Beyond LSU | All Acess Pass

LSU Senior Gets the Inside Scoop with Television Internships

Megan is making the most of her college experience at LSU. Majoring in Mass Communication with a focus in broadcast journalism, Megan participated in LSU's National Student Exchange Program (NSEP), allowing her to attend Hunter College in Manhattan, New York, as a full-time student, while simultaneously earning course credit toward her degree at LSU.

When Megan learned she would spend a year studying in the "news capital of the world," she immediately applied for internships with some of the most respected news programs in the country. Thousands of students compete each year for a limited amount of internship positions with the national television networks. Megan was chosen for three of these jobs and spent her junior year working at NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, NBC's Dateline, and ABC's Good Morning America.

Megan earned course credit for her internships, but it was the experience of working in the media industry that made her year at Hunter College so worthwhile. Megan performed regular intern duties such as research and fact checking, tape logging and transcribing, and attending assignment meetings. However, her more exciting opportunities included hidden camera investigations, production of the morning concert series, and learning skills first hand from national correspondents. One of Megan's most memorable workdays was covering the second anniversary of 9/11.

While at NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, Megan worked with the Senior Foreign Producer. Megan was no longer learning about foreign affairs in a classroom; her job surrounded her with global events as they happened. "In the newsroom I began to understand how intricate the world is and how things here affect the world and how things abroad affect us. We are all connected."

Internships can be a valuable tool in securing jobs in the future. Megan's internships gave her the opportunity to work for NBC at the New Hampshire Democratic primary election. This summer she will be working for NBC again at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. "Working at the conventions this summer is a unique experience that will allow me to learn more about political news coverage as well our nation's political system."

Of course, living and working in New York meant Megan could experience a broad range of cultures with new friends and coworkers. Megan was also delighted to share the unique aspects about Louisiana culture and LSU. "The biggest misconception about LSU is that people think it's in New Orleans and that there is a Mardi Gras atmosphere year round," Megan recalls.

With LSU's football team winning the 2003 National Football Championship, Megan found herself missing the excitement. "It was definitely a hard semester to be away from LSU," Megan said. "I find other schools in the north do not have as much school pride as we do. For LSU, school pride is just part of our culture."

Megan will graduate in the spring of 2005 and she plans to focus on political journalism. Megan says she would love to work in New York City again some day, but Washington, D.C., is also a strong option. "The field of journalism can take you anywhere," Megan said. "Choosing a field you enjoy is one of the most important aspects about picking a career. If you enjoy what you are doing, it does not matter where you go."

Contact Robin Dunkin | LSU University Relations
Highlights Team
Fall 2004

Megan, Mass Communication

When asked what Megan would tell a prospective student who was thinking of attending LSU, she responded, "Take advantage of every opportunity you have to become involved in organizations on campus. There is at least one group for everyone."