Highlights from VOA Interns

“I decided to come to VOA because the Latin America Division challenged me to be more than an intern. They told me that it would be demanding and tough but it would also allow me to learn things that I wouldn’t elsewhere. VOA has given me an edge in where to look for information, how to write a story, and not to be afraid of change. It also made me realize that journalism is what I would like to be doing in the future because it is fast- paced and exciting. My co-workers have been very insightful by helping me with appealing teasers and reliable sources.  I come to work excited every day. I am able to write impactful stories that will matter to the people of Latin America. I have learned the ins and outs of the journalism business and have even gotten some website experience, too. I have had the chance to visit events around D.C for my stories such as the D.C auto show, different embassies, and the Supreme Court. My favorite part of being here at VOA is the flexibility that I get as a writer. That gives me confidence to explore my interests. I have done a lot of work on immigration because it is an important issue to Mexican citizens. However, one of my favorite assignments was writing about the TV show The Simpsons. I wrote a piece on how the show was inspired by Springfield, Oregon. Another favorite assignment was when I met President Calderón and reported on him. I really enjoy working here at VOA because it has helped me grow as a journalist and a person.”
- Patricia Soto, Latin America Division Intern
(Spring 2012)

Patricia interns in the Latin America Division and is a junior majoring in journalism and international affairs at the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey. She comes all the way from Mexico and chose to intern at VOA because of VOA’s reputation. VOA allows her to explore her interests of journalism and international relations.

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“I enjoy interning for VOA and the Public Relations office because of the amazing people that I work with. My fellow employees are fantastic and they are always eager to assist, mentor and guide me. At VOA, I meet an array of people from all over the world who are friendly, professional, and personable. I enjoy all aspects of my internship, but some of my favorite assignments include social media, blogging, and attending events and meetings. My interest in social media allows me to instill my ideas and thoughts through the Public Relations Twitter page, VOAbuzz, and the VOA Public Relations blog, “What’s Up Inside VOA.”  Attending events, interviews, and meetings provides me with opportunities to interact and learn from experienced professionals. Staying current with what VOA – and the Public Relations office – is working allows me to make well-informed and confident decisions on my assignments. I am gaining experience that most college students never get and it excites me that my coworkers want to hear my ideas and thoughts. Looking ahead, I would like to a have career in Social Media and Public Relations so this internship is giving me invaluable hands-on experience. My ultimate goal is to gain as much information and feedback as possible in order to successfully progress and transition into today’s job market. I am grateful for my time here at VOA and this experience is what I am going to remember most about my college education.”
- Brian Thomsen, Public Relations Intern
(Spring 2012)

Brian interns in the Public Relations office and is a senior communications major at the Richard Stockton College of NJ. He chose to intern at VOA because of VOA’s strong international presence and his interest in the Public Relations field. Brian will graduate in May 2012, but before then, he plans to gain as much and as varied experience as possible before facing the job market.

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“The most attractive part of VOA is its professional atmosphere. During my internship, I have built confidence by successfully completing TV production assignments in the Africa Division. I post clips of “In Focus” and “Straight Talk Africa” on YouTube on a weekly basis; I operate the teleprompter and answer phone calls from listeners to speak live to the host and guests during the show. Sometimes I go out and shoot events and interviews with the camera crews. I really love and enjoy what I am doing in the VOA Africa Division. I feel lucky and immensely grateful that I get a chance to work with specialists in the news field. This internship offers me a fantastic opportunity to network with different news agencies and people. If I were to describe this internship in a short sentence, it would be working hard and breathing easy.”
- Brandon George, Africa Division Intern
(Fall 2011)

Brandon graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in broadcasting journalism as an undergraduate. Now he is pursuing a Master’s of Arts degree in Organizational Communications at Bowie State University. He hopes to find a job in the field of Communications.

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“I enjoy working at the Voice of America because of the great people and the work I do. As a Public Relations Intern, I give studio tours and help audience members with any questions or requests they have. I also love the opportunity to write for the office blog, “What’s Up Inside VOA”. I take pleasure in my work because I do it with people I admire and appreciate. Though I am a full-time student, coming every week to the VOA is actually a break for me; it’s a place I can get involved and, thanks to the variety of divisions at VOA, learn deeply about regions of the world and the issues they face. I am always meeting new people and even interviewing them, which is always a privilege. Indeed, the main reason I was attracted to Voice of America was because of its many language services and the diversity you can find just by walking in the hallways. After all, I have always been attracted to different countries and enjoy traveling, whether it is to Italy, India, or other parts of the world. “
- Satinder Kaur, Public Relations Intern
(Fall 2011)

Satinder interns with the Public Relations office and studies History and languages at Georgetown University. She has always had a deep interest in world events and was therefore naturally drawn to VOA.  

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“Last year, I spent eight months living and studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  This experience, along with my studies at the University of Wisconsin, has inspired me to explore a career in international affairs.  My internship here at VOA with the English Division’s Current Affairs Unit has fit perfectly with that goal.  I work on a team that produces three shows a week: Press Conference USA, Encounter and Issues in the News.  Our shows broadcast mainly to Sub-Saharan Africa and therefore we deal largely with issues in the Middle East and North Africa.

VOA is not just a government agency nor is it a traditional broadcast service.  I have been so impressed by VOA’s dedication to fill the freedom of press void that exists in many closed societies around the world.  This internship has provided me an opportunity to expand my knowledge of the Middle East and the political turmoil of the region. I absorb new information and valuable insights every day.  I felt quite nervous my first week, but my supervisor and colleagues have been extremely helpful.  All my work here at VOA is very hands on, from guest research to script writing to sound editing, and I feel like a useful member of my Division’s team.”
-Ellen Spolar, English Division Current Affairs Unit Intern
(Fall 2011)

Ellen is an international studies major at University of Wisconsin – Madison. She is interested in writing, travelling, and volunteering. Since September, Ellen has gained a lot of working experience, particularly in the field of Middle East study.

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Yasmine Rahman

“When I lived in Egypt, my mom used to work for VOA and I saw how the organization brought the Egyptian and American communities together. I was always impressed by that. Now, as an intern with the Africa Division, where I work on television projects, I appreciate it even more. Being a communications major, I see how important interpersonal relationships are and how well everyone here maintains them. One reason VOA employees are good at this is because everyone is so nice and contributes so much – VOA has a perfect amount of everything and it all comes together. After all, I came to VOA not knowing what exactly I wanted to do in communications, but I immediately found that my skills, especially language-wise, were valuable here.  I like using these skills that I never realized were actually marketable.”
- Yasmine Rahman, Africa Division Intern
(Fall 2011)

Yasmine interns in the Africa Division and studies Communications and Arabic at the University of Maryland, College Park. She has lived in Egypt, Niger, Morocco, Germany, and Haiti.

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Kasey Reisman

“I was attracted to VOA by its diverse language broadcasts and unique position in the global media broadcasting industry. Foreign languages and cultures have been my life’s passion, so I feel quite at home here. One of my personal objectives at VOA is to familiarize myself with its inner workings and diverse staff, and thanks to their spirit and energy I feel as though I am already well on my way. The people I meet who come to participate in the VOA Studio Tours have also been fascinating; whether it is a veteran who listened to VOA while stationed in North Korea or an Iranian family who watches VOA programs regularly, it is easy to see the countless, diverse lives that VOA touches every day. And then to think of the inspirational stories of VOA’s own employees, it is an honor to be part of such a meaningful organization! I hope to shed light on more VOA staff members’ stories on VOA Public Relations’ “What’s Up Inside VOA” blog. I also plan to meet members of the Latin America and East Asia & Pacific Divisions and witness how they report on current world events to their audiences in an unbiased way; something hard to come by for many speakers of Spanish and Chinese in other parts of the world.”
- Kasey Reisman, Public Relations Intern
(Fall 2011)

Kasey interns in the Public Relations office and studies Spanish and Chinese at Georgetown University. She applied for an internship with VOA because of her strong interest in media and communications and love of foreign languages.

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Dan Shen with Jessica Beinecke

“VOA Special English was the first and the most useful resource for me to learn English when I was a child and I never thought I could intern at this great place one day.  As an international broadcaster in the U. S., VOA provides me a great opportunity to expand my talents and skills. Attending editorial meetings every day, leading the VOA Studio Tour, interviewing the China Branch Chief, visiting the studio control room, meeting with the “OMG Meiyu” reporter Jessica Beinecke, and working on the “What’s Up Inside VOA” blog,  are all exciting experiences! VOA’s employees are not only professional, but also help me every step of the way in my own professional progress. Teamwork also plays an important role in my internship. In the daily Public Relations meeting, the staff encourages me to express my opinions. They love to listen to different voices and make decisions after careful consideration. Everyone has their own tasks, but when everyone comes together, they do the best job in the world.

I don’t know if I will be a great journalist or not in the future. But there is one thing I know for sure － interning for Public Relations at VOA will be an unforgettable amazing experience in my life.”
–Dan Shen, Public Relations Intern
(Fall 2011)

Dan Shen, from Suzhou, China, is a senior majoring in Communications and Economics at Michigan State University. Her passionate interest for international relations, culture, language and the media led her to choose VOA Public Relations, and she sees this internship as a valuable opportunity to communicate with diverse groups of people.

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“Interning for VOA’s Korean Service is actually the first time I’ve had a job, and my first time away from South Korea,” says Han Gyeol. “I think my favorite memory was hearing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speak while I was out with the camera crew. It was really impressive, and it’s one of the reasons why I love going out of the office and helping the crew on their shoots. When I’m not with the camera crew, I translate a lot of articles from Central News so that our Korean audience can understand what’s happening around the world. Or, I’m working with the Web Desk team to upload content to our English learning programs like “English USA.” I also got the chance to do some voicing and dubbing in VOA’s radio studios for our programs. In the end, I have learned a lot about teamwork and how to interact with such a diverse group of people.”
-Han Gyeol Oh, VOA Korean Service Intern (Spring/Summer/Fall 2011)

Han Gyeol Oh is a rising senior at Kyoung Buk National University in Taegu, South Korea. He is majoring in Mass Communications and Journalism, which led him to find VOA through WEST, a US-South Korea government-run program.

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“During my internship at VOA I shadowed producers, camera crews and reporters in several departments. I was amazed at the number of people involved in creating each program, apart from the host and the director. The process makes me think of how a symphony performs, with everyone playing their part to make a masterpiece. That sort of teamwork is inspiring to watch: you can see experienced reporters and technicians work with young, tech-savvy staff to come up with highly interactive features. I was struck by how careful the staff was to follow the principles and ethics of the VOA Charter and was impressed by their commitment to the accuracy of the information they broadcast. The mixture of different media (radio, television and web) and the myriad of cultures and people truly opened up my eyes to the world.”
-Cristiana Grigore, VOA Intern (Summer 2011)

Cristiana Grigore, a Fulbright Scholar from Romania, is completing her graduate studies in International Education Policy and Management at Vanderbilt University. Cristiana is currently writing a series of articles for VOA’s Student Union Blog about studying and living in the United States.

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“VOA reminds me a lot of Vancouver, where I’m from, because of its diversity. I feel like I’m at home since I get to interact with people from all over the world, each of whom has his or own story to share. I absolutely enjoyed interning for the Public Relations department because I had the freedom to go and meet a wide variety of people. Not only did I meet and shake hands with past “Afghan Star” host Daoud Sediqi, but I also explored many of the language services while writing content for the “What’s Up Inside VOA” blog. If you want to go into international relations reporting, VOA is a perfect training ground because you are exposed to every region of the world, which adds to your knowledge of history and current events. In the span of one brief month, I have learned how the journalism business works and how beneficial it is to be in such a multicultural environment.”
-Annie Pei, Public Relations Intern (Summer 2011)

Annie Pei is a rising sophomore majoring in Political Science and Economics at the University of Chicago. She has always dreamed of being a foreign correspondent, and chose VOA to discover the inner workings of a news organization.

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“I immersed myself in journalism and learned about a business I didn’t know much about before. Everything was very interactive. I remember helping the Indonesian Service put together a program about how Indonesian students in the U.S. celebrated Ramadan. When I wasn’t putting together a program, I translated and adapted Central News material into Indonesian and did voice-overs for the news packages. One of my favorite memories here was when the whole office celebrated a co-worker’s birthday, because it really showed how close and friendly everyone in the service is.”
-Teddy Trilaksono, VOA Indonesian Service Intern (Summer 2011)

Teddy Trilaksono is pursuing a Masters degree in Education Administration and Policy at Michigan State University. He used his academic knowledge to help the Indonesian Service develop strategy for gearing their site towards classroom use, especially about American culture and life.

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“In my first week as an intern for the VOA English Learning Division, I got the opportunity to read letters from radio and Internet listeners from around the world. These testimonials from an ever-increasing number of listeners show that Special English programs make a difference in their lives. From Kosovo: “Dear friends from VOA Special English, you have the best program, and everyone is watching and listening to your programs here.” From China: “I am a Chinese student majoring in International Trade. I often listen to your program. It is wonderful. Thank you for your work, for my English has been improved a lot due to your program.” Knowing that the English Learning Division is so influential made my internship that much more fulfilling. Between sitting in on live radio broadcasts, attending meetings with people from around the world, and developing new content for “The Classroom,” I barely had time to eat lunch! But it was definitely worth it. As a hopeful strategic communications student, I am interested in the evolving balance between traditional media versus new media. I love the fact that I got the opportunity to work with classic forms of media such as radio in addition to new forms such as Facebook and Twitter. Interning at VOA has been an unforgettable experience!”
-Claire Silverstein, English Learning Intern (Summer 2011)

Claire Silverstein is a rising sophomore at University of Wisconsin – Madison. She is hoping to major in Strategic Communication and Communication Arts: Radio, Television, and Film. She chose to work at VOA because she loves collaborating with diverse groups of people.

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“Whether I am interviewing inspirational journalists from around the world or shadowing production of the Latin American program, “El Mundo al Día”, each day at VOA provides me with new learning experiences and an exciting angle on world events. I am able to hone a variety of Public Relations skills by writing for the internal newsletter and blog, working on social media outreach, and leading studio tours. VOA is the perfect place to explore my interests in different cultures and languages, developed through my adventures travelling in Southern and Eastern Asia and living in Seville, Spain for four months. With 44 different language Services tucked into one building, the opportunities seem endless.”
-Michelle Crowson, Public Relations Intern (Summer 2011)

Michelle Crowson is a rising senior at Virginia Tech, where she studies Public Relations and International Studies. Michelle applied to intern at Voice of America this summer because of her interest in news, writing, culture and languages.

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“Through this internship, I have learned how to “ask for answers.” Asking for answers isn’t as easy as I thought. I learned how to ask questions and how to ask the right questions. Asking colleagues and supervisors how things are done, asking for their career advice, asking experts and professionals for interviews, asking people about their experiences, and more importantly, asking myself what I can do to achieve my goals. At VOA, I was able to gain exposure to different forms of media. From translating international news to conducting interviews, I loved every part of it!”
-Lincey Qi, VOA Chinese Service Intern (Summer 2011)

Lincey Qi is a first year Master’s student in International Relations at Johns Hopkins University- Nanjing University Center. A love for international affairs and the media led her to VOA’s Chinese Service, where her language skills became an invaluable asset.

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Familiar with VOA, Taylor is returning for her second internship with VOA’s Public Relations department. Last year, she capitalized on opportunities to attend a freedom of the press conference, lead studio tours, and interview prominent members of VOA’s staff (including Kianoosh Sanjari, her VOA celebrity crush!). This time around, she is contributing more written work for VOA’s internal newsletter and public relations blog. Her daily reads include the VOA Digital Frontiers blog, whose author, Doug Bernard, she interviewed about the changing pace of the Internet. “Such hands-on experience is priceless—not only for the skills I’m honing, but also for the diverse group of employees I meet every day,” she said.
-Taylor Merriam, Public Relations Intern (Summer 2011)

Taylor Merriam is a rising sophomore at Virginia Tech studying Public Relations with a minor in Marketing – and spending as much time as possible exploring outside the classroom. She chose to work at VOA because she values its dedication to spreading accurate, comprehensive news.

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“At VOA, every day was different, but every day I was learning something useful. I got to experience how hard, but fascinating, it is to be a multimedia journalist. You have to know what’s going on in the world, you have to be able to shoot video, you have to be able to edit your video…And on top of that I learned to talk to people and make them trust you as a journalist. The VOA Ukrainian Service staff was very helpful and I appreciate their time and assistance. They helped me to learn in two months things that would take at least a year to grasp on my own.”
-Anna Poludenko, VOA Ukrainian Service Intern (Summer 2011)

Anna Poludenko is a graduate journalism student and Fulbright scholar at Quinnipiac University. She wanted to see an international media organization like VOA at work and observe how multimedia journalists weather changes in the information age.

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“As a journalism major, VOA is a remarkable place for me. Little did I know that there’s a place where 44 different languages are spoken daily in one building! Interning in the Public Relations Department has allowed me to explore our different language services. Through giving studio tours, I have met people from all walks of life, young and old, from many different places. So far, my favorite part of the internship has been meeting broadcasters like Americana reporter Ted Landphair and sports reporter Sonny Young. There’s a constant flow of activity in this building with shows broadcasting 24/7, and I enjoy watching shows go into production on the rare slow day at VOA. My internship at VOA is full of pleny of possibilites.”
- Sara Friedman, Public Relations Intern (Summer 2011)

Sara Friedman studies journalism and politics at Ithaca College. She chose to work at VOA because she’s interested in international communications and public relations.

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“It’s almost impossible to describe how much there is to learn at VOA. As a Public Relations intern, I assist the Public Relations staff with studio tours, research, promotion through social media, and — my favorite — interviewing VOA’s diverse staff and then writing for the blog or internal newsletter. As part of my internship, I meet and interview a truly impressive assortment of international journalists and broadcasters at VOA. In the past month alone I’ve talked to the producers of “Parazit” (deemed the “Iranian Daily Show” by the Washington Post) and interviewed the famous Ukrainian TV host, Myroslava Gongadze. I’ve found that beyond the incredible range of VOA’s technical operations is a team of truly remarkable and unique people. Working and communicating with such a diverse mix of people has piqued my curiosity in foreign current events and cross-cultural communication. I have boundless learning opportunities and unparalleled experiences every day, which makes my time at VOA both exciting and rewarding.”
- Kseniya Belik, Public Relations Intern (Summer 2011)

Kseniya interns in the Public Relations office and majors in Linguistics at University of Virginia. She decided to apply for an internship at VOA because she’s interested in international communication & multimedia, and loves interacting with and learning from diverse groups of people.

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“Interning at VOA has been a really interesting opportunity for me to experience and participate in the inner workings of a major international media organization. At VOA, I am getting the chance to write blog posts, lead studio tours, watch live television broadcasts as they are produced, and learn about contemporary issues from VOA’s coverage regions. In the Public Relations office we are in touch with people from around the world, ranging from a viewer in Somalia emailing us to say how much he enjoys VOA’s English language learning resources, to a human rights activist criticizing VOA’s coverage of Burma. Since I study the Russian language at my university, I have also had the chance to meet the members of the VOA Russian Service and learn about the work they do. One of my most memorable moments was when Erika Marat of the Russian Service interviewed me about my experiences living through the interethnic unrest that struck Osh, Kyrgyzstan in June 2010. The article was published on the VOA Russian language webpage and was viewed by a lot of people.”
- Matthew Kupfer, Public Relations Intern (Summer 2011)

Matthew interns in the Public Relations office and majors in International & Global Studies and Anthropology at Brandeis University. He chose to intern at VOA because VOA and its affiliate organizations provided him with accurate news while he was in Kyrgyzstan.

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“Interning at VOA has provided me with an array of opportunities that the classroom simply cannot offer. My fellow interns and I lead studio tours, help plan special events, and promote different aspects of VOA through social media. One time, during a studio tour with high school students from Ukraine, I had the students meet the famous Ukrainian host, Myroslava Gongadze, who agreed to show them behind the actual set, an area not usually included in tours. CNN came to interview Parazit (a satirical show that is very popular in Iran), and I was able to observe the entire interview process. I’ve sat inside a TV control room during a live show. Interning in the PR office includes opportunities to learn about different aspects of international communication, from writing to television production to interview techniques and public speaking. It is an opportunity I would encourage other students to consider.”
- Emily Smithman, Public Relations Intern (Spring 2011)

Emily interned in the Public Relations office and majors in International Studies at American University. She applied for an internship at VOA because she has always been drawn to cross cultural communication and writing.

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“I love interning at VOA because every day brings a unique experience. A typical day could mean answering phones one moment and welcoming visitors from Haiti the next. During my internship, I have not only sharpened my communication and organizational skills but also encountered fascinating people. I remember meeting and photographing the Prime Minister of Somalia and welcoming high school students from across the country. Interning at VOA has been a once in a lifetime experience that I am sure all students would enjoy.”
- Mary Toscano, Public Relations Intern (Spring 2011)

Mary interned in the Public Relations department and studies English at Georgetown University. She began interning with VOA because she is interested in journalism and loves working with the public.

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“Interning at VOA is one of the best experiences I have had in the U.S. It has helped me greatly in understanding U.S. culture and has given me valuable insight into journalism and public relations. I attend daily editorial meetings where I have the chance to hear department heads analyze current events and learn about events happening around the globe. One of the most exciting things I do is lead studio tours, where I get the chance to meet people of all ages from the across the country. Interning at VOA is an amazing experience you don’t want to miss!”
- Ahmed Selawy, Intern (Spring 2011)

Ahmed Selawy is an international student from Cairo, Egypt studying political science and international relations at American University. He applied for an internship at VOA because of his passion for news, politics, international events.