Broadcasting Major Nick Konopka Highlights Internship with Meet the Press Student Profile
Meet Nick Konopka '23
- Job Title & Employer
- Intern, Meet the Press, NBC News
- Major/Program
- Broadcast Production
- College Activities
- U-View, Honors Program
- Hometown
- Harrison City, Pa.
- High School
- Penn-Trafford High School
- Hobbies & Interests
- Reading up on politics, listening to podcasts or occasionally doing film photography
"The size of Point Park makes it easy to get experience right out of the gate. We are not so big that professors and organizations feel too out of reach. So, you can not only form valuable relationships with professors, but also dive head first into whatever you are interested in."
Tell us about your internship with NBC Universal’s Meet the Press.
I saw a posting for the internship online over the summer, and as a fan of the show, I thought I should apply. Following a pre-screen interview and several phone calls, I had to submit a final research test. After sending that in, I was soon offered the internship.
As an intern, I take part in a lot of the preliminary research, tape cutting and asset collection for the show. Meet the Press is more of a brand than one single show, so on any particular day, I could be compiling transcripts of everything a guest said in the past month, transcribing interviews for their Meet the Press Reports series, writing a script for a podcast or digging into the archives to find clips for the upcoming 75th anniversary. So, my role is really a catch-all for the many things that fall under the umbrella of the show.
What kinds of networking opportunities do you have as an intern?
My fellow interns and I have been set up with weekly meetings where we get to talk to the key players of the show. So, those have been really valuable in a networking sense, but also in being able to learn from these accomplished professionals. Beyond that, in such a tight-knit team I am able to build relationships just by working and collaborating with the people around me.
In what ways did this internship challenge you?
Meet the Press has been on air for 75 years, making it a well-oiled machine. So, in the beginning, it was a challenge to know where I could put myself out there. It’s like trying to hop onto a moving train. But after a few weeks, you are able to get a better lay of the land and slot yourself in where necessary. Also, because my contributions will reflect on the Meet the Press brand, I have to make sure that all of my work is up to a certain level of quality. Meaning that I have to triple-check my work and be conscious of the wide audience that is tuned in.
Why did you choose Point Park University’s School of Communication?
I chose Point Park’s School of Communication after attending High School Media Day. I never wanted to go too far away from home for college, and after attending media day, I was excited to know that there was a great broadcasting program right in my backyard. On top of that, several people from my high school video program had attended Point Park, so it felt like the right move.
What advice do you have for prospective students considering Point Park?
I believe that the size of Point Park makes it easy to get experience right out of the gate. We are not so big that professors and organizations feel too out of reach. So, you can not only form valuable relationships with professors, but also dive head first into whatever you are interested in.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Never feel that you are too underqualified to at least apply somewhere. Applying for internships and jobs is the first step, but it’s also the easiest step. Cast a wide net, and also do your best job when you are required to do a project for class. Even though it may be for a grade, you never know when a past project will come in handy when you need to apply for a job.