Intern Chronicles

Summer interns given opportunities – and memories – to last a lifetime

ESPN's 2015 summer interns. (Amy Bennett/Disney Professional Internships Recruiter)
ESPN’s 2015 summer interns. (Amy Bennett/Disney Professional Internships Recruiter)

As cliché as it might sound, time really does fly by when you’re having fun. It’s not truly work when you enjoy what you’re doing. ESPN’s internship program not only puts you to work as soon as you begin but it also gives you valuable experience that you can benefit and learn from, all while having fun. After talking with most of ESPN’s summer interns, all of us cannot believe how quickly our summers have gone by. I, along with the others included below, will always cherish and be grateful for our internship experiences at ESPN.

This post’s author shares his most important lessons:
Making yourself always available is crucial to building relationships and connections. I sent an email to everyone in the ESPN Communications department my first day saying I’m willing and want to help with anything. I’m happy to say I’ve worked with the majority of the ESPN PR team on various assignments throughout the department and I’m thankful that everyone continued to give me work they knew I could learn from. Working hard every day pays off, too, and people have noticed, as I’m lucky enough to have a departmental pizza and cake party in my honor on my last day as an intern.

Greg Doyle, University of Connecticut graduate, Corporate Citizenship Intern
What has been the most rewarding part about your internship?
It has definitely been the connections I have made across the company, but especially within my department. The people in my department really made me feel like an important part of the team and have been extremely helpful in connecting me with others both inside and outside of ESPN. I know the connections I made while here will be instrumental in the future.

Alex Grant, University of South Carolina senior, Programming & Acquisitions Digital Media Intern
What has been your favorite part about working at ESPN?
My favorite part has been how everyone treats interns like part of the team. A lot of people back home suggested that all I’d be doing this summer would be coffee runs and that simply hasn’t been the case. I’ve been given work that has importance and the people around me have made me feel like my opinions are valid. The more I do, the less I feel like an intern.

Sam Miller, Chapman University senior, SportsCenter Production Intern in Los Angeles
How have you grown as a professional since you started at ESPN?
The most valuable things I’ve learned from my experience at ESPN haven’t been technical nor do they really pertain to my exact duties. I’ve learned how to dress, talk and act as a professional in a corporate environment. From shadowing and working alongside talent, producers, associate producers, coordinating producers, content associates and production assistants, I’ve been able to gain experience in this field that I believe will prepare me very well for working in this industry after I graduate.

Alexandra Tekip, Michigan State University graduate, Studio Production intern
What skills have you improved upon most since you first started?
Video editing, communication and risk-taking. I became more comfortable with adding some spice to a highlight through fact bars, tweets and telestrations. I also was able to develop my eye for good video versus bad video. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned at ESPN is, “It’s better to over-communicate than not communicate at all.” I definitely was shy when my internship started, but by the halfway point I wasn’t afraid to speak or share ideas.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Front Row staff and the entire ESPN Communications Department wishes Kyle Van Fechtmann all the best as he begins his career – we know this won’t be the last we hear of our hard-working, talented intern. Also, be sure to check back with Front Row on Friday as we share valuable learnings from over 20 of ESPN’s company-wide interns.

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