A birds eye view of the pbs north studio lights and cameras

Internships & Fellowships

Launch Your Career in Public Media

Are you passionate about media production, community engagement, and digital storytelling? Duluth-Superior Area Educational Television Corporation (DSAETC) home to PBS North and The North 103.3 FM offers hands-on internship and fellowship opportunities.

What You’ll Gain

Hands-on Technical & Production Experience: Get direct training in camera operation, lighting setups, audio engineering, studio control equipment, and non-linear editing software.

Cross-Platform Media Knowledge: Learn how storytelling differs and adapts across digital video, linear television broadcasting, podcasts, and community radio.

Content Curation & Digital Strategy: Assist in creating, scheduling, and optimizing multi-channel social media content across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and web platforms.

Professional Mentorship & Portfolio Growth: Receive direct guidance from experienced producers and managers while creating package pieces, live audio recordings, or promotional campaigns for your portfolio.

Available Internship Tracks

We offer part-time internships working approximately 10 hours/week at $13.00/hour over a 15-week cohort term.

1. TV Production

Field & Studio Production: Learn field camera operation and editing software to produce feature stories and digital segments.
Thursday Studio Crew: Join the live studio crew operating studio cameras, teleprompter, and audio control board during active production sessions.
Story Research: Assist station producers with topic research, pre-interviews, and story coordination.

2. Radio Production (The North 103.3 FM)

Audio & Music Archival: Assist with interview research, digital archiving of our extensive music library, and potential recording opportunities for broadcast.
Live Session Production: Learn to capture and edit live studio sessions, interviews, and musical performances for social media and web streams.
Studio Operations: Participate as part of the Thursday studio floor crew to gain cross-training in live audio-visual broadcasting tools.

3. Marketing & Digital Media

Promotional Content: Shoot and edit photos and short-form video content to highlight PBS North and The North 103.3 programs, events, and initiatives.
Campaign & Event Support: Assist with cross-platform marketing efforts, social media publishing, and community engagement events.
Behind-the-Scenes Access: Join Thursday studio productions to capture behind-the-scenes content for digital campaigns.

4. Membership & Development

Donor & Audience Engagement: Support pledge drives, newsletter curation, direct mailings, and specialized digital membership campaigns.
Visual Storytelling for Public Media: Produce engaging visual asset packages that communicate our educational mission to viewers and listeners.
Station Operations: Gain firsthand experience in public media fundraising, community outreach, and donor relations.

Program Details & Qualifications

Education: Preferred current enrollment in a bachelor’s or associate degree program in communications, journalism, media production, marketing, or a related field (academic credit preference).
Schedule Availability: Must be available on Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (for studio floor production), with flexible hours for special projects or occasional weekend events.
Skills: Strong written/verbal communication, basic familiarity with content management systems, basic problem-solving abilities, and a passion for public media.
Physical & Travel: Ability to work in a hybrid environment, occasionally lift up to 50 lbs, and travel locally as required for field shoots.

Program Milestones & Presentation

Interns participate in structured midterm and end-of-term evaluations to track skill growth and project milestones. At the conclusion of the term, interns present their completed projects, accomplishments, and key learnings during a station-hosted showcase.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Internship and the Production Fellowship?	The Internship is designed for students who want to gain hands-on experience and explore careers in public media production. Interns work approximately 10 hours per week for 15 weeks and receive training and mentorship while contributing to real projects. The Production Fellowship is a more advanced opportunity for students with prior production experience who are ready to take on greater responsibility. Fellows work approximately 15 hours per week over 30 weeks and complete milestone and capstone projects while producing professional-quality content.
Do I need to be a junior or senior in college to apply?	No. While some colleges and universities require students to have junior or senior standing to earn academic credit for an internship, receiving academic credit is not required for participation in our internship program. We welcome applications from students who are currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in a related field, as well as students enrolled in an associate degree program who intend to transfer into a related bachelor’s degree program.
Are these paid opportunities?	Yes. Both opportunities are paid at $13 per hour.
What majors are eligible?	Preferred areas of study include communications, journalism, media studies, broadcasting, marketing, public relations, digital media, and related fields.
Do I need prior experience?	Internship applicants are not expected to have extensive production experience and will receive training and mentorship. Production Fellowship applicants should have some experience creating and editing media content and be comfortable working in a fast-paced production environment.
Do I have to earn academic credit to participate?	No. Academic credit is preferred for Internship applicants but is not required.
Will you work with my college’s internship requirements?	Yes. PBS North and The North 103.3 can work with your academic institution to help meet internship or experiential learning requirements when applicable.
How many hours will I work?	Internship: Approximately 10 hours per week for 15 weeks. Production Fellowship: Approximately 15 hours per week for 30 weeks.
Is there a required weekly schedule?	Yes. Participants must be available on Thursdays from approximately 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., or later if production needs require.
Are weekends required?	Occasionally. Special projects, events, productions, or community activities may require evening or weekend participation.
Can I participate while taking classes?	Yes. Both programs are designed for students, but applicants should ensure they can meet the required Thursday commitment.
Will I have opportunities to create my own content?	Yes. Both programs provide opportunities to develop original content for broadcast, web, and social media platforms.
Will I work in both television and radio?	While participants have a primary focus area, both programs provide exposure to multiple aspects of public media production, including television, radio, digital content, and community engagement.
Will I build a professional portfolio?	Yes. Participants contribute to real projects that may be published on PBS North and The North 103.3 platforms, helping build a portfolio of professional work.
Will completing the program guarantee a job?	No. While employment is not guaranteed, participants gain valuable professional experience, mentorship, published work samples, and industry connections that can strengthen future career opportunities.
Will fellows mentor interns?	Production Fellows may have opportunities to share knowledge and assist interns during studio productions. However, interns receive their primary training, direction, and mentorship from PBS North and The North 103.3 staff. The fellowship is designed to provide leadership and collaborative experience while allowing fellows to continue developing their own skills.
Is travel required?	Occasionally. Some assignments, productions, or community events may take place off-site. Transportation may be provided by station staff, and driving is not a requirement of either the Internship or Production Fellowship. A driver’s license is not required to participate.
Will I present my work publicly?	Yes. Participants will have opportunities to showcase their projects, accomplishments, and key learnings through station-hosted presentations and showcases. In addition, some work created during the Internship or Production Fellowship may be published on PBS North and The North 103.3 platforms, providing valuable professional portfolio experience.
Will my work be published?	Potentially. Depending on the project and program, participants may contribute to content that is published on PBS North, The North 103.3, the organizations’ websites, social media channels, and other public-facing platforms. Published work can help participants build a professional portfolio and demonstrate real-world production experience.

How to Apply

Ready to gain real-world experience and serve the Northland community?

Download the standard application form on our Careers Page.
Prepare your resume and a tailored cover email specifying your preferred track (TV Production, Radio Production, Marketing, or Membership).
Send your application materials.

Equal Opportunity Employer

DSAETC is an equal employment opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any characteristic protected by law