We're very proud of our internship program at WGN: virtually every department at the radio station has at least one former intern as an employee. This page exists to educate you about our program -- what internships we offer, what requirements we have, what you might expect in a WGN internship, and how to apply (we'll even throw in a few helpful tips to make your application stand out!). First, let's look at the internships offered at WGN Radio:

• Programming (Morning Intern - 3:30a-11:30a) - Assists in daily production of WGN's morning show, Greg Jarrett, including: audio production, developing show ideas, booking guests, screening phones, editing and special projects.
  E-mail resume and cover letter to Beth Swierk at ProgrammingInternships@wgnradio.com
• Programming (Afternoon Intern - 9a-5p) - Assists in daily production of WGN's early afternoon show, Garry Meier, including: developing show ideas, screening phones, audio production, editing, archiving and other special projects. Also supports John Williams and The Noon Show.
  E-mail resume and cover letter to Beth Swierk at ProgrammingInternships@wgnradio.com
• Programming (Evening Intern - 1p-9p) - Assists in daily production of WGN's late afternoon show, Steve Cochran, including: audio production, developing show ideas, booking guests, screening phones, editing and special projects. Also supports Extension 720 and web work.
  E-mail resume and cover letter to Beth Swierk at ProgrammingInternships@wgnradio.com
• News (Daytime) - Our news interns perform a variety of tasks, including: Editing digital audio, writing leads to sound bites, assisting with major event coverage, preparing news stories, audio and related items for posting on the website, shooting video and photos of stories when appropriate, editing and posting video, assisting with story idea generation, processing network feeds from ABC Radio, answering phones, and assist web activities of other departments as requested. (See deadline note below.)
  E-mail resume and cover letter to Rob Hart at NewsInternships@wgnradio.com
• News (Evenings) - Our news interns perform a variety of tasks, including: Editing digital audio, writing leads to sound bites, assisting with major event coverage, preparing news stories, audio and related items for posting on the website, shooting video and photos of stories when appropriate, editing and posting video, assisting with story idea generation, processing network feeds from ABC Radio, answering phones, and assist web activities of other departments as requested. (See deadline note below.)
  E-mail resume and cover letter to Rob Hart at NewsInternships@wgnradio.com
• Sports - Covers sporting events, answers phones, researches, writes, and produces stories. Assists in production of play-by-play presentations and sports talk shows, including: booking, ideation, screening phones, audio production, editing, completion of promotional/programming paperwork, and special projects.
  E-mail resume and cover letter to Mark Carman at SportsInternships@wgnradio.com
• Promotions - This position calls for an enthusiastic and eager individual who is able to effectively interact and communicate with a variety of individuals both within and outside of WGN Radio. Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, in addition to strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Throughout the course of the internship, the intern will be asked to work with individuals from several departments within WGN Radio, including promotions, programming, and sales. The intern's duties include preparing for and working at promotional events, assisting with contest winner fulfillment, compiling and editing the Community Calendar feature on wgnradio.com, maintaining the station's Facebook and Twitter accounts, posting promotional info to wgnradio.com, fulfilling merchandise orders, filling in during breaks for WGN Radio's receptionist (must be comfortable answering phones and dealing with employees, clients, and listeners), and carrying out special projects.
  E-mail resume and cover letter to Jenny Eck at PromotionsInternships@wgnradio.com
• Sales - This is an interactive and dynamic internship that relies on the intern to be self-motivated and disciplined, with a passion for learning. The intern will create sales marketing materials that will be used to upsell current clients and sell prospects advertising campaigns on WGN Radio. The intern will go on actual sales calls with account executives to learn about the sales process. The intern will work on sales initiatives that connect radio advertising with online advertising opportunities.
  E-mail resume and cover letter to Jenny Morehead, Local Sales Manager, at SalesInternships@wgnradio.com
• Finance - The finance intern's responsibility is to assist in the daily and monthly duties for the Finance Department. Requirements for this position include: basic understanding in accounting, knowledge in accrual accounting, knowledge in all Microsoft programs, strong communication skills, ability to multi-task, and strong organization skills.
  Email resume and cover letter to Michelle de los Santos, Accountant, at mdelossantos@tribune.com
• Web - Seeking a talented and creative intern to assist with daily web maintenance, video editing, graphic design and story and photo posting on wgnradio.com. Applicants should be either a junior or senior in college, detail oriented, efficient and can work with a flexible schedule. Must be able to work independently with direction, interact well with a variety of personalities, and have the ability to take initiative. This is an opportunity to contribute to the station website and gain valuable hands-on experience. Candidates for this position should be experienced with: Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Dreamweaver, content management systems, and basic video and audio production. Schedule is flexible, but applicants must be available to work a minimum of 20 hours a week. (See deadline note below.)
  E-mail resume, cover letter, and samples of your work (if available) to Jenny Eck at WebInternships@wgnradio.com

How to Apply
It's best to e-mail your resume and cover letter, though we do accept applications by regular mail. Please indicate which internships you're most interested in, and send your information to the attention of the appropriate person above, care of:

WGN Internship Program
435 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611

Applications should be received by the following deadlines to assure full consideration. Late applications will be considered for future terms. Dates listed subject to change. Tip: Summer internships have the greatest number of applicants and, therefore, are toughest to obtain. Consider a fall, winter, or spring internship to increase your chances.

Programming, Sports, Promotions, Finance and Sales Internships:

News and Web Internships: Schedules are flexible

Interns are selected on the basis of professional potential. We look at our internship program as a developing ground for future employees -- that's not to say all interns will get hired here, but one of our goals is to see how many responsibilities an intern can handle, on the chance an employment opportunity becomes available. So this isn't a coffee-fetching, grunt work internship. We trust our interns to handle duties that require the utmost in responsibility, diligence and enthusiasm.

Tip: when applying for an internship, specify which particular post you're interested in. Tell us not just why you'd be good for that internship, but why that particular internship would be good for you.

WGN is an equal opportunity employer. Interns are considered trainees and not employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1973.

Requirements

• Current college student (junior, senior, post-graduate).
• Internship must be taken for credit.
• Familiarity with WGN Radio and the Chicago market is preferred.
• Previous radio or other media experience (school, internship, or professional) preferred.
• Responsibility, judgment, organization, dependability, promptness, initiative, creativity, and efficiency are key to the success of interns along with the ability to handle deadlines, writing, and audio production

Duration/Hours

• Internships are unpaid.
• Fall (@ August - November)
• Winter (@ November - February)
• Spring (@ February - May)
• Summer (@ May - August)
  Web and News internships have flexible schedules and are filled on an as needed basis.

Results
During the internship, interns gain exposure to the realities of working in radio and gain exposure to related fields. Interns have the opportunity to prove themselves and determine if radio is a career for them. Interns make friends and contacts that they can network with as they start their career. After interns complete their term at WGN Radio, some return to school and share their new experiences. Other interns volunteer or temp at the station. A few become part-time employees. Occasionally, interns obtain full-time positions at WGN. Many interns take their experiences to other media outlets where they begin rewarding careers. Former interns at WGN Radio have held these positions:

at WGN:

Elsewhere:

The history of WGN Radio

Bought by the Tribune Company in 1924, WGN was a pioneer in the beginnings of radio. Besides the first broadcasts of The Indy 500 and The Kentucky Derby, WGN was the first station to broadcast a courtroom proceeding. The Scopes evolution v. creationism case was the original "trial of the century" and Chicago heard it live on WGN. (The WGN microphone used during these proceedings is currently on loan to the Smithsonian.)

The development of police radios began here as police calls were broadcast over the air so the police could be on the scene as quickly as possible. This relationship with peace officers evolved to some of the first metropolitan traffic reporting and the launching of a WGN Trafficopter fleet.

Along with CBS, NBC, DuMont, and Blue networks, WGN competed and assisted in forming the Mutual Broadcast Network.

Pioneers in radio entertainment with live in-studio orchestras and original radio dramas (such as Little Orphan Annie), the station has never really changed format, but evolved. This included the adjustment radio had to make as television came to be (WGN-TV Channel 9 and WGN America are our sister stations). Sportscasting, remotes, and use of phones on-air are still important developments in use today.

The radio home to millions across mid-America, WGN is one of the highest rated stations in Chicago. Because of our progressive and flexible full-service news and talk format, an internship here is like working at several different stations.

Besides talk, WGN flexes its format depending upon what's going on in our listeners' lives:

• Breaking story internationally or locally, and news is the emphasis.
• Athletes retiring, championships being won, or a big trade and Chicago's WGN Radio 720 is Chicago's Sportstation.
• When there's nasty weather, the WGN WeatherCenter meteorologists and Traffic Central reporters give all the details.
• A summer Friday and it's time to lighten up. Fun takes the lead.

On an average day we're mixing all these elements and more....

• Home of Chicago Cubs baseball, Chicago Blackhawks hockey, and Northwestern University football and basketball.
• Popular, unique professional personalities.
• A 50,000 watt clear channel that broadcasts to parts of 38 states Canada and Mexico at night.
• Winner of ten Marconi Awards (radio's Oscar).
• One of the top grossing radio stations in the country.
• Voted the Most Respected and Admired radio station in the country by the radio industry.
• Audio streaming world-wide via its web site http://wgnradio.com/about/listen.
• For more on our history, visit wgngold.com

Chicago's WGN Radio 720
A Tribune Broadcasting Station

WGN Radio 720 continues as a broadcasting leader in Chicago and around the world, and has been called the most respected and successful radio station in America. Our long running internship program has produced many successful professionals, not only at the station, but industry-wide thanks to the guidance of the 100+ professionals employed here.

The WGN Radio Internship Program is an intensive hands on experience where assignments are necessary and make a difference. Interns work at our studios in the architecturally classic Tribune Tower in the heart of downtown Chicago (central to public transportation).

WGN has had great success with its intern program. Interns are an important part of our day to day operation and many have gone on to successful careers in media.