From Intern to Insight: My Summer in Public Media

This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as the Digital Platforms Intern at Detroit PBS, a public television station. Detroit PBS is one of many local PBS stations across the country dedicated to enhancing their surrounding communities by bringing beloved shows to local audiences, such as One Detroit, Great Lakes Now, and Nova. These productions offer unique educational experiences for youthful audiences and keep the magic of Sesame Street alive for generations to come. 

Every student recalls the time-consuming and exhausting process of applying and interviewing for an internship, so when you finally get the call that you have secured a role, it is an amazing feeling. Accepting an intern position at an organization as prominent as PBS was amazing. My first day at the office felt like the first day of the rest of my life, stepping into the professional world and gaining tangible experience outside of the classroom. Working at Detroit PBS was more than just a chance to build skills; it was an eye-opening experience to my perception of media and its role in today’s society.

Not Your Average Internship

I spent much of my time managing website content, editing and creating pages, assisting with YouTube content, and contributing to other digital tasks. Compared to most public relations internships, this was a pretty unique one. While I gained invaluable experience and strengthened my skill set, my biggest takeaway was a deeper understanding of public media’s significance. PBS, the kids’ programming many of us grew up with, is facing challenges that are far more serious than people realize. 

Aside from the standard educational experience most internships offer, my experience at Detroit PBS felt uniquely impactful. Interning at a non-profit, public media organization that relies heavily on government funding, especially during the current administration, was an experience that only my fellow Detroit PBS interns could relate to. 

Throughout the summer, I learned lessons far beyond traditional skill-building. Many of which contribute to my thoughts and feelings about my future career and the kind of professional environment I want to be a part of. Most notably, I realized that I don’t see myself working in the nonprofit sector or for organizations that rely heavily on government funding or appropriations. 

As PBS funding faced significant cuts, my supervisors were very transparent about how these changes were affecting their roles and the media landscape. They shared honest, personal insights about the challenges they were navigating, and those conversations gave me a clearer picture of what to expect if I were to enter that field within the job market. More than anything, this internship gave me confidence. It helped me better understand the realities of the professional world as I prepare to step into it. 

Understanding the “Why” Behind the Work

What I hope other PR students take away from their internships, beyond the usual “real-world experience” and “networking opportunities,” is the importance of paying attention to the bigger picture of the organization they’re working with. It’s not just about learning how to write a press release or to schedule social posts—it’s about understanding how funding, politics, community relationships, and organizational values shape every communication decision. 

My experience while interning at Detroit PBS made that clear. I witnessed firsthand how external forces, such as government funding and public trust, directly impact the day-to-day work of a public media organization. These aren’t lessons you can fully grasp in a classroom or through a typical corporate internship; they come from seeing how mission-driven teams navigate real, complex challenges. That experience didn’t just deepen my knowledge of public relations, but gave me a new perspective on the particular work environment I want to be part of. It taught me just as much about myself and my career aspirations moving forward as it did about the communications field and non-profit sector.

Meet Sophie 

Sophie Eizen is a senior at Grand Valley State University, majoring in Advertising and Public Relations, and will graduate this December with a Bachelor of Science. Now in her third semester with GrandPR, she values the organization’s emphasis on networking, community, and hands-on learning opportunities. This past summer, Sophie interned at Detroit PBS as a Digital Platforms Intern. Currently, she serves as a Student Writer Intern for the University Development Communications Department. After graduation, Sophie is exploring several exciting paths: attending graduate school, moving to Chicago to work at a brand-building agency, or traveling the world.