KCUR Public Radio offers structured internships
throughout the year

Summer: (June 1st through August)
Fall (September 1st through December)
Winter/Spring: (January 15th through May)

Internship Program Information

KCUR’s internship program is designed to provide college and university students and graduates with an opportunity to learn about public broadcasting and news.

Eligibility: Preferred candidates are journalism / mass communications graduate or undergraduate students, or those who have already graduated from college. Exceptions to student status may be allowed based on relevant experience. Familiarity with public radio required.

General Information: Interns are expected to work between 15 – 20 hours a week during an 8 to 10 week internship period.   Internships are offered during the summer, fall, and winter/spring semesters.   Interns may receive academic credit if an agreement is made between KCUR and the intern’s college or university. All internships are unpaid.

Application Procedures: Candidates must complete an application form (.pdf file) and submit it with a cover letter, resume, a writing sample, and list of three professional and/or academic references. Additional writing samples and other materials, including produced audio or video pieces and published articles are welcome but not required. Additional material may be submitted on CD or by providing web links. All application items must be submitted as a complete package. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Application Deadlines: Applications must be received by April 15 for the summer program; July 15 for the fall program (note: this deadline has been extended to August 29th, 2009); and December 1 for the winter/spring semester program.

Email applications to internships@kcur.org or mail applications to:

KCUR-FM
Internship Program
4825 Troost Avenue, Suite 202
Kansas City, Missouri 64110

Internship Opportunities

The following is a list of internship positions available at KCUR. The exact internships offered vary from semester to semester.

On the application form, applicants should indicate all internships they are interested in.

Programming Internship: (Only occasionally offered.) Assist the program director in communicating to people and organizations. Intern may be asked to attend meetings with program director. This job also involves writing copy for air use and research for use off and on air. May include assisting the program director in organizing pre-recorded fund raising programs and other tools utilized for bi-annual membership drive. Candidate must possess solid writing, communication and organizational skills. Familiarity with KCUR programming would be helpful. Priority given to communications majors.

News Internship: (Typically offered in all three semesters.) Candidates should be interested in news and current events and be prepared to offer story ideas. Duties include gathering tape for morning and afternoon newscasts, story research for reporters and editors, and sorting mail and press releases. Must be comfortable enough with computers to pick up use of digital editing software programs (Adobe Audition/CoolEdit) quickly. Must have excellent writing, researching and editing skills, and ability to work quickly, accurately and under deadline. Flexibility, initiative and creativity a plus. Journalism background is preferred.

KC Currents Internship: (Typically offered in all three semesters) Assists with the day-to-day operations of KC Currents, KCUR’s weekly news magazine, covering diverse communities in the Kansas City area, and hosted by Susan B. Wilson and Sylvia Maria Gross. KCC is looking for people interested in local news and creative radio storytelling. The KCC intern will generate and research story ideas, attend editorial meetings, gather tape and photographs in the field, post stories and photographs on the web, design slide shows and extra information for the web, write scripts, edit interviews and produce billboards and promos. Interns may also report and write spot news stories for KCUR’s morning and afternoon newscasts. By the end of the term, the intern will pitch, report, and produce a feature story intended for broadcast on KC Currents. Strong research, writing, and organizational skills required. Candidates must be comfortable enough with computers to pick up the use of digital editing software programs (Adobe Audition). Must work well quickly, independently, under pressure, and with constant deadlines.

Up to Date Internship: (Typically offered in all three semesters) Assists with the day-to-day operations of Up to Date, KCUR’s award-winning daily public affairs talk show hosted by The Kansas City Star’s Steve Kraske; Interns will organize show pitches, press releases, and other communications, research show topics, write scripts, and produce billboards and promos; duties may include answering phones, attending editorial meetings, gathering tape, and other work as needed; Experience using Microsoft Word and general computer skills is required. Some HTML and social networking site skills a plus. Candidates must be comfortable enough with computers to pick up use of digital editing software programs (Adobe Audition/CoolEdit). Strong research, writing, and organizational skills required. Must work well quickly, independently, under pressure, and with constant deadlines.
The Walt Bodine Show Internship: (Rolling applications accepted) Assists with the day-to-day operations of The Walt Bodine Show, KCUR’s award-winning daily variety talk show hosted by Kansas City veteran talk show host Walt Bodine, and Co-host Gina Kaufmann. Interns will organize show pitches, press releases, and other communications, research show topics, write promos, update the website; duties may include answering phones, attending production meetings, gathering tape, conducting pre-interviews, and other work as needed; Experience using Microsoft Word and general computer skills is required. Some HTML and social networking site skills a plus. Candidates must be comfortable enough with computers to pick up use of digital editing software programs (Adobe Audition/CoolEdit). Strong research, writing, and organizational skills required. Must work well quickly, independently, under pressure, and with constant deadlines. Flexibility, initiative and creativity a plus.

KCUR is firmly committed to seeking qualified candidates for all job openings, to offer equal employment opportunity to all persons, and to take affirmative action to ensure that such opportunities are provided.

It is the policy of KCUR to be fair and impartial in all of its relations with its employees and applicants for employment, and to make all employment-related decisions without regard to race, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, or disability.