INTERNSHIP DETAILS

WINK Newsroom Internship (Summer)

CompanyFort Myers Broadcasting Co
LocationFort Myers
Work ModeOn Site
PostedMarch 13, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
This multi-role broadcast journalism internship involves rotating through four key positions: Reporter, Producer, Digital Producer, and Video Editor to gain comprehensive experience in television news production. The intern will culminate their learning by producing a final project that integrates skills from all rotated roles.
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: Multi-Role Broadcast Journalism
Internship

Program Overview: The WINK News Internship Program offers college students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in critical roles within a television news station. Over the course of the internship, the student will rotate through four key positions: Reporter, Producer, Digital Producer, and Video Editor. By the end of the internship, the student will apply what they’ve learned in each role to produce a comprehensive final project, demonstrating their skills in reporting, producing, editing, and newsroom coordination.

Internship Objectives:
  1. Comprehensive Experience: Rotate through key newsroom roles to gain a broad understanding of television news production.
  2. Project Creation: Work independently to create a final project that incorporates elements of each internship role (Reporter, Producer, Digital, and Video Editing).
  3. Professional Development: Enhance communication, technical, and organizational skills while understanding how a newsroom operates as a cohesive unit.
  4. Career Preparation: Prepare for a career in broadcast journalism by gaining a well-rounded skill set and practical experience.

Internship Timeline:
    • Duration: 12-16 weeks
    • Hours per week: 15-20 hours (flexible depending on student’s schedule)
    • Work Schedule: Varies to provide exposure to different shifts (mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends when necessary).

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 for reporting.
  • Able to lift up to 50 pounds.
  • Visual and auditory ability to conduct interviews and review content.

Qualifications:

  1. Enrollment in a related degree program (Broadcast Journalism, Communications, Film, or similar).
  2. Strong interest in television news and broadcasting.
  3. Excellent communication, organizational, and writing skills.
  4. Prior experience with media production or video editing (preferred but not required).
 

How to Apply:

  • Submit a resume, cover letter, and a sample of writing or video work (if applicable).

*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
ReportingProducingEditingNewsroom CoordinationCommunicationOrganizational SkillsWritingVideo EditingBroadcast JournalismTelevision News Production
Categories
Creative & MediaEducation