Media, Communications and Journalism

Internships

The Department of Media, Communications and Journalism has developed an extensive internship program. While internships are required for students majoring in advertising/public relations, we encourage all of our students, regardless of sequence, to complete an internship.

Our students are looking for internships in the following areas:

  • Advertising and Public Relations
  • Broadcast and Digital Journalism
  • Film and Media Arts

Internships provide students with valuable hands-on experience, allowing them to learn while gaining “real-world” work experience. You'll also have the opportunity to learn from the best communications professionals. Internships help students clarify career goals and aspirations and enhance their resumes. It also gives you the chance to apply what you've learned in your classes.

Looking for an Internship?

The MCJ Department offers internships for credit (with the MCJ 191I: Internship course) during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. Start looking for your internships EARLY. Once you have found your internship, complete the required documents to enroll in the MCJ191I prior to the start of the semester.

MCJ 191I is offered for 1 to 3 units, with a repeatable limit of 6 units. 150 hours = 3 units; 100 hours = 2 units; 50 hours = 1 unit. The course is graded on a letter grade basis.

Requirements:

  • You are an MCJ major or minor.
  • You have completed at least one of your major option area courses.
  • You do not currently work for the company you wish to sign up with to do an internship.
  • The supervisor of your internship (e.g., the person you will be working under at your internship) must have a minimum of five years of full-time experience in the field/area you will be engaged with in your internship. 
  • If you wish to intern for a company, the company must be approved and have completed all the required contracts with the University.
  • You must secure your internship and enroll in MCJ191i no later than the second week of the new semester.

Steps to Take To Secure an Internship

If you are interested in enrolling in MCJ191I and completing an internship for course credit, here's what to do:

  1. Find your internship. You should seek out companies in your area that offer internships (TV stations, marketing agencies, newspapers/magazines, production houses, etc.). Visit HireFresnoState to see any listed internship opportunities. Contact Professor Cheryl Gardner (MCJ Internship Coordinator) if you need help finding a company or to check whether the company is approved. 
  2. Watch your Fresno State email for announcements from the MCJ Internship Coordinator on new internship opportunities.
  3. Secure your internship. Contact them, meet them and impress them! Treat this just like a job interview! Please keep in mind that if the company is not on our approved list, they will need to sign a contract and be approved before you can do an internship with them.
  4. Complete the Online form. Fill out your portion of the form.
    1. Be sure to include your supervisor’s name and email address from the company where you’ll be interning.
    2. Enter the name of the MCJ internship coordinator, Cheryl Gardner, in the "internship course faculty" section
    3. Remind your internship supervisor to watch for an email from AdobeSign.
    4. When you complete your portion of the form, it will automatically go to your supervisor, then to the university coordinator and then to Professor Gardner. Contact Professor Gardner with any questions  
  5. Once the steps above are completed and the internship is approved, Prof. Sidlow will send you a permission number to enroll in 191I.
  6. Start your internship and complete the required hours for the number of units you are enrolled in.

Requirements During Your Internship

  1. You and your supervisor at the company should keep track of your hours (a tracking sheet will be posted on Canvas).
  2. You should complete the required hours for the enrolled number of units (1 unit = a minimum of 50 hours total (25 hours by midterm); 2 units = a minimum of 100 hours total (50 hours by mid-term); 3 units = a minimum of 150 hours total (75 hours by midterm)
  3. Watch Canvas for announcements and assignments.
  4. Once you have completed the required midterm hours, you will need to complete your Midterm Self-Evaluation Form. This form will be on Canvas.
  5. When you are finished with your internship (completed the required hours for the enrolled units), you will also need to complete your Final Self-Evaluation Form. This form is also on Canvas.
  6. When you have completed your internship, you will be required to give your supervisor the Supervisor Evaluation Form. This form will be made available on Canvas. The supervisor will need to complete the evaluation and send it directly to the internship coordinator.
  7. Failure to complete the above evaluations will result in a failing grade for the internship. Failure to complete at least 3/4 of the required internship hours and/or a poor supervisor evaluation will also result in a failing grade.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Professor Gardner, MCJ Internship Coordinator.

Thank you for your interest in working with our MCJ department students. We've included some useful information on this page for companies interested in recruiting students for internships.

Internship Requirements

  • To complete an internship for college credit, students must be MCJ majors or minors and work for an organization first approved by the MCJ Internship Coordinator.
  • Students must be under the direct supervision of someone with at least 5 years of experience in the area(s) in which the student will be engaged and learning.
  • Students are not allowed to work from a personal residence.
  • Students are required to complete the required hours for the enrolled number of units (1 unit = a minimum of 50 hours total (25 hrs by midterm); 2 units = a minimum of 100 hours total (50 hrs by midterm); 3 units = a minimum of 150 hours total (75 hrs by midterm). Companies should not exceed the required hours.
  • We offer internships for credit in the Fall (August-December), Spring (January-May) and Summer (End of May to the end of July) semesters. Please contact the MCJ Internship Coordinator to learn about specific dates.

Learning Site Requirements

  • The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that allows the knowledge gained in the classroom to be applied. It must not be simply to advance the employer's operations or to be the work a regular employee would routinely perform.
  • The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
  • The experience has a defined beginning and end, as well as a job description with desired qualifications. 
  • There are clearly defined learning objectives and goals aligned with the student's professional goals in their academic coursework.  The duties required of the student must be outlined in the learning agreement prior to the start of the internship.
  • There is direct supervision by a professional with at least five years of expertise and educational and/or professional experience in the field of study.
  • There is routine feedback from the experienced supervisor. 
  • The host employer provides resources, equipment, and facilities that support learning objectives/goals. The student is not expected, and should not be asked, to use their own resources and/or equipment unless outlined in the learning agreement completed at the onset of the internship.

U.S. Labor Laws & Paid vs Non-paid internships

For-Profit

If you are a for-profit company, please note that the U.S. Department of Labor has strict guidelines regarding paid versus unpaid internships. If you are looking for a student to fill an unpaid internship, you will be required to provide the MCJ Internship Coordinator with a written plan, subject to Department approval, regarding how your organization will abide by the Department of Labor Standards for unpaid internships. Visit the U.S. Dept of Labor's web page for more information.

Non-Profit

Students interning at nonprofit organizations are eligible to earn a stipend for successful completion of 150 hours. Visit Fresno State Career Services for more information about this valuable program. Half of the stipend, plus an administrative fee, (total = $790) is paid by the nonprofit, and the other half of the stipend ($750) is paid by the Community Service Scholarship Program. So, the student earns $1500 for the semester. 

Please note that if your internship opportunity doesn't meet our requirements (above), students will not be made available and MCJ students will not be able to earn college credit for your opportunity. If the Internship Coordinator learns that the requirements are not being adhered to during the internship, the intern may be removed before the internship is completed.

Recruiting Interns

If your organization is looking for an intern, please contact Prof. Faith Sidlow to learn more about setting up an internship. If your company is interested in recruiting interns, here is a few things you'll need to do.

  1. Ensure that you are approved by the MCJ department and the University Internship Director.
  2. Send the internship coordinator a description of the internship and requirements. This should include:
    1. Information about your organization
    2. A brief description of the internship opportunity and what the students will be learning about and doing in the internships.
    3. Any deadlines or company requirements. This can also include any specific skills you might be looking for with the interns (e.g., photography skills, social media experience, etc.).
    4. Contact information and how the student should “apply” for your internship.
  3. Internship descriptions should be submitted each semester that the company is seeking interns (even if your company is a continuing participant in our internship program).
  4. Please send the description(s) to the internship coordinator at least several weeks prior to the given semester. The deadline for students to sign up for internships is typically within the 2nd week of the new semester.
  5. Once an internship description is approved (and the company has been approved), it will be submitted to our MCJ students. Any interested student will then contact the company directly about obtaining the internship for the semester.

*NOTE: The Internship Coordinator reserves the right to remove the student from an internship if she suspects the company is not complying with the requirements and/or labor regulations.

MCJ Internship Coordinator

If you have an internship opportunity or have any questions, please contact Professor Cheryl Gardner at clg935@mail.fresnostate.edu

Internship/Job Listings

MCJ Internship Opportunities

Visit HireFresnoState to see any recently listed internship opportunities and click on "company menu" to see a list of all approved. Before a student can sign up to intern, the company must go through the approval process. If you don't see a company you are interested in interning with, please contact Prof. Sidlow.

Statewide Internships

Visit the CSU Entertainment Alliance for various entertainment industry internships including those in film, television, video game and interactive media — offered by the California State University system. 

Resources

For resume and cover letter assistance, see a faculty member in your option or the  Career Services office.