Internship Program

What is an Internship?

Our internships are designed to provide professional experience relevant to a student’s course of study, and to integrate the student’s on-site work experience with the skills and theories learned in the classroom.

 Who is eligible for an Internship (CMJ 495)?

  • Declared major or minor in Communication, Journalism, or Media Studies.
  • Junior standing (a minimum of 54 credit hours completed before beginning the Internship.)
  • Minimum of 12 credit hours of CMJ courses.
  • 2.5 GPA in CMJ courses and a 2.0 GPA in the student’s overall course work.

 Who is eligible for a Student Media Practicum (CMJ 395)?

  • Students who earn a C- or better in CMJ 136.
  • Permission of Department Chair (obtained through submission of application form (see below) to CMJ Internship Coordinator.

What do you need to be able to take an internship?

  • Complete the application form (see below).
  • Permission/signature of the CMJ Internship Coordinator and Department Chair. Meeting with the CMJ Internship Coordinator, Ms. Ellie Markovitch (ellie.markovitch@maine.edu), is encouraged but optional.
  • Be registered during a regular registration period.

NOTE: Three credit hours of CMJ 495 or CMJ 395 are required for JOURNALISM majors.

How do I get started?

1. Locate an internship

2. Discuss the requirements of your internship experience with a supervisor at the organization. (They may have an interview application process).

3. Complete a CMJ 495 or CMJ 395 application and register for the course upon approval.

Where do I get a CMJ 495 or CMJ 395 application?

Application forms are available here:

Please make sure you submit completed forms to Ms. Markovitch, Internship Coordinator.

 

How do I receive credit?

  • Maintain a precise, detailed, complete log of your internship hours and activities.
  • Keep a daily journal of your experiences. Record all major tasks you engage in, as well as your observations, feelings, reactions, and interactions.
  • Contact the CMJ Internship Coordinator once a month to deliver a brief “progress report.”
  • Build a portfolio containing written, audiovisual, and other products of your internship.
  • Write a final paper. This final paper should be 10 pages long, double-spaced, and should contain the following elements: (a) a brief description of duties performed during the internship; (b) a discussion section that integrates material from your course work with the internship experience; and (c) a concluding section that details the things you have learned about the communication and journalism disciplines during your internship. You may also comment on the positive and negative aspects of the internship, though the paper should not focus primarily on your emotional responses to the experience.
  • Provide a copy of your letter of appreciation to your On-site Supervisor.

What else should I know?

  • Students must register for CMJ 495 credit during the university’s registration period, the semester the Internship will be conducted.
  • Students may register for 1, 2, or 3 credit hours of CMJ 495 per semester and for a maximum of 6 total CMJ 495 credit hours.
  • Each CMJ 495 credit requires 50 hours of on-site work; Thus, the typical 3-credit internship requires 150 hours of on-site experience.
  • Internships are graded courses and cannot be taken on a pass/fail basis.
  • Internships may be paid or unpaid.
  • CMJ 495 Internship credit is not awarded for an experience that is unrelated to a student’s course of study.
  • You cannot earn internship or practicum credits retroactively; you must earn them during the semester in which you were registered for CMJ 395/495.
  • During the internship: You will keep a log of your hours; a journal; and complete progress reports.
  • Your Internship Supervisor will complete an evaluation of you and your work.
  • Send a formal letter of appreciation to your On-site Supervisor
  • Need another form click here.