Hands-on Experience for Journalism Majors
Gaining hands-on experience through internships and many on-campus opportunities is a key part of a journalism education at Ohio University.
Internships
Consistent with its policy of combining classwork with practical training, the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism requires each student to complete an adviser-approved internship. Interns are provided with varied hands-on experiences in media-related organizations. Internship opportunities are located throughout the nation and abroad. Available internship opportunities for journalism students are listed on under "Internship and Job" on the Scripps College of Communication website.
Local and On-Campus Opportunities
1804 Communications. Previously ImPRessions, 1804 Communications is an entirely student-run public relations firm based in Athens, Ohio. The firm operates as a subsidiary of the Hugh M. Culbertson chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. 1804 Communications is also a PRSSA Nationally Affiliated student-run firm through PRSSA National’s standards. This year, we have merged with ThumbPrint, the advertising agency on campus to align with what is happening in the industry. This will improve the experience of our members and give them a breadth of opportunities that were not available to them before. The most important function of 1804 Communications is to provide students at Ohio University with professional experience that will prepare them for future internships and employment opportunities. 1804 will serve clients on the national and regional levels as well as local clients in Athens. 1804 Communications provides organizations with full communications and marketing services free of charge. Our professional and knowledgeable students are wowing clients year after year with their dedication, passion and creativity.
ACRN (acrn.com) ACRN is a student organization at Ohio University that revolves around music and radio. Everyone loves music, so there is bound to be a part of ACRN that will appeal to the interests of every Bobcat! ACRN is notorious for being an online radio station run by our very own DJs, but we also do so much more. Our DJs don’t just play music on air, but they also go mobile and DJ at live events. You can also write as one of our music journalists, choose the music we play on air, do graphic design work, or help make the ads we play on the air. Our engineers work to keep everything working in the station. We also have a social media team, for those who love to Tweet and Tumble. There is even a place at ACRN for those students interested in sales, promotions, photography, making videos, and keeping the DJs in check every week. You could even work on this very website if that’s what you’re into! All Bobcats are welcome!
The Athens Messenger (athensmessenger.com) and The Athens News (athensnews.com) are community publications serving the Athens County and Ohio University communities. Both offer opportunities for students to complete reporting and editing assignments. Both publications are always looking for good reporters and hire many journalism students.
Athens Video Works is a completely student-run multimedia production house. AVW offers experience in all aspects of media production including management, production, research, promotion and development. Students can get involved in one of our 8 shows, as well as our live event coverage in conjunction with Event Services. Newstime, which is similar to The Daily Show or the Colbert report, produces written satirical content for The New Political as well as web videos. Live from Studio C, Fridays Live is Ohio University’s own Saturday Night Live, only on Fridays. AVW Hockey covers and live streams all of the home club hockey games right from Bird Arena. Confused? is a children’s educational show similar to Zoom. Ohio Sports Zone covers MAC and Bobcat sports every Thursday night on WOUB II. Straight Up provides local entertainment coverage much like Access Hollywood. Tech Heads covers technology, gaming, movies, music and all aspects of “geek” culture. The Evening Show is AVW’s newest addition and brings a late night talk show like no other to the Athens community. For more information, please contact gm@avwproductions.com.
Backdrop is a student-produced lifestyle magazine located the college town of Athens, Ohio. The magazine's concept was created in a 4000-level journalism class but was taken out of the classroom by the original Editor in Chief, Ashley Luther and fellow classmates. Founded in 2006, it is an outlet for Ohio University students' perspective on issues including politics, sex and health, entertainment and culture with regard to the university and its surroundings. Students are given the opportunity to gain real world experience as they take part in the writing, editing, advertising, and producing of a real four-color glossy magazine. Readers are primarily students who take an interest in their peers and community. Backdrop provides student reviews of local restaurants, events, and bands, as well as keep a critical eye on the happenings around Athens. The magazine is published twice a semester, and has a shelf life of several months.
Her Campus (hercampus.com/OhioU) is the Ohio University focused affiliate of a national online magazine dedicated to, written by, and focused on empowering, college women. Her Campus is the No. 1 media site for college women, written entirely by the world’s top college journalists.
The New Political (thenewpolitical.com) an award-winning, independent publication run entirely by Ohio University students. It is a digital-first outlet solely dedicated to covering politics and government on the Ohio University campus, in the city of Athens and in the state of Ohio. The New Political seeks to educate and empower the public as an independent voice for Athens.
The Podcast Studio (the Pod) is a studio on the first floor of Schoonover lobby and is available for students with a Scripps major to reserve throughout the year. Recording equipment is provided and there is enough space for at least four people to record together, making it a convenient way to get your podcast idea rolling! We built the studio with our students in mind—whether you’re pursuing a podcasting certificate or independently exploring the world’s most popular audio storytelling medium, the Pod is a great resource.
The Post (thepostathens.com) is the daily, independent student newspaper, which in about 1990, became the first totally paginated college newspaper in the country. Offices are located in Baker Center. Some positions on The Post are paid, while others are not. Any student can contact the editor about working in writing, editing, photography or advertising on the paper.
Southeast Ohio magazine (southeastohiomagazine.com) is published two times a year (winter/spring and summer/fall) and covers 21 southeast Ohio counties. It was the first student-published regional magazine of its kind in the country. The staff, consisting of students enrolled in the News and Information Capstone/JOUR4870, uses the experience as a practical internship. Students create each 48-page issue by developing article ideas, writing and editing articles, designing pages, and obtaining photographs. Southeast Ohio is sold by subscription and on newsstands in the region.
SpeakeasyOhiou.com (speakeasyohiou.com/) focuses on campus life, particularly in the areas of the arts and culture. Students can work as writers, editors and web designers.
Thread Magazine (outhreadmag.com) is a fashion-based magazine striving to be a guidebook for encouraging the creation of a personal style through confident self-expression while showcasing Athens fashion culture. The magazine is completely digital so that there is no limitation to the students' written and visual abilities. Students interested in writing, editing, designing, styling, photography and public relations can receive experience with Thread.
Formerly known as The Scene, VARIANT is a fashion magazine at Ohio University. Striving to be bold, deviant and progressive from the norm, VARIANT is a creative movement that inspires to explore the unexplored and break the stereotypical boundaries of fashion and pop culture. VARIANT is both a print and online publication that values diversity and represent all types of cultures and identities in our issues.
The WOUB Center for Public Media (WOUB) in the Scripps College of Communication is home to WOUB Radio & TV, which includes two public TV stations, six radio stations, a cable TV station and Web site. In the WOUB newsroom, students prepare and broadcast news, sports and weather reports. Students work on a variety of programs such as a weekly sports talk show, news specials and the student-produced Newswatch, a half hour, weekday TV newscast. Volunteer and paid positions are available to students in any major. WOUB News is located in Room 359 of the Radio-TV Building.