And to make you guys easier to read, I'll write in Q&A format. Cheers!
1. How did you apply? Where did you get the open recruitment information?
Go check this link: http://internship.cnnindonesia.com/
Once you open the link, you'll get the complete information and steps to apply for CNN Indonesia IDP (Internship Development Program).
Other tips would be:
🔶 Keep updated with job vacancy accounts in Instagram or even Line@ (follow the reputable ones).
🔶 Exchange information with your friends would also be helpful.
2. In what position? What did you do?
I was in charged as Production Assistant at CNN Indonesia The World Tonight (Every day, 10 pm only on CNN Indonesia :3 ).
My main task was to input the texts which you can see on your screen, such as headline (the news' title), sub-headline (a simple sentence highlighting the most important information for the audience to know), location where the visual/video was taken, name and attribution of someone talking to the camera, and lastly source of the video. To input those texts, there's this technology called CG (character generator). To maximally utilize CG device, I simply copy and paste the text from the news script and preview every element of CG (headline, sub, location, etc) to make sure that there are no typos or misspells. Concentration and focus are highly demanded here! Plus, a knowledge of Indonesian words spelling according to KBBI (Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia) would extremely beneficial to save more time!
After around two weeks I had focused only on CG, I was finally given the responsibility to write news scripts (At this time, I was so stoked because THAT WAS WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO LEARN FROM THE INTERNSHIP, yeah!) #grateful.
For a starter, I practiced to write showbiz news, such as new released video clips or movie trailers. After playing on showbiz for couple of weeks, I tried writing international soft news. Soft news covers not so serious events, like festivals, newborn pandas, inventions of technology, fancy foods, museums, and so on. Once in a while, I also challenged myself to write something related to sports. What I mean with "related to sports" is that I didn't write about the match or the standings which are over my head. Things I wrote about sports are namely fun facts about FIFA World Cup 2018, technologies supporting exercise tools, a child somewhere in Brazil who is called 'The Next Neymar', and so on.
The highest level I wrote was international hard news. International hard basically tells about international politics, economy, international relation, also disasters like what happened in Kilauea volcano, floods in China, or the 13 football players trapped in a cave in Thailand.
All in all, I needed to embrace all the process as an intern. Not all scripts I wrote were accepted by the producers. Sometimes, they had to change some words here and there in my scripts, whether I liked the changes or not. However, I managed to discuss the changes with them to find out the reasons for every detail. That way, I got the learning process to later use this knowledge to produce a good news script in the future. Although there were still some mistakes in my writings, learning from the experts was the best rescue that could ever help me with my ambition as a journalist.
3. Did you enjoy being there?
I surely did! In fact, I felt like I was so lucky to be in such environment with its professionalism and friendship. In my first day, I can't deny that I also had that butterfly in my stomach. But come on, there's always first time for everyone, right? And as soon as I got placed in the program The World Tonight, I was warmly welcomed by the producers and the PAs. They were both coworkers and family to me. Technically, they were my mentors whose jobs were to assign me what I should do and to show me how to do the tasks as Production Assistant. As mentors, they were excellently and patiently taught me to become a sterling news writer; one who writes with precise judgement and catchy angle at the same time. Every day, I practiced writing news in my first three hours as soon as I arrived at the office. Writing news script, at which you can't really improvise with something you personally want, would be burdensome (at least for me, the newbie :3 ). That's the time when I realized those PAs (Mbak Erie, Kak Karina, Mas Awang, and luckily Kak Elisa at the very last days!) are also my sisters and brother. We told stories from the very casual topics, like the latest cheap music video from John Mayer or the jokes from Ocean's 8 movie, to something really serious and sensitive, such as radicalism, religions, marriage, and many other stories. Well, basically we started almost every conversation from the news we just heard from the TVs surrounding our room. That's what I like from this job, you'll never run out of topics to talk about.
From my internship, I also could reminisce several big moments according to the highlight that we were working on together. For example, every time I see Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, I recall my moments with them together watching that luxurious, historical, royal wedding. Also, I got the chance to take part handling the breaking news of the heart-pounding bombing terror in East Java. That's when Kak Karina and I passionately discussed terrorism in our country. Then on June 5 when we should kind of 'celebrate' the international environment day, we watched one special news item talking about plastic waste on sea, especially from straws. From that day on, we collectively bore to mind that we should stop using straws for our beverages. We just couldn't agree more that using straws while you can still sip the water from the cup's rim is not cool!
I'm also glad to share how the producers treated me as an intern. Professionally and hierarchically, they were my bosses (sugarcoated: my supervisors). Well, scratch that because I only saw superb and fabulous teachers! They were 'bosses' that I had never asked for, but there they were. They may not be so extraordinary at all times, but they're so inspiring even in ordinary ways. If one day I succeed to become a journalist, it's not because of my major in college. I was just so blessed to have them teaching me how to be critical, how to highlight things differently, how to write a news that tells story. Beyond all the fun, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and practice those skills directly in professional broadcast media. How they also trusted me to contribute in writing several news items also showed that they appreciate everyone's effort, even an intern.
Towards my last days, all I can say was time run really fast that I had almost reached June 30, my very last day. Because yeah, thank God, I did enjoy and was as keen as mustard about everything there!
4. How much was the salary for intern?
Well, it's not that I don't want to transparently share, but I sincerely don't know the exact answer by now. Two weeks after my internship program had completed, I haven't received my allowance yet. Unfortunately, I've got to wait for a couple more weeks until the human resource and finance department finish recapping all those administrative stuffs to finally compensate the interns' sweat :")
But here's the thing. In my honest opinion, when you apply for internship program, you can't expect an amount of cash you call salary. Although there are now many companies are promising that, just don't depend on it to support your operational expenses (transportation, meals, etc). Be prepared to cover your needs independently, and assume you'll get the allowance as a bonus.
5. Did you get the opportunity (the golden ticket!) to continue working there as an employee?
The issue of getting the golden ticket to work in a company after joining the internship program is always a hot potato to talk about. I was hoping for that for sure. However, not all interns are given the privilege after all. But I have one story of my intern friend, Avinda who was got promoted by her supervisor to continue working as an employer without even had to compete with other job seekers. All I know is that it was because Avinda's program was currently in need of extra hands. Her story is different from mine.
Nevertheless, don't be discouraged! Being an intern for more than three months, you sure could have a bunch of information about the recruitment. You'll also have the certificate that you can use as a legitimate proof showing that you have the experience and you are qualified for that industry (if you are indeed planning to work at the same company).
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I hope what I write here could inspire you so that you're not afraid to take a huge step by joining an internship program anywhere you like while you are still a college student. Entering the workforce would be more convenient if we already had tested the water. At the end, we just need to enjoy and love what we do. Embrace every process and always keep on making every effort :)
Forget to also attach some pictures --" there you go
Pic 1 (left to right) Mas Rayhan, Kak Gabby, Kak Karina, me!, Mbak Mira, Mas Saiful, Mas Avandi, last but not least Kak Rista
Pic 2. Mbak Amelia Yachya and I! The anchor who has the warmest smile and welcome. Salute!
Pic 3. Too bad I had to return it to the human capital
Pic 4. Meet Avinda! If you're reading this, I miss you my 'temen jajan dan temen pantry'. You go girl! See you on top.
Pic 5. My very last day was well spent with these two excellent mentors Mas Awang and Kak Karina.
Pic 6. This girl next to me is Ais whose head is so full with political matters from that political program next door.
Pic 7. Get a glimpse of what happens behind your screen.
Pic 8. Another mandatory photo spot. With Om Verry, Mas Gentur, Kang Cep Hari, Mbak Erie, Kak Karin, Mas Dinar, and Mas Hakim
