Never a dull day as public affairs intern at CBS 2

By Burke Blanken ‘10 - Public Relations major

As a public affairs intern at CBS 2 Chicago, I have yet to experience a dull day. Every day is different, exciting, and fast-paced.

Working at one of the top television stations has expanded my knowledge of what it takes to broadcast the news.  Without the behind-the-scenes work of every department, the station would not be able to function.  The work of the public affairs department is only one part of the equation that makes CBS successful.

I work with the Director of Public Affairs to keep CBS connected with the community.  My main responsibility involves reaching out to non-profit organizations.

One way I do this is by screening all the public service announcements sent to the station.  After viewing the PSAs, I determine whether they should be broadcast by the station and take the selected PSAs to traffic to be put into the server.

After the Director of Public Affairs approves events that our newscasters will participate in, it is my job to facilitate communication between the newscaster and the organization.  I have to be sure that both know what is expected.  I also alert the news department to the important details and newsworthy moments of the event so they can determine whether they want to send a crew.

Besides working in the public affairs department, I have had the opportunity to tour the different departments and meet department heads. The other day I had the opportunity to tour the newsroom and watch the 11 a.m. news from the control room and the studio.  Seeing the news from the control room helped me learn exactly what it takes to ensure that each minute of the show goes without a hitch.

I was also able to work with the technical department to handle community relations during the digital television conversion on June 12^th.  While working with the technology help line, I even had my ten seconds of fame on the 11 a.m. news!

As an intern at CBS, I have had the opportunity to apply what I learned in my public relations and business classes in a real work situation. I’ve also met people who have helped me develop and grow in my skills.  I look forward to using what I am gaining at this experience in my future, and will never forget the unique opportunities I have experienced while working with a television station.