Benjamin Weber was one of three students to complete a summer internship at Mankato’s CBS-affiliated television station, KEYC-TV. As a production assistant, Ben learned how to floor direct–relaying messages between the anchor and director via headset. Additionally, he learned how to run audio for the newscast, helped with editing commercials together for the master controller, and generated a training guide for both the floor director and audio positions.
What was the most rewarding part of the experience?
The most rewarding part was that I didn’t feel like an intern. The whole production crew treated me like a fellow employee. They expected me to do my tasks, but were more than willing to answer any questions.
What did you learn about yourself during your internship?
I learned that I can take responsibility and complete complicated tasks.
How has your internship prepared you for your future?
It showed me that I have the skills to make a successful broadcast, and it gave me confidence to be more assertive.
What was the most difficult task you had to complete during your internship?
The most difficult task was floor directing the severe weather alert during the 5 o’clock newscast. We didn’t cover beforehand what was going to happen if we would go to severe weather, but I was able to keep my cool and relay information to everyone so that we all could be on the same track.
Would you recommend your internship site to others?
Most definitely! Any new broadcaster will learn a lot, get their hands dirty, and be able try out all the equipment at the station.
