• Who We Are
• Mission Statement
• General Information
• Schedule
• How to Apply
• Internship Opportunities
• Internship Projects
• Video Testimony
• Questions

Maryland Public Television, which is commonly known by its familiar name "MPT", is a public television network that comprises six television stations that broadcast throughout the entire state of Maryland as well as into the District of Columbia and parts of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. MPT is the only state-wide broadcaster in Maryland. MPT is a member of the Public Broadcasting Service.

"Maryland Public Television enriches lives and strengthens communities through the power of media."

MPT internships offer a thorough introduction to Maryland Public Television including our mission and expectations. We are committed to providing a solid work experience to serious minded individuals in a positive environment.

• Offering internships to freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate college, trade school college students
• Offering internships to junior and senior high school students
• MPT offers paid and unpaid internships. High school students are not considered for the paid internship.
• An unpaid intern that is not for academic credit is deemed a volunteer.
• Students must be able to commit to a minimum of 16 hours per week (with the exception of high school students).
• Students must have reliable transportation with the exception of stipend students.
• Internships are typically for hours during the standard workday (i.e., 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or 9:00 am to 5:00 pm). Nights & weekend hours may be required but are not routine.

Note: All sessions are subject to change

College Students Required Documents

• Online Application
• Cover letter and Resume
• Unofficial Transcript
• Academic Letter from School
• Professional Recommendation

Note

• If you are applying for the paid internship, please email two letters of recommendation to interns@mpt.org.
• If you have questions or difficulty uploading your documents, please email interns@mpt.org
• Your cover letter should specify an internship from the list of opportunities described below.
• Please indicate in your cover letter if the internship is for academic credit or a volunteer.
• An internship that is not for academic credit is deemed a volunteer.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE WELCOME

• Online Application
• Letter of Interest (HINT: Include your knowledge of MPT)
• Your high school's program overview (Work-Based Learning Program)

MPT has current openings for in-person and/or virtual unpaid internships that offer valuable experience in television programming, development, co-productions and related business development. These positions are filled by creative, motivated and energetic students from a variety of majors who lend their effort and time - a minimum of 16 hours per week - in exchange for an engaging educational experience.

With support of the Annie E Casey Foundation, the Featherstone CorporateInternship program creates economic opportunities for traditionally underrepresented communities in Baltimore City to pursue higher education and receive paid, professional internships to mitigate student-reported choices between unpaid, fieldwork or paid positions without professional gains.

The Foundation has teamed up with Maryland Public Television to provide paid internship opportunities for students traditionally underrepresented in media.

MPT Content Internship (Paid)

Maryland Public Television offers a paid, contractual internship to college, graduate college, and trade school students. This hands-on, interactive program is designed to prepare students for a career in broadcast media and production. 

Note:

• This program runs for four months: from October to November, and January to February.
• Students will be paid $15.50 per hour, working up to 16 hours per week. 
• Students will work closely with the Production Operations and Content teams.
• The application can be found under “MPT Junior Content Apprentice”

Institutional Advancement / Major & Planned Giving

Interns will learn the full donor cycle from prospect research and identification through stewardship and why major and planned gifts play a critical role in supporting the unique characteristics of a non-profit public media organization.

Development

The intern will learn how a not-for-profit station works by maintaining and updating the volunteer database, develop training programs for on air pledge volunteers, recruit, schedule and confirm telephone pledge volunteer groups and individuals, and handle incoming calls related to volunteer scheduling.*

Maryland State Ad Agency (MSAA)

Advertising interns will assist MSAA team members and their needs as well as general agency and business related needs. Advertising interns will participate in team meetings and brainstorming sessions; draft copy for marketing materials, social media posts, and other advertising collateral as needed; provide assistance with reporting; and provide general help with all areas related to the ad agency. 

Note:
• Preferred skills: Microsoft Office Suite, excellent organizational skills, clear communication, organizational skills
• Preferred experience: Advertising or promotions experience  

Schedule: Hybrid

Education

Intern will assist MPT’s Education Department with project development activities, multimedia and website production. Tasks include reviewing and updating the Education Department's website, Thinkport.org, and creating online, educational graphics, audio, video, and interactive media. Ideal interns should have experience with web design, graphic design, audio/video producing or editing. Experience with spreadsheets and/or databases is preferred as well.

Schedule: Monday - Friday, Hybrid 

Public Relations/Communications

PR/Communications interns assist with project-related research, writing, and editing of communication products for both internal and external audiences. Interns in this department also perform media monitoring, support fulfillment of media requests, create and/or maintain contact databases, and execute other related tasks as part of the network’s Communications Department. 

Schedule: Monday - Friday, Hybrid

Special Events & Community Engagement

Interns will assist with all aspects of event planning including creative concept, logistics, vendor selection & management, staffing, execution and more. 

Schedule: Monday - Sunday, Hybrid

Creative Services

Interns will work with MPT’s Broadcast Designers and Producers to create compelling visual content.

Tasks include graphic and broadcast design, helping to create show titles, motion graphics and promotional materials. A practical knowledge of the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator, Premiere Pro is required.

Schedule: Monday - Friday, In-person (No Hybrid)

General Membership Support

Under the guidance of the Data-Entry & Gifts Representative and Development staff, the intern will assist the office with the successful execution of ongoing membership recruitment and retention efforts.

Producing Television Shows (Content)

Content interns will get an inside look at the editorial and creative side of television production. They will assist the station's producers on a wide variety of local programs in all stages of production. Typical tasks include conducting story research, acting as a production assistant during field and studio shoots, helping to generate social media content, and logging and transcribing footage.  Most Content interns will also have the opportunity to write and edit a short form video of their own for either digital or broadcast, under the guidance of a producer.

Note:

• Candidates majoring in fields relating to MPT's subject matter (history, environmental science, etc.) are welcome to apply, though some experience with video production is very strongly preferred.
• Work samples are welcome but not required.  Candidates submitting a work sample should specify their production role (e.g. writer, videographer, editor, etc.)
• Preferred skills: video editing, writing, research, video production, social media

Schedule: Monday - Sunday, In-person (No Hybrid)

Fall/Spring internships are 8-16 hours per week. Summer internships are 12 to 24 hours per week.

All Content interns must be available for at least one full 8 hour day between Monday and Friday to ensure that they can participate in field productions.

Corporate Support Sales/Marketing/Client Relations

Interns will learn to prospect for potential clients and create a marketing plan for an upcoming event. Interns will participate in sales meetings and training seminars and accompany Account Executives on sales calls and presentations at local businesses and advertising agencies.

Information Technology

IT interns will help to provide technical support and assist the MPT Help Desk Support. Interns will work collaboratively on projects with ITS to develop solutions for MPT’s network. 

Schedule: Monday - Thursday, Hybrid

Production/Operations

The intern will learn the technical aspects of television and multi-media broadcast production by assisting in the following areas: studio/location camera operator, teleprompter operator, videotape editor, location sound recordist, lighting director, floor director, studio supervisor and director.

Administrative

The intern will gain experience in maintaining "front office" activities with researching, interviewing, and drafting copies for MPT publications; drafting press releases; research to build target media lists for publicity campaigns; fact-checking/proofreading; events support; and special purpose publications.

MotorWeek

Depending on interests, Motorweek interns will have a chance to help in various aspects of production. Interns will assist our segment producers in capturing content for the show and our digital productions. This means hands-on experience with various pieces of equipment, shadowing many different roles and getting a chance to put out ideas of your own. There are also opportunities to edit different pieces of MotorWeek content. Interns more interested in journalism and writing will have opportunities to work with script writers and daily reporters on crafting various pieces of content, televised and digital. These interns will get a sense of reporting on breaking news, as well as fact checking, editing, and adhering to an editorial style. Duties are not mutually exclusive, as any intern can try out any of the aforementioned duties.

Note:

• Light travel is expected for local shoots and a valid driver's license is preferred.
• Schedule is somewhat weather dependent; however, it is also very flexible.
• Interns can choose to work almost any weekday, provided there are tasks to assign. Telework is very limited, but not out of the question for certain tasks.

Schedule: Tuesday - Thursday, In-person (No Hybrid)

Note - Not all internships are available every semester.

Here are some video projects that our past interns have completed.

For questions, suggestions, or comments:

Human Resources/Internships
interns@mpt.org
410-581-4267