Athletic Communications Student Assistants
The University of Minnesota Athletic Communications office is seeking student interns to work as part of the communications staff during the 2012-13 school year. Available internships:
ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT ASSISTANT – GAME-DAY INTERN
Applicants must be willing to commit to working a minimum of one semester. Game-day Student Interns assist Athletic Communications sport contacts with various pre-game, in-game and post-game activities. The game day internship is unpaid.
Areas of Responsibility:
• Assist sport contact with all necessary set-up duties (day before and/or day of contest)
• Print and distribute box scores to appropriate individuals during and post-contest
• Calculate in-game statistics (sport specific)
• Acquire and document post-game quotes (coaches & players from both teams)
• Video post-game press conferences (sport specific)
• Upload post-game documents to website (i.e. game recap, quotes, notes, video)
• Various post-game duties (sport specific) such as collecting of placards, filling of beverage cooler, etc.
• Other duties as assigned
Basic Qualifications:
• Current University of Minnesota undergraduate student
• Must be willing to support ALL home games; NOTE: University of Minnesota has 25 varsity sports
Additional/Desired Qualifications:
• Knowledge of athletics (sport-specific rules, protocol, etc.)
• Motivated, self starter
• Good verbal and written communication skills
Benefits:
• Opportunity to gain valuable media relations experience
• Interaction with coaches, student-athletes, and members of the media
• Opportunity to learn additional skills to prepare for a promotion to a paid sport contact student internship
• Incentive program
ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT ASSISTANT – OFFICE ASSISTANT INTERN
Applicants must be willing to commit to working a minimum of one semester. The student office assistant internship is unpaid.
Areas of Responsibility:
• Assist the Athletic Communications staff with day to day operations
• Archive news clippings from local and national media outlets
• Serve as receptionist for the Athletic Communications office, answering the main phone line and greeting guests
• Assist with mailing, filing and copy projects as needed
• Complete research projects as assigned
• Update and add website content
• Assist with weekly football press conferences
• Must work a minimum of five office hours per week
• Other duties as assigned
Basic Qualifications:
• Must be a current University of Minnesota student
• Possess an interest or background in sports
• Must be a motivated self-starter willing to learn new skills
Additional/Desired Qualifications:
• Knowledge of athletics (sport-specific rules, protocol, etc.)
• Good verbal and written communication skills
Benefits:
• Opportunity to gain valuable communications and public relations skills
• Interaction with coaches, student-athletes, athletics administrators, fans, and members of the media
• Opportunity to take on writing assignments and learn additional skills to prepare for a promotion to a paid sport contact student internship
• Incentive program
ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT ASSISTANT – SPORT CONTACT INTERN
(Note: Sport Contact internships are full for the 2012-13 year. Students with an interest in this internship for future semesters should apply for the Game Day internship or the Office Assistant internship listed above to gain experience necessary for the Sport Contact internship)
Athletic Communications Student Assistants receive hands-on, real-world experience in the field of athletic communications and media relations. Previous sports information experience as a game-day student worker or athletic communications office assistant or journalism experience is required for consideration. Applicants must be a current University of Minnesota student. Position is paid for six hours per week.
Areas of Responsibility:
• Work directly with communications staff in coverage of one or more sports
• Write weekly previews, feature stories, recaps and produce Q&As for assigned sports
• Update coach and student-athlete biographies
• Update in-season statistics
• Learn statistical programs for assigned sports (i.e. Statcrew)
• Submit weekly athlete-of-the-week nominations to conference office for assigned sports
• Post articles and update statistics on gophersports.com
• Staff events for assigned sports
• Write feature articles and conduct Q&As for game programs as assigned
• Assist with revenue sport game staffing as assigned
• Required minimum of six (6) hours per week of in-office work
Basic Qualifications:
• Current University of Minnesota undergraduate student
• Previous athletic communications or journalism experience
• Knowledge of athletics (sport-specific rules, protocol, etc.)
• Strong interest in a career in sports
Additional/Desired Qualifications:
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Previous writing experience
• Statistical experience
Benefits:
• Receive hands-on experience working with coaches, student-athletes, athletics administrators, and members of the media
• Develop communications and public relations skills necessary to obtain a post-graduate position in athletic communications
• Networking opportunities
• Incentive program
To apply for any of the above internships, please send a resume to Paul Rovnak, Associate Director of Athletic Communications, at psrovnak@umn.edu.
