Point Park Experience Prepares Broadcast Student to Succeed at WQED Internship Monday, August 17, 2015
Meet Aubrey Henken
Internship: TV Production Intern, WQED Multimedia
Major: Broadcast reporting and broadcast production and media management
Expected graduation: December 2016
Hometown: Phoenixville, Pa.
High school: Phoenixville Area High School
College activities: U-View, Broadcast Education Association, Student Production Services and WPPJ
Hobbies/interests: Entertainment news, learning new things in the broadcasting field, hanging out with friends and family, exploring Pittsburgh and spending time with dogs
How did you land your internship at WQED?
I knew that I wanted an internship at a television station in Pittsburgh. A few of my friends had interned at WQED the previous semester and highly recommended it. One of my professors at Point Park, Maria Kakay, is a producer at WQED, so when I applied to the internship I let her know and she helped move the process along.
"If it weren't for the training I received at Point Park, I wouldn't have been able to succeed as well at this internship and at being a production assistant."
-- Aubrey Henken
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What are some of your key responsibilities at WQED?
My main responsibility is to help the producers with their documentaries on various topics. That includes going with them to their shoots, watching the interviews, logging their tapes and anything else they may need. I also had the opportunity to be a production assistant on several live webcasts that were shot in our studios.
How have the education and training you received at Point Park prepared you for this internship?
Point Park definitely prepared me for this internship because as soon as you walk in to the U-View TV studio, you can get trained on the equipment and start learning. They don't teach you things out of a textbook, they teach you by hands-on experience and making you get out there and do it on your own. If it weren't for the training I received at Point Park, I wouldn't have been able to succeed as well at this internship and at being a production assistant.
What have been some of your most influential experiences at Point Park?
My most influential experience at Point Park has been the opportunity to produce and host my own entertainment news show, Entertainment on Point. I get to learn everything that goes in to putting on a show, both on camera and behind the scenes. It's a lot of work, but it's definitely worth every second and it really does prepare you for the real world.
What's it like going to college in Downtown Pittsburgh?
It's awesome going to school in Downtown Pittsburgh. You have everything around you - Market Square, South Side and Point State Park - it's the ideal location and there's something for everyone. There are also tons of internship and job opportunities and employers know and trust Point Park students.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you're interested in TV production but don't know how to get involved, make sure to come down to the TV studio in the University Center because we're always welcoming new people with open arms. We'll teach you everything you need to know on your first day and get you involved right away. Trust me, getting involved with these hands-on experiences will make you feel more confident in this field; you'll make valuable connections and it's fun, too!
Photo by Victoria A. Mikula, junior mass communication major
More About: broadcast reporting, internships