Recent grad shares her experiences as a summer intern at National Public Radio

Photo courtesy of NPR

As graduation approached, the stress of what to do next started to creep up on me. On a whim, I decided to apply for an internship at National Public Radio. I knew this was a long shot. Paid summer internships are highly coveted and I would be up against some stiff competition (NPR receives about 1,000 applications for internships). I’ll never forget the morning when I answered KRWG’s newsroom phone only to discover Ellen McDonnell, executive producer of NPR’s “Morning Edition,” on the other line. She had just spoken to a reference and then asked to speak to me. She told me to pack my bags – I had been chosen as a “Morning Edition” intern at NPR.

The word internship often brings to mind a job in which one is expected to do grunt work that no one else wants to do. This is not the case at NPR. The welcome packet I received stated that in a matter of weeks interns become indistinguishable from regular NPR employees. This meant attending daily editorial meetings, pitching story ideas and working as part of the whole news-gathering process.

One of my first duties was to set up a studio interview between “Morning Edition” host Steve Inskeep and Simmie Knox, the man who painted the portrait of President Clinton that was about to be unveiled at the White House. I pre-interviewed Knox, researched his career, and wrote some questions for Inskeep to ask.

In addition to being a “Morning Edition” intern, I was assigned to be an intern for NPR senior correspondent Juan Williams. When I started at NPR, Williams was on a book tour and was not around a whole lot. One morning when he actually was there, he asked for my birth date and Social Security number. Though confused by this request, I gave him the information. Later, in passing, Williams said, “You know you’re going with me this afternoon, right?” “Where?” I asked. He said he couldn’t tell me. It was only when we were on our way that I found out we were going to the White House to interview National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice in her office. I had been planning on taking a White House tour, but this was even better!

I sat silently as Williams interviewed Rice, who had introduced herself to me as “Condi.” After the interview, Williams took me on a tour of the press area. As we were walking around, the press started shuffling outside. When I asked why, the reply was, “The president is about to leave.”

We joined the press corps outside. I stood behind a velvet rope in the Rose Garden and waited. A helicopter landed and the president came out. He walked across the lawn, waved at us and boarded the helicopter. Political views aside, it’s an amazing experience to be at the White House and see the president.

Celebrity sightings are not unusual at NPR headquarters. I met Los Lobos and saw them perform live in the studio. Matt Damon came through (although I didn’t get to meet him), and I got my picture taken with Mel Brooks after he did an interview with Susan Stamberg.

At KRWG I became accustomed to hearing the same voices on NPR every day. At NPR I saw these people walking through the halls on a daily basis. Sharing an elevator with Robert Siegel (the host of “All Things Considered”) never got old.

The simple fact is that I love public radio and I love journalism. This love came from KRWG and NMSU’s journalism program, which gave me all of the tools I needed to start a career in a profession I love. After the stint at NPR, I accepted a position at a public radio station in Rochester, New York. I’m now doing exactly what I want to do – reporting and being the local host for “All Things Considered.” I love the diversity this job brings. One day I am interviewing Abby Wambach, the native Rochesterian who scored the winning goal for the U.S. women’s Olympic soccer team. Later I am face to face with Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It’s a lot of fun –
and there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.