The Roundtable of Community Partners consists of CSUDH Communication advisors and internship partners. Photo by Alex Avila.
By Gabriel Anthony Gomez, Staff Writer and Alex Avila, Assistant Editor
Last Thursday, April 21, the CSUDH College of Arts and Humanities and the Department of Communications hosted a gathering on campus that brought together community partners that have provided internship opportunities for communications students throughout the years. Approximately 10 members from different news and public relations organizations met in person to engage in discussions, get feedback on current programs, and recognize the contributions they have made to the program as a whole.
The event talked about what students can expect when looking for internships and specific advice from industry partners. The community partners shared feedback about the student interns they have hired this year, the ways they have helped students become more productive and engaged, as well as the ways they teach students consistent habits they can use when entering the job market.
When discussing what students should know when coming into an internship, Marisol Barrios Perez, a communications professor at CSUDH said that Writing, being adaptable, listening and being curious–not being afraid to ask questions are some key ways to be successful when moving forward with an internship. ” Emphasizing to ask questions and that these skills are crucial in a work environment. According to Marisol Barrios Perez, it is diversity that makes CSUDH a great institution. ”I love the diversity and the familiarity that you can have here at Dominguez Hills.”
Internship partners expressed they have enjoyed working with CSUDH and their students. “CSUDH does a good job with internships and their students, more than half of our interns come from CSUDH,” Hunter Chase, Reporter and Intern Coordinator from Random Length News said. Random Length News is an independent newspaper that offers a 120-hour unpaid internships program for journalism seniors.
Natalie Obando, the PR director of the Do Good PR Group, Obando attended the gathering to discuss how to better serve students and improve on what they are learning with internships and the programs offered at CSUDH. “The Do Good PR Group is oriented around improving the writing skills of authors and writers.” According to Obando, half of their interns come from CSUDH, among other southern California universities. “We love working with CSUDH, it’s very diverse and everyone has unique experiences and that’s very useful in PR,” Obando said.
The Do Good PR group works in partnership with the literary world, authors, writers and literacy nonprofits. “We focus on giving back to the community and do social good, students and interns learn to tell their own stories, the biggest is your own.” Obando said.
Some internships, such as Random Length News hire prior interns. Chase, who previously worked at Random Length News, as an intern has moved up to an employee.
The CSUDH Communication department and the Community partners will continue to work together and improve as much as they can for the student interns to improve their skills.
