Unlocking Opportunities: Your Guide to Internships at PBS SoCal

PBS SoCal, the home to PBS for Greater Los Angeles and Southern California, takes pride in sharing stories that matter-with original programs that reflect the diversity, culture, and beauty of our region, and the full schedule of trusted PBS programs. If you're passionate about public media and eager to contribute to an organization dedicated to educating, informing, and inspiring the 18 million+ people who call Southern California home, an internship at PBS SoCal might be the perfect launchpad for your career. This article provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the internship opportunities at PBS SoCal, drawing insights from current interns and outlining the steps to make your application stand out.

Why Intern at PBS SoCal?

PBS SoCal's mission is to foster a love of learning, culture, and community through its distinct PBS programming, available on four broadcast channels and online, as well as through person-to-person experiences in the classroom and the community. Interns at PBS SoCal have the unique opportunity to:

Contribute to Meaningful Content: Be a part of an organization that creates and shares content that matters, reflecting the diversity and culture of Southern California.
Gain Hands-On Experience: Participate in meaningful, hands-on experiences that complement your major field of study.
Explore Various Career Paths: Whether you've set your career sites on marketing, programming, early learning, or production, PBS SoCal offers internships across various departments.
Make a Real Impact: Contribute to a company that gives back to so many people across the country and that supports their employees in meaningful ways.

Who Can Apply?

You don't necessarily have to be a four-year college student to apply for an internship at PBS SoCal. The organization welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds, including:

Community college students
Recent graduates
Individuals looking for a career change

Making Your Application Stand Out

Securing an internship at PBS SoCal requires a well-crafted application that showcases your skills, experience, and passion for public media. Here's how to make your application stand out:

The Resume and Cover Letter Duo

Both are Essential: Anytime a job ad asks you for both a resume and a cover letter, you should be providing both.
Update and Align: Dust off your old resumes and update your info. Make sure they align with the job you're applying for.
Proofread: Pay close attention to detail and ensure your resume and cover letter are free of errors.
Highlight Relevant Coursework and Experience: Showcase your relevant coursework and experience in your application.

Showcasing Your Passion

Share Your Enthusiasm: Share what you're passionate about in your application.
Demonstrate Your Fit: Include why you'd be a great fit and how PBS SoCal can help you grow.

Available Internship Opportunities

PBS SoCal offers internship opportunities throughout the year in various departments. A recent example is the Marketing Intern position for Spring. This position is located in Burbank, CA, and Costa Mesa, CA (Hybrid). The internship pays \$18.00/hourly.

Marketing Intern Responsibilities

The Marketing Intern will support PBS SoCal’s marketing efforts across owned and paid media, including cross-platform campaign and advertising planning. In addition to collaborating with the Marketing team to execute various promotional strategies, the Marketing Intern will conduct market research, assist in the creation of marketing materials, and help to drive brand awareness and engagement and collaborate cross-functionally with other departments. The responsibilities include:

Support campaign efforts, including planning and monitoring deliverables and deadlines
Assist with reporting by gathering and presenting the department’s monthly KPIs
Updating and maintaining assets library
Staying abreast of upcoming programming, campaigns, and events and updating supporting documents
Help research new advertising outlets as needed
Other duties, as assigned

Qualifications

At least 18 years of age
Available for a minimum of 20 hours per week
Reliable transportation for travel to in-person meetings and events
Familiarity or interest in television and media
Knowledge of (or interest in learning) advertising channels including Campaign Manager 360, Display & Video 360, Google Search, YouTube, Spotify, and OTT platforms such as Amazon Fire TV & Tablet and Roku
Interest in understanding data and interpreting it into meaningful trends or results
Great attention to detail
Possess organizational, communication, and time management skills
Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects concurrently in an ever-evolving environment
Collaborative, collegial, resourceful, and willing to pitch in on a variety of projects
Passionate about proactively learning and researching new media and emerging technologies
A curious observer, with a willingness to try and test new tactics

The Hiring Process

The hiring process at PBS SoCal typically involves the following steps:

Search: Use the careers site to find a job that fits your experience.
Apply: Apply through the careers site, and a recruiter will reach out.
Interview: Interviews will take place either virtually or in person.
Onboarding: Become part of the PBS community.

Benefits of Interning at PBS

While specific benefits may vary depending on the internship program, PBS SoCal offers a range of benefits to its employees, reflecting its commitment to valuing the team and fostering a positive work environment. These benefits may include:

Medical Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Vacation Time: 17 days of vacation leave
Sick Time: 12 days of sick leave annually
Volunteer Time: 8 hours of Volunteer time
Retirement: Generous 403(b) employer contribution after one year of service
Paid Holidays: 13 paid holidays, including New Year’s Day, Juneteenth, and Presidents' Day
Education: Educational Assistance Program
Other Benefits: Employer-Provided Life, AD&D insurance, Long-term and Short-term disability
Wellness Program: PBS’s Wellness Program is designed to educate and promote well-being.

Life at PBS SoCal

PBS SoCal fosters a positive and uplifting work environment where employees feel valued and supported. Employees have expressed:

Meaningful Work: The opportunity to exercise creative and analytical sides while contributing to a greater common good.
Positive Culture: A truly positive and uplifting work environment.
Inclusion and Diversity: Lived experiences as a mother, woman, and person of color are valued just as equally as education and skills.
Autonomy and Trust: Employees are trusted to do their jobs and provided autonomy to set direction and make decisions.
Career Growth: The ability to define one's own career and create a path for a bright future.
Legacy of Service: Working in an organization with such a strong legacy of service
Dedicated Colleagues: Working alongside creative and dedicated colleagues all focused on educating, inspiring and entertaining our audiences
Unique and Awesome Sized Mission: The challenge of a unique and awesome sized mission

PBS Organizational Values

PBS SoCal is guided by a set of core values that shape its culture and operations:

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LIVE THE MISSION: Believe in the power of PBS and local stations to impact people's lives.
VALUE THE TEAM: Make each other better. The best ideas emerge through open doors and diverse viewpoints.
LEAD BY EXAMPLE: Strive for excellence and act with integrity.
EMBRACE POSSIBILITY: Be imaginative and curious, eager to learn, and unafraid to try.

Social Impact and Community Engagement

PBS SoCal is deeply committed to social impact and community engagement. The organization uses its platform to:

Promote Understanding: Create an environment where people are inspired to learn more about each other.
Solve Societal Issues: Do more to solve societal issues.
Foster Real Social Impact: To bring light to - and promote action to solve - critical issues faced by the local communities served.
Talking Neighbor to Neighbor: Talking Neighbor to Neighbor is an initiative from PBS SoCal that invites you to learn about the issues impacting our region while building neighborly connections.

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