Saturday, June 14, 2008

Sports Journalism Internship
Rivals.com
10 Cadillac Drive Suite 400
Brentwood, TN 37027
615-507-1040
www.Rivals.com


Internship objective: Rivals.com offers a unique opportunity to work in the competitive world of sports news while providing valuable real-world experience through interviewing, local team and game coverage, and developing contacts through networking.
About the interning organization: We are now the No. 6 destination for internet sports fans worldwide, surpassing the unique visitor numbers of more “traditionally known” destinations like MLB.com, NBA.com, SI.com, CBSSports.com, as well as numerous others sites, providing interns an amazing amount of exposure and visibility to their work.

Widely respected throughout the national media Rivals.com is the online leader for college and high school athletics as well as recruiting coverage. The most recent release of comScore Media Metrics revealed that Rivals.com is now the 6th largest sports destination on the internet besting sites such as CBSSports.com, SI.com, MLB.com and NBA.com. In tallying more the 6 million unique visitors in the first two months of 2008 shows that Rivals.com is on pace for what should be a record breaking year.

Semesters interns are needed: fall, spring, summer I & summer II (any or all)

Number of interns needed: 1-3 depending on qualified applicants

Start date: On or near the first day of the semester registered, negotiable

End date: On or near the Friday before finals week of the semester registered, negotiable

Hours per week: 10-15 hours per week/depending upon the number of weeks scheduled to intern. The schedule is flexible.

Academic qualifications: Candidates should be journalism or communication major

Desired skills and qualifications:
Candidates should have an interest in sports. The position will reward the chosen candidates with internship credit hours, a strong resume, as well as potential opportunities beyond the completion of the internship.

Additional skills:

v A basic knowledge of HTML
v Written and oral communications skills
v Self-motivation
v Ability to develop and cultivate working relationships

Description of intern responsibilities: Depending on required hours 3-5 stories per week. Will require conducting phone interviews with players and coaches of different high school sports throughout the state.

Location: Michigan
Satellite supervision; plus in state management

Intern sponsor:
Dallas Jackson
Managing Producer of High School Sports

Credit: College credit toward communication major, minor or general electives. One hour of college credit is earned for a minimum of 40 hours of work, up to a maximum of 3 credit hours per semester.

Interested students should contact:
Dallas Jackson
Managing Producer of High School Sports

Please send a resume and two writing examples to DJackson@Rivals.com

Or by mail:
Rivals.com
c/o Dallas Jackson
10 Cadillac Drive, Suite 400
Brentwood, TN 37027

Evaluation: The evaluation will be completed by the Western Michigan University School of Communication Coordinator of Undergraduate Internships, and will be based upon the following:
v The student’s journal/log of all intern activities
v The student’s copy of all work produced, including progress made toward submitted learning objectives
v A final paper evaluating the internship based on what the student has learned in their academic courses.
v The internship sponsor’s mid-internship evaluation
v The internship sponsor’s end of the internship evaluation

Method of Evaluation:
v Student’s journal/log: 20%
v Student’s work: 20%
v Paper: 20%
v Internship sponsor’s mid-internship evaluation: 20%
v Internship sponsor’s end of the internship evaluation: 20%

Calendar:
v E-mail updates to the Coordinator of Undergraduate Internships every month.
v Additional communication via email, phone or in person as needed
v All materials are to be submitted to the School of Communication’s Coordinator of Undergraduate Internships the Wednesday of finals week of the semester/session registered.



(On-site internship supervisor’s signature)



(Student intern’s signature)



School of Communication’s internship coordinator’s (Marilyn S. Kritzman) signature