WVU :: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism

Student Spotlight

Alex Davis
Broadcast News Sophomore

“My theory is when you start to feel buried by all your work, you aren’t enjoying what you are doing. Journalism doesn’t feel like work to me. It’s always fun.”

What kind of internships have you had while at the SOJ?
A: I’ve had several internships actually. In the summer of 2005, I interned at Fremantle Media via FISH*EGG graphics. Then, from December 2006 to June 2007, I was a runner for ESPN. Also that June, I did some writing for “Camouflage” pilot for GSN. Later in the fall of 2007, I helped with casting for “World Series of Pop Culture” Season Two. Throughout the past few years, I’ve also done various press work for GSN, Embassy Row, CBS and NBC and some writing for BuzzerBlog.com.

Q: How did you hear about the internship(s)?
A: I applied for the ESPN work while I was working at U92. For the others, I started out doing some writing and graphic programming online. One of my friends got a hold of me to help with some basic 2D graphics for Fremantle’s “Game Show Marathon.” They liked my work so much they took me on for the actual show. My writing made me able to do press work for GSN. They gave my information to Embassy Row, who makes the shows “World Series of Pop Culture” and “Power of 10.” I did casting for “World Series of Pop Culture,” and GSN also contacted me about doing some puzzle writing for “Camouflage.”

Q: What was the application process like for most of these positions?
A: I sent lots and lots of applications out. For some I had to send work samples and others I had to complete five-page contracts. Most of the other work involved the regular process: filling out an application and waiting for a reply. What I often do is a week after initially sending my application, I call the company to make sure they remember me and know I am interested.

Q: Were the internships paid positions or learning experiences?

A: One internship was a paid position. I made $25 per graphic, which is a bit below the standard network TV rate. Then I had to split it up among my crew, so that made it less. The rest were all about networking opportunities. I realized from the start that to work in television, you have to do a good deal of networking and free jobs. All of my work has given me valuable experience and many contacts. I want to start out working for a network, and with a lot of experience, it’s not impossible. The more work experience on your resume, the better.

Q: What was the most important lesson you learned from your internships?
A: My most important lesson isn’t exactly happy, but it was important. Do not be upset with rejection. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I wasn’t hired for a job. Instead of obsessing over what I did wrong, I immediately start looking for more jobs. Television is a high-pressure industry. You have to be constantly on your toes. There are so many people wanting in it that if you sit around and wait, you won’t last. If you’re persistent, you can do it.

Q: What other aspects of the internship(s) do you think will serve you well later in the job market?
A: Working in television has really made me more of a team player. You can’t always do everything by yourself. As much as it pained me, I had to reach out for help several times. I also learned how to communicate much better than I used to. I used to always be nervous to speak publicly. I used to shake or get red in the face. That rarely happens anymore. If you aren’t vocal and don’t stand up for yourself, you will be trampled on.

In the writing world, I’ve been published in USA Today and Entertainment Weekly. At that point, I started to realize people are paying attention to what I say and that nothing can be remotely sloppy anymore. If someone in a higher organization sees slop, they just won’t take you. I had to learn to make everything as good as humanly possible and edit it several times.

Q: What was a typical day was like during your internship?
A: My work was based out of Los Angeles mostly, so my days start at noon and end somewhere between 8 p.m. and midnight (ET). Essentially, I look at the agenda given and find out what my contract says I need to do. The time frames and deadlines are the most important aspect of any of the internships I’ve done, so I have to motivate myself and make a schedule to finish work. It’s better to finish quickly and perfect your work later than to wait around.

This is the same basic mode for any internship or job I’ve done. For ESPN, I was always on the move trying to plot my next point. It was live TV, so I didn’t have time to wait. For graphic programming and writing, I would have a deadline, so I needed to focus on the time and not feel pressured. If pressure starts to seep in, failure will soon rise. If you can stay cool, calm and collected, you’ll do fine.

Q: What advice would you give an SOJ student looking for an internship?
A: For anyone wanting to work in media, I can’t stress how important Craigslist is. I often go to the Los Angeles and New York sections of Craigslist and search “writing” and other jobs under “Jobs” and “Gigs.” There is a plethora of listings there. Don’t get stressed that you don’t live in L.A. or NYC for these either. The first thing I always do is ask the posters if I have to live in that area. New York is easier for me to get to, so Los Angeles is always the tricky one with that. If you can work out a deal to work at home or freelance, go after that company.

You have to keep applying and asking for more work. Be sure to keep in contact with anyone you work with. If they know your name and you do good work, they will remember you for more work in the future.

Honestly, you should expect to fail the first few times. No one can just walk in and nail a job 100 percent. Expect to redo a lot of what you do. This ends up being a good thing, because if you are truly dedicated, your second version will be better than the first, and the company will notice your devotion.

The working media world is a fight. You have to stand up and yell (in a metaphorical sense) to get in there. Dig your heels into the ground and don’t let go. Much like any contact sport, if you are firmly in place, no one can push you around.

Q: How did the School of Journalism prepare you to succeed in your internship?
A: The SOJ really saved my future career. I met so many wonderful people in the SOJ that I switched a few weeks into my first semester in computer science and have been happy ever since. I wouldn’t have any of the work—or wouldn’t have even tried—had they not shown me how great journalism is. It doesn’t feel like work to me. It’s always fun.

Q: What experiences from the internship will you be able to apply to your work at the School of Journalism?
A: I’m always applying my skills, such as media and press writing, to everything I do at the SOJ. I know the high-pressure situations that arise in the television business, so I openly embrace tight deadlines, hard work and critical evaluations. I don’t get discouraged when something goes wrong. I am always on the ball and ready to switch gears at a moment’s notice.

Q: Will you continue to work in media?
A: I will always do this work. I’m interviewing celebrities constantly, writing for Bbuzzerblog.com) and doing work with production companies. I’m pitching some television ideas this winter and am writing a script for a sitcom with a friend.

The main reason I go after so much work is because it’s just so much fun. I also work at The Daily Athenaeum, am a full-time student and do all this work and never feel bogged down. My theory is when you start to feel buried by all your work, you aren’t enjoying what you are doing. I can’t imagine working anywhere else. It’s too much fun. I’ve met the most amazing people, and hundreds of millions of people all over the world have had some emotional connection with my work. That’s the greatest feeling anyone can have.

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	Student Spotlight Alex Davis Broadcast News Sophomore “My theory is when you start to feel buried by all your work, you aren’t enjoying what you are doing. Journalism doesn’t feel like work to me. It’s always fun.” What kind of internships have you had while at the SOJ? A: I’ve had several internships actually. In the summer of 2005, I interned at Fremantle Media via FISHEGG graphics. Then, from December 2006 to June 2007, I was a runner for ESPN. Also that June, I did some writing for “Camouflage” pilot for GSN. Later in the fall of 2007, I helped with casting for “World Series of Pop Culture” Season Two. Throughout the past few years, I’ve also done various press work for GSN, Embassy Row, CBS and NBC and some writing for BuzzerBlog.com. Q: How did you hear about the internship(s)?* A: I applied for the ESPN work while I was working at U92. For the others, I started out doing some writing and graphic programming online. One of my friends got a hold of me to help with some basic 2D graphics for Fremantle’s “Game Show Marathon.” They liked my work so much they took me on for the actual show. My writing made me able to do press work for GSN. They gave my information to Embassy Row, who makes the shows “World Series of Pop Culture” and “Power of 10.” I did casting for “World Series of Pop Culture,” and GSN also contacted me about doing some puzzle writing for “Camouflage.” Q: What was the application process like for most of these positions? A: I sent lots and lots of applications out. For some I had to send work samples and others I had to complete five-page contracts. Most of the other work involved the regular process: filling out an application and waiting for a reply. What I often do is a week after initially sending my application, I call the company to make sure they remember me and know I am interested. Q: Were the internships paid positions or learning experiences? A: One internship was a paid position. I made $25 per graphic, which is a bit below the standard network TV rate. Then I had to split it up among my crew, so that made it less. The rest were all about networking opportunities. I realized from the start that to work in television, you have to do a good deal of networking and free jobs. All of my work has given me valuable experience and many contacts. I want to start out working for a network, and with a lot of experience, it’s not impossible. The more work experience on your resume, the better. Q: What was the most important lesson you learned from your internships? A: My most important lesson isn’t exactly happy, but it was important. Do not be upset with rejection. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I wasn’t hired for a job. Instead of obsessing over what I did wrong, I immediately start looking for more jobs. Television is a high-pressure industry. You have to be constantly on your toes. There are so many people wanting in it that if you sit around and wait, you won’t last. If you’re persistent, you can do it. Q: What other aspects of the internship(s) do you think will serve you well later in the job market? A: Working in television has really made me more of a team player. You can’t always do everything by yourself. As much as it pained me, I had to reach out for help several times. I also learned how to communicate much better than I used to. I used to always be nervous to speak publicly. I used to shake or get red in the face. That rarely happens anymore. If you aren’t vocal and don’t stand up for yourself, you will be trampled on. In the writing world, I’ve been published in USA Today and Entertainment Weekly. At that point, I started to realize people are paying attention to what I say and that nothing can be remotely sloppy anymore. If someone in a higher organization sees slop, they just won’t take you. I had to learn to make everything as good as humanly possible and edit it several times. Q: What was a typical day was like during your internship? A: My work was based out of Los Angeles mostly, so my days start at noon and end somewhere between 8 p.m. and midnight (ET). Essentially, I look at the agenda given and find out what my contract says I need to do. The time frames and deadlines are the most important aspect of any of the internships I’ve done, so I have to motivate myself and make a schedule to finish work. It’s better to finish quickly and perfect your work later than to wait around. This is the same basic mode for any internship or job I’ve done. For ESPN, I was always on the move trying to plot my next point. It was live TV, so I didn’t have time to wait. For graphic programming and writing, I would have a deadline, so I needed to focus on the time and not feel pressured. If pressure starts to seep in, failure will soon rise. If you can stay cool, calm and collected, you’ll do fine. Q: What advice would you give an SOJ student looking for an internship? A: For anyone wanting to work in media, I can’t stress how important Craigslist is. I often go to the Los Angeles and New York sections of Craigslist and search “writing” and other jobs under “Jobs” and “Gigs.” There is a plethora of listings there. Don’t get stressed that you don’t live in L.A. or NYC for these either. The first thing I always do is ask the posters if I have to live in that area. New York is easier for me to get to, so Los Angeles is always the tricky one with that. If you can work out a deal to work at home or freelance, go after that company. You have to keep applying and asking for more work. Be sure to keep in contact with anyone you work with. If they know your name and you do good work, they will remember you for more work in the future. Honestly, you should expect to fail the first few times. No one can just walk in and nail a job 100 percent. Expect to redo a lot of what you do. This ends up being a good thing, because if you are truly dedicated, your second version will be better than the first, and the company will notice your devotion. The working media world is a fight. You have to stand up and yell (in a metaphorical sense) to get in there. Dig your heels into the ground and don’t let go. Much like any contact sport, if you are firmly in place, no one can push you around. Q: How did the School of Journalism prepare you to succeed in your internship? A: The SOJ really saved my future career. I met so many wonderful people in the SOJ that I switched a few weeks into my first semester in computer science and have been happy ever since. I wouldn’t have any of the work—or wouldn’t have even tried—had they not shown me how great journalism is. It doesn’t feel like work to me. It’s always fun. Q: What experiences from the internship will you be able to apply to your work at the School of Journalism? A: I’m always applying my skills, such as media and press writing, to everything I do at the SOJ. I know the high-pressure situations that arise in the television business, so I openly embrace tight deadlines, hard work and critical evaluations. I don’t get discouraged when something goes wrong. I am always on the ball and ready to switch gears at a moment’s notice. Q: Will you continue to work in media? A: I will always do this work. I’m interviewing celebrities constantly, writing for Bbuzzerblog.com) and doing work with production companies. I’m pitching some television ideas this winter and am writing a script for a sitcom with a friend. The main reason I go after so much work is because it’s just so much fun. I also work at The Daily Athenaeum, am a full-time student and do all this work and never feel bogged down. My theory is when you start to feel buried by all your work, you aren’t enjoying what you are doing. I can’t imagine working anywhere else. It’s too much fun. I’ve met the most amazing people, and hundreds of millions of people all over the world have had some emotional connection with my work. That’s the greatest feeling anyone can have.