How to become an intern at your local radio station?

Question

im 15 but b4 i kno it i'll b graduating...i was wondering how i could become an intern at my local radio station

Answer 1

Look up the address of the station and the name of the program director.  Send a letter requesting an internship.  Send to a LOT because some stations will already have their quota.  But send the letter out to all the stations in your area that you can get to because stations are always hungry for the help.

Answer 2

I've posted this before - probably time to send it out again.

Below is a piece I've posted before on how to get into the biz (from a US perspective). Interning is a great start - here's how.

-a guy named duh

OK, here's my brief version on how to get in radio-in the US. Take it from one who started this way. If you want to try radio as a possible career choice, It's easy, really easier than most think. Go to all the local radio stations and tell them you're willing to do anything for little or no money (at first). Including interning (though those are usually for current college students in a broadcasting major). In a big city, that's going to be more difficult than a smaller town, but not impossible.

Maybe they need a Gofer, or a production or promotion assistant. In the old days you used to be able to 'hang out" at a station. That's still a possibility (usually at night) in a small town, but in a bigger city, it's hard because the stations are in office buildings. Anyway, so maybe you get a Gofer or promotion assistant job. Or maybe you're just the kid who hangs out and will go get burgers. Then as people leave for bigger better gigs, you move up. Radio's a very fluid business. People move a lot. Because the only way to really get promoted is to go to a bigger market.

Give it a try. You've got nothing to lose. Study all the stations where you live. Visit some of the websites I'll put below. Go around to all the stations (obviously start with the ones where you like the music - but don't leave out religious stations, foreign language stations etc. anything to get experience and something legit on your resume). Because you've studied the station and listened to their format, you'll impress them with your knowledge; go to the remote broadcasts and get to know the promotion people - the ones hanging banners, in the tent and handing out bumper stickers.

Sooner or later someone will leave and you can say, "Hey, I can do that, I want his job now that he's leaving." It's important you have a driver’s license & clean record, 'cause you'll be driving the station van. Go 4 it!

Also, many colleges and some high schools (especially magnet schools) have radio courses of study and there are private vocational schools like Columbia School of Broadcasting. Emerson College in Boston is the premiere Media College in the US.

If you are interested in a career in radio, check out this great scholarship program from the John Bayliss Broadcast Foundation. It could mean $5,000 towards your tuition!

www.baylissfoundation.org

Maybe you can turn another skill, with accounting, traffic, or engineering into an off-air career. Sales, though not as popular with young people, is a great way to get into radio even if you don't have a great voice. You'll also make more money and work steadier hours - but it's not as glamorous. Radio stations also need engineers, accountants and business managers.

US Universities and colleges with radio and/or broadcast programs:

Ithaca College, NY

Monmouth Univ.

Michigan State

SF State Univ.

Southern Il Univ

Newhouse School/Syracuse Univ, NY

Grady College, Univ of GA

Univ. of Miami, FL

Univ. of Nebraska

Arizona State

Cal Poly

Central Mich. Univ.

Emerson College, Boston

Free Radio Newsletters:

www.AllAboutCountry.com

www.AllAccess.com

www.insideradio.com

www.radio-info.com