The CBC internship was a positive learning experience for me because I was able to put everything I’ve learned at school into practice.
From the first day, my supervisor, the producer for Toronto Local News asked me how comfortable I was with talking to people, I replied “very,” and from there was assigned to chase stories. I was surrounded by reporters, editors and industry professionals who, although were busy, always made time to answer my questions and give me feedback on my work. Within 6 weeks, my confidence grew and after this experience I’m excited to graduate and join the journalism workforce.
I couldn’t have imagined a better internship experience than the one I had at CBC Toronto. The opportunities I was given went above and beyond my expectations. I received copious amounts of sound advice and encouragement from my superiors and colleagues and I felt like I was truly valued as an asset to the newsroom. My thoughts and opinions were always welcome and respected. I wish I could thank each and every person I met there. I’ve recently been offered training in EA and AP positions in the Toronto newsroom, so I might actually get to.
My time at As It Happens was rewarding: I got to be a part of a reputable radio show that covers the most interesting stories happening globally. My co- workers were polite and professional, and formed a highly productive team. I got proper guidance from my supervisor and some fellow producers. The workload kept me busy throughout the day, but was never more than I could handle. I wasn’t able to do the same work that seasoned AIH producers were doing – like front-page news stories – but I had the opportunity to work on producing other stories, and packaging stories for online.
My internship at CBC both exceeded my expectations in some ways and let me down in others. I was placed in an awesome team with a supervisor that was very attentive and present. This enhanced my time, because in that respect I felt I had guidance throughout.
However, I believe the CBC internship format as a whole needs serious rewiring. I think that in order to get a well-rounded experience, especially in the news department, weeks should be split into different tasks so that you don’t end up doing the same things throughout the six weeks. I did not get to experience things like writing for online pitching weekly stories and so on, because supervisors do not have a structured checklist or anything to make sure interns are getting a well-rounded experience.
My placement at CBC Sports in Toronto introduced me to a very professional newsroom with strong Canadian values. As a reporter/writing intern I got the opportunity to write articles on stories I always wanted to cover, and I was also challenged to step out of my comfort zone. I was able to pitch my own original story ideas to the editors, I was also assigned breaking stories, as well as feature-length stories that got published on cbcsports.ca website with my byline. My CBC sports colleagues and supervisors were all very supportive, while still being honest and constructive on how I can improve my ideas, pitches and skills as a journalist.
I enjoyed my placement at the CBC as an editorial intern. Before this I had more experience
producing stories for broadcast and radio but I didn’t have much experience writing stories for
online. During my internship I was able to get three of my stories published to the CBC website.
By the end of my placement I saw a huge improvement in my writing and I gained lots of
experience working in a professional environment with a team. My team was very helpful and
provided me with lots of feedback along the way. I was able to make connections not only in
my unit but outside of my unit as well. Overall, it was a great experience.
I walked into CBC Toronto with two goals – I wanted to become a better story pitcher and Iwanted to improve my radio and TV reporting skills. Six weeks later, I walked out confident in my ability to develop an idea and pitch it to a room full of producers. I now also feel comfortable writing scripts and editing clips for radio and TV. I attribute my successful experience in the high-energy newsroom with having clear, tangible goals and supervisors who wanted to help me achieve them. Everyone at my placement was patient and wanted to help me learn.
Being on the digital team at CBC Radio put me in a unique position to work with and produce a variety of content for several network talk shows. I got to shadow many skillful people thanks to my supervisor, Paul, who connected me with as many opportunities as possible during my time there.
Before you go on yours, think about things you’d like to do or see at the CBC (doesn’t have to just be with Radio) and Paul will help you the best he can. I had a wonderful time and I highly recommend working with the digital team!
My internship at CBC Radio was an extremely positive experience for so many reasons. My supervisor always ensured that I understood the tasks she assigned me. In addition, she took the time to explain how I could improve and what I had done well. My supervisor and other seniors were all encouraging throughout my six weeks at CBC and made me feel welcome and comfortable from the start. They also helped me network and gave me advice on who and how to reach out to certain individuals in the building. I made a constant effort to show up early and be the last to leave each day, as well as always ask if there was anything else I could do to help. I went above and beyond what was asked of me and all my hard work was recognized, as I was asked to come back in the summer and do back-fill work for the show I interned at. My internship allowed me to meet a lot of great people, learn a lot of new skills , as well as opening up doors for my career.
I loved my internship and had the chance to learn so many new skills, all while meeting tons of new people. Be eager to learn and be personable — everyone likes that. But don’t be annoying and require constant supervision. Whenever it slows down in the newsroom, learn how to find and make your own work to show to your producers and supervisor.
Also, having the chance to spend a few days in different parts of CBC is completely worth it. The more exposure the better, because you learn new things and meet new people, becoming more dynamic as a result. CBC is accommodating for interns who are eager to work and go to different areas in the building.
CBC’s Out in the Open internship fell short of my expectations because I thought I would be able to contribute daily to the show, but I learned a lot working at a weekly show. It was my first time working five-weeks ahead of the podcast show –it was an adjustment. I had one story produced completely by me. It was a hard show to contribute to, but I was able to do it other ways.
Make sure you know the difference between a daily and weekly show. It might just shock you if you don’t know how they function. Still a great experience for me.
Briefly speaking, my internship was a testament of hard work being rewarded. I interned at the CBC on Andrew Nichols’ show, which felt like what some might consider a stereotypical internship–little responsibility, and an expectation to simply observe. I voiced my eagerness for more work and was switched to Carole MacNeil’s show. There I learned the role of an associate producer, which in the end, got me hired.
Retrospectively, the most important takeaway is timing. Concerns will arise and it’s important to voice those, but to do so at the appropriate time. Take a step back, assess the issue, and see what you can do yourself before voicing any concerns.
Working at Metro Morning was a great experience. I was chasing, producing and pitching every day during my time there. All of the producers on the team were very helpful and constantly gave me constructive feedback on my work and answered any questions I had.
I would recommend that any RSJ student looking for hands-on experience to apply to work with the Metro Morning crew. What I learned there in six weeks will last my entire career. I do wish I was more relaxed during my time there, however. I feel as though I let my imposter syndrome and anxiety get the best of me on some days, but I was able to work through it and still have a positive experience.
There was also a sharp learning curve that came with the internship and a high level of expectation that I wasn’t expecting. I would advise future interns to be prepared for that.
I thought the internship with the CBC’s Investigations Unit was a great fit for me. It was highly independent and afforded me a lot of time to work on long-term projects. These are both things that I believe are important for me to be able to produce my best work.
However, I say this with a caveat: you have to want to do this type of work. You can’t expect to have your day (or even week) planned out; you need to be able to decide for yourself how to do your work.
I got to work with some good and talented people, but at the end of the day, my internship fell short of my expectations.
I didn’t get to work on the stories I wanted to, which isn’t the end of the world, but the problem was that I worked on a project that almost got scrapped at the very end, even though everyone knew what I was working on.
In the end it was published, but I felt that the project dragged on for way too long. It took about five weeks to finish, when if there was proper planning it could have only taken one.
I received support and mentorship, which helped me enhance my pitching, interviewing and script writing skills. I also learned about editorial judgement. I did start to feel a little lost when my supervisor was away and I also wish I had gotten the chance to work on bigger and more serious stories. Regardless, the positives outweigh the negatives, as I did get to pitch ideas that were produced as stories and I wrote a couple web posts. All in all, I believe it was an invaluable experience in a radio newsroom. My supervisor advised me to apply for local radio shows, as it’s easier to get a foot in the door that way. I hope I’ll be able to return there for work one day.
My internship at CBC Radio absolutely exceeded my expectations. The application process was lengthy to say the least, but it was well worth it.
The environment was friendly and relaxed. People were happy to meet me and see what I could bring to the table. My producers challenged me, but also taught me the ropes.
I was able to put my audio, video and digital skills to great use while learning so many more. I often came in early and stayed late to have more time to learn (and make mistakes). The building, amenities and equipment were all state-of-the-art. I did not get any compensation, but the experience by itself was worth more than the money I would have made. I was able to establish connections with people there who will be vital in helping to further my career at CBC.
I’m happy to say that I’m freelancing for CBC right now!
I had an enjoyable placement at CBC Radio’s As It Happens, however I wish I had done my internship in television.
My skill set and personality are a better fit for TV, but I did learn a lot in radio. My stories went to air on a daily basis, which was great! I’m grateful to have had the radio experience since I learned valuable skills like how to edit audio with Dalet, how to write an online article using Polopoly, and how to embed audio clips into it. I also improved my communication skills, and learned how to look for national stories.
This internship taught me how to use constructive criticism to constantly improve my work. The building is easy to reach by the PATH, and is close to the subway.
As intimidating as it was, my time at CBC was an amazing experience. I went in thinking I may not really be reporting in the field during the 6 weeks –but, it was the opposite. Most days, I could pitch subjects and report on them. Once I learned the basics – I spent most of my time interviewing and writing drafts of my stories. The staff were so supportive and willing to put their jobs aside to help me.
One thing I wish I could’ve done more was multimedia, which is tasked to a separate CBC sector. Because of that, I did not get the opportunity to learn how CBC made its multimedia elements.
An important thing I learned through this internship is that you have to grow a thick skin. After my first piece was published I got horrible comments. It also helped me realize the importance of deadlines and learning how to write captivating headlines. At CBC, headlines are everything.
During my internship at CBC, I was given many opportunities to develop my skills as a journalist, gaining real professional experiences. From the first day, I shadowed producers and learned how the show operated. I was encouraged to pitch a lot – giving me many chances to get my ideas on air. My team was very welcoming and open to teaching me new things. Thus, I feel very lucky with my placement as I was trusted with a lot of responsibility that would exceed what an intern would usually get. As a result, I was offered a job after my internship.
CBC was a fast-paced learning curve; I was thrown into so many situations (for TV, Radio and web writing) that I didn’t expect.
My advice:
- If you want to do CBC, don’t underestimate ALL the skills you learn in any journalism, radio, podcast, or even English class – I used skills I learned in first-year.
- Try to make a couple contacts during your time. I worked to impress my bosses because I wanted to work in Toronto after and it worked – they hired me!
- Don’t be intimidated by CBC — don’t rule it out. You know more about the journalism industry (and news in general) than you think you do.
- Say yes, be eager, and don’t worry about making mistakes – because you will.
- Brush up on current news, politics and the courts beforehand.
- If you want to write or do radio, make a point of asking to do these during your internship, they will eventually trust you enough if you prove yourself.
As an intern at CBC’s London Bureau, I’d begin the morning by going through newspapers, and sending news highlights to the international CBC reporters. I’d also include a rundown of CTV and Global National newscasts from the night before to know what the competition’s nightly newscast looks like.
Frequently, I got to join crews in the field around London. On my second day, I joined a crew when they covered Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first public appearance in 2018 and I was shown the ins and outs of how a story is made. On occasion, I shotlisted and transcribed interviews after reporters came back from the field. During the last part of my internship, I was supposed to work on my own story but I didn’t receive guidance on this, which I wish I had received.
CBC London is a challenging place to work and you’ll get out of it what you put into it. You act as a researcher/associate producer assisting the journalists in any way you can.
The challenge is that you’ll be parachuted into a massive city with stories on the go; you must quickly identify what a story is for the bureau and how to chase it. You won’t receive much training and you’re expected to hit the ground running. That’s the nature of a small bureau.
That’s not to say the bureau chief will chase you. If you do nothing, they don’t have time to hound you. Keep in mind it’s an unpaid position, so you’re paying to be here.
You have the opportunity to be published, but finding a story that fits and can be done in six weeks is tough. Start right away. Think ahead. Chase along the lines of a “news-feature” piece.
You will, however, work alongside some of the most talented people you’ll ever meet. You’ll learn lots, work very interesting stories and experience one of the most storied countries in the world. If you can afford it, it’s worth it.
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I was the first intern at CBC not in the broadcasting stream. Instead, I pursued my interests in their Communications and Marketing team. I enhanced my previous knowledge with communications and add depth with another job that boosted my resume. What I learned was how to interact with others within an office environment. There were some issues with colleagues and overtime, I stood up for myself and professionally explained my workplace struggles to my supervisor.
CBC is a cutthroat company and I now know that I need my future workplace vibe to be more lax and youthful. One thing I appreciate is that my team let me work on my solo project and try to make something that I could have ownership of. The internship was unpaid and I paid for my commute to and from work.