• 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
• All MPT internships are unpaid. An 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 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.

Production/Operations

This Internship provides an insight into the technical aspects of television and multi-media broadcast production. An intern may assist videographers/editors, television directors or producers in studio and on location. This internship may include exposure to special effects design, switcher programming, character generator automation, production and post production audio, and multi-camera setups for studio and location.

Qualifications - All Candidates MUST have a flexible schedule and be able to travel. The intern may assist with a variety of MPT productions (Direct Connection, Outdoors Maryland, etc.) and outside clients.

Special Events & Community Engagement

Students will get behind the scenes experience with planning and executing special projects related to the departments fundraising events and community engagement activities. ​Interns will assist logistics and promotion for virtual fundraising and engagement events.

Qualifications - Candidates should be highly motivated, self-starters with excellent organizational skills. The ability to multi-task, communicate effectively and demonstrate attention to detail are essential.

Remote work may be required. Strong internet and device with a camera and microphone are required for meetings.

Public Relations/Communications

This internship provides a student pursuing a communications, public relations, or journalism degree with an opportunity to experience the environment and work of a communications team within a not-for-profit organization. Assignments and activities may include but are not limited to: project-related primary and secondary research; writing and editing of communication products (for both internal and external audiences); support and fulfillment of media requests; database creation and/or updates; assistance with planning internal and external events and observances; and participation in meetings associated with assigned tasks. During the Spring 2021 semester, most internship work will be conducted remotely with occasional in-person meetings with the supervisor.

Qualifications - Candidates should have coursework and/or experience in strategic communications/print journalism/public relations/writing, etc.

Producing Television Shows

This position is for students interested in producing television shows, particularly non-fiction & educational programs. Virtual interns will assist producers in pre- and post-production. They will research story ideas, transcribe interviews, find video and photos for edits, and help write and edit short segments (if they have access to editing software at home). This internship can cover all phases of production, ranging from early program development straight through to final distribution and broadcast.

Qualifications - Candidates must be detail oriented self-starters, have outgoing personalities, and possess good writing and computer skills. Ideal candidates will have experience with non-linear editing systems, particularly AVID.

Human Resource

The intern will assist in event planning for a virtual 500 person Women's Leadership Forum. The candidate will participate in coordinating meetings and the technical aspects of the event. The intern will also assist in the creation of social media and advertising plans, coordinating swag for attendees, contribute to the newsletter, and be a brand ambassador for the Women Leadership Forum.

Qualifications - Candidates must be organized, have good writing and communication skills, be enthusiastic work timely and communicate often. Students must be able to process and prioritize high volumes of work under tight deadlines. Students must be a go-getter, self-starter, and must be willing to meet new people. This is perfect for a want-to-be entrepreneur.

Institutional Advancement / Major & Planned Giving

The intern will have the opportunity to gain the following skills virtually/in person: Administrative support (ex: data entry, donor updates); assist with special mailings, donor stewardship (ex: e.g. birthday calls, thank-you calls for gifts, welcome postcards to new members etc.); grant research; graphic design (Impact Reports, newsletter, etc.); prospect research; special projects (ex. data project with Donor Search on building the "Inner Circle" list, Campaigns, bequests, donors prospecting, marketing). 

Qualifications - Candidates must have strong research, writing, web/social media, and interpersonal skills. In addition, candidates must demonstrate strong organizational skills, be detail-oriented and be comfortable meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Special Projects Unit

Interns will contribute to a wide range of high-quality video projects for out of house clients, produced by MPT's Production Services.  

Qualifications – Candidates must be highly motivated enthusiastic individuals, with an attention to detail. Writing, non-linear editing (Avid), research, and social media skills are a plus. All Candidates MUST have a flexible schedule and be able to travel locally or regionally. Ask yourself, “What else do you bring to the table?”

Information Technology    

This position is designed to provide students with a positive work/training experience and challenging objectives, intern will be involved in converting and upgrading existing legacy web projects into new versions. The candidate will also assist the MPT Sr. Director of IT in the strategic migration of on-premise workload and servers into the AWS cloud platform and other helpdesk support.

Qualifications - Candidates must be skilled in generally accepted computer programming languages using PHP, JavaScript, MySQL, organized, have good writing and communication skills, be enthusiastic, and communicate often. Students must be able to process and prioritize high volumes of work under tight deadlines. In addition, students must be a go-getter, self-starter, and willing to learn new technologies.

Special Events & Community Engagement

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

Public Relations/Communications

Interns will assist with project-related research, writing and editing of communication products (both external and internal), work with media monitoring/ clipping system, support fulfillment of media requests, database creation and updates.

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.

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.

Producing Television Shows

Interns will work directly with producers on a variety of projects in all stages of development and be exposed to the nuts-and-bolts of production management including research, planning, field & studio shoots, administration, and more.

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.

Education & Community Outreach

Interns will assist with the support of project development activities, reviewing and identifying instructional resources. The intern will help with professional development or outreach and communication activities as well as assist with transcribing video interviews and corresponding with outside organizations to help obtain web resources.

MotorWeek

The intern will learn all aspects of program production, including but not limited to research, logging, learning the process of production and the paperwork involved. Position may involve light clerical duties as well as driving. Candidate MUST have excellent driving record and should have an interest in cars. Intern may be able to participate in studio and field shoots as well as edit and audio sessions. Candidate MUST have a flexible schedule and be able to travel.

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.*

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.

WLF Social Media Manager

Applicants must be a current Junior or Senior high school student, Trade School enrollee or graduate, College student or Graduate willing to commit to a minimum of 16 hours per week.

Intern will be responsible for the creation of social media content and placement for the Women Leadership Forum. Candidates must be proficient in writing, editing, and social media.    Ideal candidates are detail-oriented, possess excellent writing and communication skills, comfortable meeting deadlines, and familiar with media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Youtube) and editing software (Canva, Adobe, iMovie).

This candidate must be comfortable as a brand ambassador for the Women Leadership Forum.

Preferred majors include Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Mass Communication, English, Creative Writing, Business, Media Hospitality Management, Meetings and Event Management, Film, Digital Media, Human Resources, Television, Radio, and Non-profit Management.

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.

WLF Event Coordinator

Intern will assist in planning and executing the Women's Leadership Forum. Activities may include, but are not limited to: communicating with facilitators and vendors, coordinating merchandise for attendees, database creation and/or updates, and participation in meetings associated with assigned tasks. Ideal candidates are quick learners, comfortable meeting deadlines, and able to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. In addition, applicants must have good writing and communication skills, willing to learn new technologies, and proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspaces (Excel, PowerPoint, Docs and Sheets).

Preferred majors include Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Mass Communication, English, Creative Writing, Business, Media Hospitality Management, Meetings and Event Management, Film, Digital Media, Human Resources, Television, Radio, and Non-profit Management.

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