Internships and Opportunities

Internships

WVTF & RADIO IQ Internships

Any student attending colleges and universities in the WVTF/RADIO IQ listening area or students attending colleges outside our area but whose home residence is in our listening area are eligible to apply for an internship or apprenticeship with us. However, because of our affiliation with Virginia Tech, preference is given to Tech students in good academic standing. While prior experience is not required, preference is given to students with experience working at their campus radio station or campus newspaper or other broadcast, print, or on-line media sources.

Requirements for internships vary with different schools. Generally, interns have been in their junior or senior year of undergraduate work maintaining a QCA of 2.5 or above and had completed upper division departmental coursework. Graduate students are also eligible to intern with us.

The internship application process starts at the school. A prospective intern will first need to fill out an internship application at their school and will sometimes need to find a faculty sponsor to oversee them throughout the internship. Credited internships are preferred. A formal arrangement between the school and WVTF is required. We can't accept students without the school participating in the process. This could be through an accredited internship or a less formal process.

After obtaining approval from their department and finding a sponsor, a prospective intern will then need to set up an interview at our broadcast center in Roanoke . During the interview, we will ascertain whether the student would be a good fit in our internship/apprenticeship program and determine his/her best placement within our operation. A work schedule will be drafted to fit the student's course schedule. The student will also select an area of concentration such as news/public affairs, marketing/public relations, broadcast operations, engineering, etc... The registration process and internship/apprenticeship expectations (on behalf of the student and the station) will also be discussed at the initial interview. 

At most colleges, three hours a week at WVTF equals one college credit hour. So, the minimum for a three credit internship will mean a nine hour a week commitment at WVTF not counting the student’s travel time to and from WVTF. A travel reimbursement is available for Virginia Tech students who drive between Blacksburg and Roanoke for their internship. Most students elect to take three credit hours for their internship during one semester. For those students opting for an apprenticeship, the minimum commitment will be at least two consecutive semesters. Students in the apprenticeship program will accrue a total of approximately 150 hours a semester at WVTF Public Radio and will receive a salary based on an hourly rate with travel reimbursement only when on station business and not driving a station vehicle.

To learn more about a WVTF/RADIO IQ internship/apprenticeship or to apply, please contact: Rick Mattioni by E-mail at mattioni@vt.edu or by phone at (800) 856-8900.

• Staff