live vicariously through us! We've put together some blurbs on our jobs and what we like to do for fun in Culver City, D.C., and New York. Check it out!
Interns at Work
All Things Considered.
Here at ATC, we assist journalism's finest in updating you on the day's most interesting and relevant issues. From Senate hearings to Sexy Beijing, we help conduct research and pull articles to ensure that the stories you hear are the most thorough and up-to-the-minute news you can get. Whether it's the head of the FDA or a small-town truck driver, the ATC interns are also responsible for tracking down, pre-interviewing and booking guests for our hosts to interview. At daily editorial meetings, we pitch story ideas and participate in shaping what makes up the show's contents for the day. And just to keep us on our toes (literally), the interns are also charged with running scripts to the hosts during ATC's daily two-hour broadcast. Whew! --Submitted by Andrea Domanick
Arts Desk.
As the Arts Desk Intern, I work with reporters who air their pieces on various shows. These pieces pertain to art, music, cinema and culture. I'm responsible for collecting audio for reporters to put in their pieces, arranging interviews, verifying facts for reporters, and updating the music wiki for reporters to check for new releases from artists. I also attend arts and music meetings and can pitch ideas during those times. That being said, it's important for the intern of this position to come from a background of music and to be comfortable when dealing with record labels. One of the most memorable experiences I had this summer was pulling clips for Susan Stamberg's piece on Alexander Calder. It was wonderful having worked with her and so many reporters who are dedicated to their work and journalistic integrity. I've learned a great deal of editing by observing producers and have had an amazing educational experience at NPR. --Submitted by Sarah Delia
Audience Insight and Research. We've been walking on AIR all summer--Audience Insight and Research, that is. Around here we keep our finger on the pulse of NPR. We know what brand of toothpaste NPR listeners prefer, what types of music NPR member stations are playing, and what NPR employees think of the in-house cafeteria. If you have a question, let us know and we can probably find out for you through surveys, focus groups, or database digging. Our job is to dig through statistics and turn those numbers into words so that we can help people understand, well, just about everything. --Submitted by Elizabeth Page and Amy Young
Audio Engineering.
As the audio engineering intern, I am responsible for engineering all of Intern Edition, from tracking to mixing and everything in between. I also gave the interns a crash course in putting together audio stories, showing them how to use a Marantz, upload audio, and edit with Dalet. Throughout the process, I basically ended up as the default co-producer on a lot of stories, coaching reporters with their delivery while tracking and fixing up countless tiny edit points. Besides doing hands-on work with Intern Edition, I spent a lot of time observing (hanging out with) engineers as they tracked, mixed, and drove live broadcasts, as well as helping set up a few remotes off-site. --Submitted by Carina Giamerese
Broadcast Library Music Intern.
If you have ever worked at a record store or cataloged your personal record collection, you'll feel right at home with this job. The bulk of your time is spent cataloging the 16,000+ commercial albums not in NPR's database. Rather than pulling album data automatically from a vendor such as Gracenote or AMG, all cataloguing is done manually at a level of detail that is specific to NPR. You may also get the chance to perform music reference duties when the main music librarian is not around, fielding question like, "Do you have any death songs I can play for the inventor of the Pringles can who just passed away?" I love the creativity these questions demand and the sense of satisfaction when one of your selections makes it on the air. --Submitted by Geoff Willard
Bryant Park Project's Multimedia Intern. By the time you read this posting, The Bryant Park Project will no longer exist. But I'm writing this blurb to give you a feel for how jobs using more new technology will be like at NPR. The Bryant Park Project's A.V. club shot and edited daily segments that aired on our blog for our loyal listeners. We also filmed the performances of musicians that stopped by our studios (from G-Love to the Breeders), and made short documentaries (from the rise of new graffiti art to the sale of the new iPhone). In addition to helping pitch ideas for a news show targeted at a younger audience, we used and made all sorts of interactive goodies to make news fun again! --Submitted by Meena Ramamurthy
Creative Services. As a graphic artist in NPR's creative services I come up with new and innovative designs for everything with NPR's name on it including billboards, buttons, web banners, and brochures. A project is given to me by clients within NPR, and I begin brainstorming right away. I then implement multiple variations on my ideas so the client can choose one of my design ideas. Before I have a finished product that's ready to be printed I will work on many modifications to get the design just right. It's always an exciting and rewarding process. I can also proudly admit that I'm not tired of the NPR red, blue, and black yet. --Submitted by Katherine Burk
Day to Day (NPR West). Since Day to Day plays on the East Coast at 9 AM PST, I'm in my car at 5:30 every morning, racing to get to work while most of LA is still hitting the snooze button. Still, the freedom of a job with Day to Day makes the early hours worthwhile. A lot of my time is spent researching articles and writing announcer language, but the best part of the job is when I call press people for musicians or authors I want to profile. Who knew that the magic words "I'm calling from NPR..." could get you celebrities' cell phone numbers? And what could beat knowing the day's news while everyone around you is still asleep? --Submitted by Ben Phelps-Rohrs
Development.
As a Development intern I'm involved in both event planning and foundations. Events that I've worked on are the Trustees Board meeting and the annual Weekend in Washington. I didn't attend the Board meeting because it was in LA, but I was helping with the preparation for it right up until the event itself. With regards to Weekend in Washington, I've been very involved in all the preliminary planning. On the foundations side of the Development office, I've worked a lot with the Enterprise database, entering and editing information on NPR's donors. I've gotten to know a lot about how NPR currently funds and hopes to fund its future programming. --Submitted by Anna Heller Sebok
Elections Unit. In the Elections Unit we're covering all things election-related, which for me usually means listening to press conference calls from the McCain or Obama campaigns. However, my work has not been limited to the Presidential election. I've helped update and maintain our electronic Senate and House maps, researched for a Latino voter series, and helped with the "It's All Politics" weekly podcasts. My last two weeks will be spent feverishly compiling the convention briefing books. These binders will be full of random facts, which the hosts for our live convention coverage will use to find out everything they ever wanted to know about the Democratic and Republican conventions...did you know that the last time Denver hosted the Democratic convention was 100 years ago? --Submitted by Natalie Friedman
Human Resources. I've jumped into the Human Resources department at an exciting time with many organization-wide changes taking place. The HR Staffing team has taken me under their wings and shown me the ropes of everything from resume searches and working job fairs to helping with the Fall 2008 Internship Program. Each week I publish the updated Employment Opportunities listing for NPR. The document is sent out to various organizations and schools to keep them updated on our current jobs openings. I've also gotten the opportunity to assist in processing resumes, using NPR's applicant tracking system, posting jobs, and various analysis of hiring data. --Submitted by Alex Fishman
Intern Edition Executive Producer.
"Executive Producer" essentially means doing a little of everything -- and knowing how to find help when you need it. I interviewed and hired Intern Edition's senior staff, organized and ran the IE and senior staff weekly meetings, and recruited NPR reporters and producers to share their skills with us in regular workshops. I helped teach interns learn how to record sound, edit their scripts, track their narration, and edit their audio. Being (and staying!) organized is critical; I had to keep track of all the reporting, editing, tracking, mixing, premiere planning, website development, story selection, music selection, host auditions and selection, and pretty much every other element of Intern Edition as it unfolded. I encouraged people to stick with their ideas, or sometimes approach their story in a different way. And like Jessie, my partner in crime, I had to come up with good answers to millions of questions! --Submitted by April Fehling
Intern Edition Managing Editor.
I spent a great deal of time shaping story pitches ("Who would you talk to for an opposing point of view?") and editing scripts ("Really, I think you should introduce this source further up..."). Knowledge of both print and broadcast conventions was really helpful. Managing editor is a catchall position that involves lots of cross-division communication, decision-making and priority-setting. I had to think across platforms and past this summer. And I had a hand in promotions, producing, web design, blog editing, reporter training, and I answered a million unforeseen questions that come up along the way. --Submitted by Jessie Gasch
Marketing and Station Relations.
When I am not lurking the halls trying to "run into" Carl Kasell, I spend most days creating material that NPR's member stations can use to promote our programming. From billboards to bumper stickers to pins we just try to spread the good news of National Public Radio! Some random perks of the job have included picking out "freebies" like NPR pens and folders and creating some exciting video clips for stations to use on their websites. I had the NPR elections coverage theme song stuck in my head for weeks as a result, but it was worth it! --Submitted by Chessie Gruen
Media Relations.
As the Media Relations Intern I assist the department in anything they need throughout the entire publicity process: from drafting a release, to compiling and updating a press list and ultimately to sending the release or advisory out. A large portion of time is spent researching new media outlets and contacts for the various stories, interviews or series that we are working on. On a daily basis I am responsible for sending out a nation wide release of NPR's newsmaker interviews for the following day. It is a fun and welcoming department and I have really enjoyed working here! --Submitted by Jacqueline Cartier
Morning Edition. Contrary to popular belief, the Morning Edition interns do not get up early. At least, not really, really early...most of the time. But we do get to see how one of NPR's flagship shows gets made--start to finish. Because we're always looking for story ideas, interns are encouraged to get involved at the editorial meetings, follow up on stories and get copy on air. And while we'd be happy to go on a Starbucks run (no, really), we're more likely to make a story pitch than make coffee. --Submitted by Sean Bueter
National Desk. With more than 80 reporters, producers and editors in Washington and 18 domestic bureaus, there's never a dull moment on NPR's National Desk. As the desk's intern, I assist editors and reporters, whether they're here in the building or over in California. The bulk of my day's work involves meeting with the desk editors to share story ideas, logging interviews, dubbing audio, retrieving archival tape, writing short pieces for the web, or helping reporters with research. Occasionally, I'll have the chance to get out of the office and help conduct interviews on location. But the best part of my job by far is having the opportunity to learn from and work with so many talented and well-seasoned reporters. --Submitted by Ashley Lau
National Public Broadcasting Archives.
NPR shows produce a lot of paper records, and a lot (a lot!) of audio records. These are important to document the history of NPR, public broadcasting, and radio and culture at large. So what happens to them once they're no longer in active use? That's where the National Public Broadcasting Archive steps in. We house records from NPR and many other public broadcasting organizations. We organize and preserve these unique records so they are available for current and future researchers. This summer I've been working with records from the classical music show Performance Today. While other NPR interns spent their summers researching hard-hitting news stories, I got to ponder a question the PT staff posed to their listeners: Who would you put on a baseball team made up entirely of classical musicians and composers? --Submitted by Amber Forrester
News & Notes. An intern at News and Notes should be prepared to be flexible and responsive. Your duties will basically consist of whatever the production team needs done at that moment. Typical duties include booking guests for the show, printing scripts for the host and director, writing a daily news digest for the News & Notes blog, as well as attending the daily editorial meeting. You may also be called upon to assist producers with writing questions, pre-interviewing guests, researching for future segments, finding guests to book, assisting in the studio, etc. --Submitted by Blake Bishton
Newscast Unit. I'm the Newscast Unit's only intern and I have an AFTRA waiver, so I am able to do work for air. I do production work like pulling cuts from the AP and BBC wires and WANDS. I lay-up and sometimes mix spots and wraps by NPR reporters and member station reporters to be used during newscasts. I've done some editing, directed newscasts at the top of the hour, and written spots for air. During ATC and ME, there are newscasts at the top and the bottom of the hour which means deadlines every hour. The Newscast Unit moves at a very fast pace! It can get hectic, but if you thrive in a fast paced environment, there is always something new to learn. --Submitted by Whitney Jones
NPR Labs. The labs internship is technical in nature, and involves a mixture of computer programming, electronics, and a variety of other activities involved in supporting technical initiatives for public radio. For instance, one project we work on is mapping station congressional districts and MATLAB software to automate RF test equipment in our lab. At the beginning of the internship, I was in charge of setting up our experimental HD Radio Station (87.9 Mhz) in the Lab, which provides Grove Salad on HD1, World Wide on HD2, and Folk Alley on HD3. Additionally, I run NPR Lab's PAD Generators to populate the program associated data (PAD) for different HD programs, which eventually are sent to HD radio receivers to be viewed by consumers. --Submitted by Paul Littleton
Office of the General Counsel.
WE THE INTERNS of the Office of the General Counsel, in order to form a more perfect organization, establish non-profit justice, insure regulatory compliance, provide for the defense against litigation, promote public radio's welfare, and secure the blessings of copyright protections for NPR and its employees, do ordain and establish this job description for future interns at the Office of General Counsel.
ARTICLE I:
1. Researched and wrote memoranda on intellectual property issues.
2. Read and analyzed proposed FCC rules.
3. Drafted and reviewed employment, services and vendor contracts.
ARTICLE 2:
1. Gained a broad foundation in media and non-profit corporate law.
2. Mentored and trained by a group of friendly, talented and experienced attorneys.
3. Witnessed the effects of our work in the on-going development of National Public Radio.
Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the interns present.
In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names,
Jeremy Hunt
Anna Kadyshevich
Rebekah Lewis
Office of the Ombudsman. Ombudsman -- tongue twister eh? It wasn't until I had to answer the phone and say "Office of the Ombudsman" ten times a day that I could say it right. Now, I have attained fluency not only in my job title, but in my responsibilities. The Ombudsman is the public's representative to NPR -- a check and balance on NPR programming. As an intern, I listen to NPR's listeners who call to make corrections or suggestions, and on occasion, rant. I then look into the callers' concerns -- research, listen to stories, and find transcripts -- to see if they are valid. I was also assigned a semester-long project researching NPR's follow-up coverage of the June 11th US air strike in Pakistan. I wanted to see if NPR has "news-ADD" like many other news organizations -- which do blitz coverage on a story and then fail to follow-up. --Submitted by Sofia Ijaz
Science Desk. Just as scientists are always making new discoveries, there's always something new at the Science Desk. When we aren't producing audio slideshows about Mars or "webifying" radio stories on everything from European health care to Australian goanna lizards, we're assisting in research, transcribing interviews and otherwise helping desk reporters and producers. In the rare quiet moments at the desk, we've managed to sneak away for Intern Edition¬ stories. Collectively we've covered model rocket clubs, an arts festival with a penchant for archeology and origami conventions. --Submitted by Brian Johnson and Aaron Scott
Talk of the Nation.
Elizabeth Anderson interns at Talk of the Nation where she does routine stuff like distributing mail and making sure the printer has paper. Sometimes the mail stacks up and the printer runs out of paper when she's dubbing audio, booking guests, researching for future programs, and sitting in on meetings, and walking (sometimes running) scripts to studio 3A. She loves Wednesdays, the day TOTN is broadcast before a live audience at the Newseum. Liz stands at the group entrance, smile on face, guest list in hand greeting and chatting with audience members before they're shuffled off to attend NPR's greatest show *smile*. --Submitted by Elizabeth Anderson
Weekend All Things Considered.
WATC produces an hour-long segment for Saturday and for Sunday. Each week I pitch story ideas at our Wednesday meeting and then I am assigned to a two-way (an interview with the host). I begin my search for interviewees online and call people who seem promising. After a chat, I determine if the person is a "good talker." Then I find a way to get them on the air. This requires finding a nearby studio or a producer in their area who can file audio from their home. On show days I run scripts, dub audio into Dalet, and book last minute interviews. At WATC, we try to live by the credo "Nothing Boring Aloud". --Submitted by Julia Simon
Interns at Play
Despite busy schedules at NPR, interns made time to roam around the District sampling restaurants, museums, concerts and more. Below you'll find a few of their favorite haunts.
Food
The Black Cat/Red Room Bar. Great divey live music venue, dance spot, and bar. And it's 18 and over, so underage interns can have a great time, too. There's a cafe attached for your late night post-show munchies, too.
Chopt' is located just 3 blocks away from NPR's headquarters and is an intern favorite. However, make sure to call your order in ahead of time because lunch lines are looooong!
The Front Page could be a favorite just for the journalism theme, but interns report that the food is delicious.
Georgetown Cupcake prevailed in a throwdown for DC's best cupcakes when interns went taste testing through the district. Baked and Wired is another great option for red velvet scrumptiousness.
Julia's Empanadas: Cheap! Delicious! And the sweet ones...yum yum yum. Another big value for your money. Pick one (or several) up in Adams Morgan or South of Dupont Circle.
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe is open late, sells excellent books, and...their pie "melts in your mouth, and is worth every penny of the $7.95 it'll cost you."
Mr. Yogato "is the very best frozen yogurt I've had in D.C." is what some interns have said. Plus the store features fun discount deals (ex: get a "yogato" stamp on your forehead and you can have a 20% discount).
Napoleon is a delightful (very) French restaurant in Adams Morgan with a great outdoor patio! Awesome desserts, crepes, and...nutella espresso!
Pizzeria Paradiso is right next door to Tangy Sweet (and there's a larger one, with a great downstairs bar, in Georgetown).Interns recommend making a night of it and trying both in one go.
RFD: Excellent bar just down the street from HQ. If there's a beer you like, they have it, and there's a full bar for non-beer lovers, too. And there's a large outdoor patio in the back.
Tangy Sweet Frozen Yogurt has been recommended by multiple interns. Located right on Dupont Circle, there's plenty to see and do around the area as you enjoy your frozen treat.
Vapiano is a pasta lounge. Sound intriguing? You order your pasta at a bar, watch it be prepared fresh before your eyes and then head to the lounge area to enjoy the freshest, tastiest pasta DC has to offer.
Shopping
Pangea Artisans Market is a collection of fairtrade gifts, crafts, jewelry and more from all over the world. If Pangea is out of your price range, its still a wonderful place to enjoy a cup of coffee and browse through the colorful treasures.
Capitol Hill Books (used books) can be an overwhelming experience. Books are perched precariously on any flat (and some not so flat) surfaces in this rambling three story house. Can't find what you're looking for? Ask any of the friendly staff and they'll help you track it down.
Kramer Books & Afterwards Cafe (new books) is a DC institution. Though the cafe is a bit overpriced, the book selection is tremendous and definitely worth visiting.
Boutiques and Outlets in Annapolis, Maryland are aplenty and are just 30 minutes away by car.
Cusp may not carry anything in an intern's budget, but it's a fun place to window shop on a lazy afternoon in Georgetown
Pentagon City Mall is your one stop shop (or mall) for everything you could possibly want. This multistoried mall is accessible by metro (off the blue line) and has a sizable Forever 21, Macy's, Sephora, and Express. With a gigantic food court, multiple spas, and a plethora of stores -- interns have been rumored to have gotten lost here for hours.
Events/Destinations
Ashtanga Yoga DC: If you love the simplicity and rigor of Ashtanga yoga -- or you've never heard of it but want to try it -- Ashtanga Yoga DC is my favorite studio. They have student rates and they are just a few steps away from the Tenleytown American University Metro stop."
Screen on the Green is where interns often head on Monday evenings to watch free movies and relax after a long day reporting, editing, and cataloguing.
The Hirshhorn Museum houses a formidable collection of modern art. Not to be missed is the basement exhibition hall that features a changing selection of art.
DC by Foot walking tours (FREE!) is a humorous and thoroughly entertaining tour of DC's most famous monuments featuring information on George Washington's dog and when Benjamin Franklin electrocuted a turkey. It runs every day, rain or shine, and is a fantastically fun way to get to know the city a little better.
Eastern Market is a cacophony of sounds, sites, and hidden treasurers. Bring a canvass bag large enough to hold a week's worth of fresh vegetables from the farmers market. And don't forget to check out the flee market, sample the variety of flavorful foods, and browse the hand-made arts tables -- which change every week.
Jazz at the Sculpture Gardens is another place interns can be found relaxing after work. Performers range from Argentine tango to classic jazz and the beautiful surroundings mean you can let the troubles of your week drift away with the notes.
The National Zoo is famous for its pandas, it's free, and if the animals don't entertain you, the people watching certainly will.
Marriott Hotel Pool For $10, you can use the pool for the day. Considering that you pay this much for a movie or a drink, it's definitely worth it!