Introduction
     I interned at abc27 in Harrisburg, PA, under Gregg Mace, Sport’s Department Director. From this internship, I planned to learn how to correctly film sports games (basketball, baseball, etc.) and gain a clear understanding of the logistical aspects of production (What information is necessary to collect? How do I gather the information? What do I do with the information? What is the appropriate professional conduct?).

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Work/Projects

     At the start of my internship, I spent most of my time observing my supervisor and his sports team in order to gain a strong understanding of how the team works together to create on-air sports segments. After about a week of pure observation, my supervisor began to assign tasks for me to perform during pre-production, production and post-production.
     Throughout the basketball season, I traveled to local high school games with the abc27 crew and logged each game. This process requires me to record each player's score total, make note of exciting baskets to use on the highlight reel, and keep track of the running score. When the game is over, I ask the winning coach and highest scoring player for an interview, during which I hold the mic and occasionally ask questions. After the interviews, I return to the station and while the camera man edits that night's footage to create a highlight reel, I type a script into the teleprompter for the anchor, Gregg Mace, to read on-air. 
     As the semester comes to a close, I have the opportunity to produce baseball segments, from beginning to end, on my own. I will capture footage at Messiah baseball games and/or Senator's games, choose the top highlights, edit them together to create a highlight reel, write a script to accompany the segment and send it to my supervisor. With his approval, my packages will air on abc27's 11pm sportscast. This responsibility will allow me to gain hands-on experience and build my portfolio.

Learning
     Through my internship I learned how to perform all aspects of pre-production, production and post-production for sports packages. I know how to gather stats from the Internet, log games while I watch, film games from the court/stands on an HD camera, conduct interviews with coaches and players, edit footage using Adobe Premier, and write on-air scripts. In addition, as a result of Gregg Mace’s live game broadcasts, I also have the opportunity to learn how a live broadcast operates behind the scenes with the use of a live truck.
     My supervisor makes it a point to allow time for me to observe the responsibilities of his team members and gain a full understanding of how the sports department works together to create on-air content. Abc27 gave me a clear picture of what to expect if I get a job in sports production—the culture, the work environment, the type of responsibility required of employees, the lifestyle in general.

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Future Plans
     As a result of this internship, I am excited to enter the professional working world. The broadcasting field is never dull—every day brings different challenges and every show provides the opportunity to create something new. This appeals to my restless personality. Also, at the start of the semester, I thought I wanted to work in news broadcasting, but after talking to different people in both sports and news, and experiencing sports firsthand, I think I might pursue a career in sports instead. I love the enthusiastic fans, spirited atmosphere and competitive nature of sports—it puts me in good spirits. On the other hand, something I did not think about until I talked to a news producer at abc27, news stories revolve around heartbreak and destruction. I do not think I could work with such sad stories every day; it would depress me. Fortunately, the insight I gained from interaction with the broadcast station will help me make an informed career decision.
     Prior to this internship, I did not particularly understand the need to work in teams. I am an efficient worker and often find it easier to work on my own. However, broadcasting requires a great deal of collaboration; it takes more than one person to produce quality on-air content. Abc27’s sports department exemplifies the benefits of teamwork and allows me the opportunity to contribute to their team. For example, every team member has certain tasks they must complete by a specific deadline in order for the sports package to air on time. Because we have little time to spare, the camera man edits his footage while I simultaneously write a script to accompany it. This process teaches me how to trust my co-workers and resist my desire to double check everything I did not do on my own. I have made strong progress in my ability to work on a team over the course of the semester.
     In addition, I have grown in my ability to navigate across boundaries. I observe all of the sports department members at work and notice how each of them possess a specific area of expertise, but also have a basic understanding of how other members perform their tasks. This allows them, and, in effect, me to appreciate differing perspectives and opinions. I also learn to navigate across boundaries when I watch competitors’ (ex. FOX43 and CBS21) sports shows, take note of their approach to different stories and think about how abc27 can improve, instead of remain complacent. It is clear navigating across boundaries benefits the station as a whole.

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Preparation/Recommendations
     At Messiah, I took a class called Writing for Mass Media in which I learned how to write scripts for both radio and television. This skill helps me write the sports scripts required of me at my internship. My Business and Organizational Communication class taught me how to conduct myself professionally in the workplace, including how to dress professionally, how to converse professionally, how to carry one’s self, and how to interview well. I think Messiah should require this class for all majors before they graduate and enter the workplace. 
     During my time at Temple University, I took a media technology class. This class taught me a basic overview of multiple media technologies and how to use each one. I learned how to operate multiple editing software programs, Wrodpress.com, and Adobe Photoshop, all of which I now use at my internship. I also practiced my ability to capture footage for use on an online website, and wrote a script to accompany the footage I edited together.
     Messiah needs to incorporate more television into their broadcasting curriculum. I appreciate the radio station and the experience I gained from it, but the television station would prove more beneficial for me. Professor Ed Arke is wonderful and very knowledgeable in the world of broadcasting, this is no reflection on his abilities, but the addition of a broadcasting professor who specializes in television would greatly improve the broadcasting curriculum. Not only are more students interested in television than radio, it is important to understand both to make one’s self more valuable on the job market.
     I also believe we should have more practical classes, based on technical, hands-on skills, as opposed to theory. I do not deny the importance of a theoretical foundation, but I do not think it is necessary to take as many theory classes as we are required to take. If Messiah implements these changes, broadcasting students could enter the workplace with more skill and confidence