INTERNSHIP DETAILS

WINK News Production & Archive Digitization Internship (Summer)

CompanyFort Myers Broadcasting Co
LocationFort Myers
Work ModeOn Site
PostedMarch 13, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The primary focus involves the digitization, logging, and cataloging of historical news footage and media assets to preserve decades of local journalism. Interns will also gain limited exposure to newsroom production workflows, including editing and content management systems.
Internship Type
intern
Company Size
177
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
20 hours
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About The Company
Many wonder how WINK News got its name. The quick answer would be that since we’re a CBS station, the name is reflective of the CBS logo. But interestingly, it’s not. WINK began as WFTM, a non-network affiliated radio station owned by Fort Myers Broadcasting Company, in 1939. WFTM was the first licensed radio broadcast station in Southwest Florida. Three years later, FMBC was purchased by Ronald B. Woodyard and Reginald B. Martin, and the call letters were changed from WFTM to WAAC. WAAC became a CBS radio station in 1943, and was renamed WINK the following year. The company was sold to the United Garage and Service Company, owned by the McBride family, of Lakewood, Ohio, in 1946. The McBride family continues to maintain ownership of the station. WINK-TV debuted on the air on March 18, 1954, becoming the first Southwest Florida television station. At the time, only about 52,000 people lived in the area. They previously relied on snowy images out of stations in Tampa and Miami. Now the region has over 900,000 residents. As Southwest Florida has grown, so has WINK-TV: Newsgathering shifted from film to video in the 1970s. In 1977, SWFL was market 138 out of 214. Currently, we’re market 54. Stereo broadcasts and live remote news reports were added in the 1980s. WINK News debuted its state-of-the-art studio in September 2015. WINK has grown from six hours of news per night to now 80 hours of news coverage a week.
About the Role
WINK News Internship Outline: News Production &
Archive Digitization Internship

Program Overview
The WINK News Production Internship provides college students with hands-on experience inside a professional television newsroom while contributing to a critical archival preservation project. The primary focus of this internship is the digitization, logging, and cataloging of historical news footage and media assets from a recently acquired television station. Interns will assist the newsroom in preserving decades of local journalism by converting legacy formats into searchable digital assets. In addition to archive work, interns will gain limited exposure to newsroom production workflows including editing, content management systems, and daily news operations.

Internship Objectives
  • Archive Preservation: Assist in the digitization and preservation of legacy news footage.
  • Metadata & Cataloging: Create detailed logs and metadata to make footage searchable.
  • Newsroom Exposure: Develop an understanding of television news production workflows.
  • Technical Skill Development: Gain experience with editing software and digital asset systems.
  • Career Preparation: Build real-world experience relevant to broadcast and digital media careers.
Internship Timeline
  • Duration: 12–16 weeks
  • Hours per week: 15–20 hours (flexible depending on student schedule)
  • Work Schedule: Primarily weekday hours aligned with newsroom production and archive operations
Qualifications
  • Enrollment in Broadcast Journalism, Communications, Film, Media Studies, or similar field
  • Strong organizational and attention-to-detail skills
  • Interest in television news, storytelling, or media preservation
  • Basic familiarity with video editing software is helpful but not required
  • Ability to work independently and manage structured tasks
Physical Requirements
  • Ability to sit or work at a computer for extended periods.
  • Clear verbal and written communication in person, by phone, and via video.
  • Operate standard office and recording equipment.
  • Travel, including local riding along to field locations or meetings.
  • Navigate indoor and outdoor environments as needed.
  • Able to lift up to 50 pounds.
  • Visual and auditory ability to conduct interviews and review content.
Capstone Project: Archive Collection Build
At the end of the internship, the student will complete a structured archive collection project contributing to the station’s long-term media archive. The intern will digitize and catalog a defined group of footage, create organized metadata, identify historically significant material, and present a summary of how the
archived content could support future newsroom storytelling.

How to Apply
  • Submit a resume
  • Submit a cover letter
  • Optional: writing sample or media work
*Please no phone calls or emails regarding this position.
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Southwest Florida is often praised as being one of the healthiest and happiest places in the world with miles of white-sand beaches and a dynamic community. Broadcast Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we are a drug-free and smoke-free environment.

Key Skills
DigitizationArchival PreservationLoggingCatalogingMetadata CreationEditing SoftwareContent Management SystemsNews Production WorkflowsAttention To DetailOrganizational SkillsIndependent WorkVerbal CommunicationWritten Communication
Categories
Creative & MediaTechnologyAdministrative