Mountain Lake PBS welcomes interns and practicum students! The station offers internships that expose the learner to a variety of disciplines including production, programming, development, communications, engineering, information technology, outreach and education, as well as many other areas.
If you are interested in an internship with Mountain Lake PBS, please send your cover letter and resume to the attention of the department director, and mail to:
Mountain Lake PBS
One Sesame Street
Plattsburgh, NY, 12901
Fax: 518-561-1928
Your cover letter should indicate the internship for which you are interested, the skills you can bring to Mountain Lake PBS and why you are interested in interning with Mountain Lake PBS.
And if you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, check out our Volunteering opportunities.
PROGRAM EDITORIAL RESEARCH
Responsible for editorial research and some story development for Mountain Lakes’ weekly public affairs program and monthly business program. Basic print or broadcast journalism courses required. Applicant must be curious, have a pleasant telephone manner, ability to amass data, and knowledge of regional news and events. Minimum 6 hours per week. Volunteer position. If you are interested in this internship, please submit your cover letter and resume Attention: Director of Production & Programming
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Duties may include studio setup and camera operation, logging video, transcribing field interviews, working for production during live studio events (debates, specials, fund raising, etc.). Hours are as needed and as applicants schedule permits. Flexible hours but must work agreed minimum per semester. If you are interested in this internship, please submit your cover letter and resume Attention: Director of Production & Programming
MASS COMMUNICATIONS
This position is coordinated through the PSU Mass Communications Department and is full time for one semester. An academic internship is dependent on department approval, required courses, and GPA, and is normally done in senior year. Interns assist in local productions as production assistant, videotape editor, videographer, or researcher. When appropriate and in collaboration with a producer interns serve as writer or field interviewer. This internship is for credit hours only and is unpaid. If you are interested in this internship, please submit your cover letter and resume Attention: Director of Production & Programming
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
If you are interested in finding out more about marketing, communications, publicity, promotion, public relations and related careers in the non-profit world of public television, consider applying to be a volunteer intern at Mountain Lake PBS. Opportunities to become involved might include assisting with the writing press releases, researching media opportunities, creating and placing advertising, planning and executing special events, assist with mailings, as well as handling details of a wide range of projects and activities related to the promotion of Mountain Lake PBS. You must be motivated and able to take initiative, as well as have the ability to follow instructions, pay attention to details, and meet deadlines. Minimum 6 hours per week. This internship can be for credit hours or as a volunteer position. If you are interested in this internship, please submit your cover letter and resume Attention: Director of Communications
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
This internship involves numerous general and administrative projects related to finance and human resources. The projects involve entering, analyzing, and manipulating data in various computer software programs. Work requires knowledge of accounting and sound business practices. Data is confidential. The tasks the intern would be expected to perform for this position: analyze, sort, and enter data into database, update spreadsheets with monthly data from invoices, work with staff to gather information, participate in station events to gain further insight into public television as a business, other related duties. If you are interested in this internship, please submit your cover letter and resume Attention: Business Manager
UNDERWRITING
The underwriting department is responsible for locating and securing corporate sponsorship for the programming that is shown on Mountain Lake PBS. This is a key component in being able to continue to bring quality programming to our community. An intern in this department would be part of a support system that would enable the underwriting staff to focus most of their time on the areas that help them achieve the marketing goals of Mountain Lake. The intern would report to the Development Staff. If you are interested in this internship, please submit your cover letter and resume Attention: Director of Fundraising and Business Development
PROGRAM TRAFFIC AND OPERATIONS
Organizing and maintaining promotional literature regarding current and potential programs Creating and maintaining marketing sales pieces such as program descriptions and demographic information. Maintain underwriting client files. Generate affidavits of broadcast if required by underwriters. Generate and distribute minutes from the weekly underwriting meeting. Assemble media kits containing program and station information to distribute to potential underwriters. Duties will include creating on-air broadcast logs for a digital channel, proofing station logs and other reports, researching program information, working with Master Control and Engineering with on-air discrepancies, inputting information into the broadcast programming database, inputting promotional materials into the server, researching and responding to station and individual program inquiries. Research projects will introduce you to television ratings, demographic studies for program placement, teleconferences for program selection, scheduling using product placement for maximum exposure, and assisting in delivering Mountain Lake PBS programming into national distribution. Good verbal and written skills required. Computer skills and attention to detail is a must. If you are interested in this internship, please submit your cover letter and resume Attention: Director of Engineering
FUNDRAISING, MEMBERSHIP, AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Organizing Fundraising, Membership, and Special Events are some of the most important departments for every non-profit organization. These departments ensure the financial viability of an organization while promoting the non-profit mission through outreach initiatives, events that raise awareness, and large scale communications. Internships in this field allow you to expand your knowledge of non-profit administration and improve your communication skills in various forms. As an intern you would assist with: letter writing and/or design for appeals, thank you letters to donors and volunteers, budget development, revenue analysis, phone calls to PBS supporters, graphic design of informational materials, information and data management, organization of donor records digitally and manually, expanding the overall mission of Mountain Lake PBS with creative ingenuity, and events and member drives. Some events include: Arts Auction, PBS film previews and premieres, volunteer, donor, and staff recognition events, the Close to Home Member Drive, Holiday Spectacular Member Drive, and musically themed member drives. Interns are required to have: strong attention to detail, positive and optimistic outlook, motivated with strong follow through, pragmatic problem solving skills, the ability to work well independently and manage a timely schedule, a desire to learn more about marketing, public relations, and fundraising, a commitment to philanthropy in the non-profit sector, professional demeanor and appearance, and a strong interest in the arts, film, and non-profit educational media.