Continuing the Journey With WSHU
Internship Reflection
Fall 2023
By: Clare Gehlich
Being an intern at WSHU Public Radio has been a very exciting experience for me this semester. I’m incredibly grateful to JD Allen and Terry Sheridan for their input and help throughout the course of the semester. Coming from previous radio experience, this internship has really tested my love for radio reporting. I have capitalized on my radio writing — for web and on-air broadcasts — and I have also begun learning about the ins and outs of J.D. and Sabrina Garone’s award-winning climate change podcast Higher Ground. It was super important to me to be open and voice my opinions with J.D. this semester, and I’m grateful for his endless opportunities to grow, mature as a journalist, and gain an even deeper understanding of radio reporting and writing. Allowing me to gain more knowledge with Higher Groundhas been a gratifying experience.
As someone who is more of an introvert and more reserved, being vocal about things is difficult. I think telling JD what I wanted to get out of this internship was a big step for me as a person and as someone in “the real world,” especially coming from North Country Public Radio. I definitely feel I have gained so much skill and knowledge about journalism that can certainly help me in the future as I finish my undergraduate studies at Stony Brook. I learned how to make interviews more of a conversation instead of just talking at them; it makes interviewees far more comfortable. I learned the ins and outs of news copy, Adobe Audition, and even contributing to Higher Ground, the latter of which I wasn’t familiar with. However, due to the emphasis on the 2023 Elections, I wasn’t necessarily able to achieve everything I wanted with Higher Ground and podcasting, but JD was kind enough to offer me the chance to return in Spring 2024 for an independent study, which I am grateful for.
JD has always been very good about providing feedback on work and being attentive to my assignments and needs. He provides constructive criticism and gives me room to grow on my own as well. I’ll never forget the first time we did his little walk-through around the 4th floor of the Melville Library, working on my radio voice — speed, confidence, articulation, enunciation — all of which are undoubtedly important to radio. JD is extremely attentive and really gives us interns the time and space to not only learn the fundamentals of radio reporting but also allow us to succeed on our own. In radio, where communication is invaluable, JD’s mentorship has been an amazing asset to have. His guidance, encouragement, and commitment to my success created a space and fruitful working and learning environment.
The news internship at WSHU has deepened my understanding of the world of journalism and radio reporting. It has taught me so much and has given me a memorable experience with a skill set that I will definitely use in the future. I am now more aware of myself — I am willing to be more vocal, willing to talk about what I want in a respective job or internship experience, and willing to ask for help. If I don’t do these things, I feel it’s kind of pointless to apply for this position. WSHU gave me the deeper foundation I needed to enter the world of journalism and broadcast journalism.
Going into my last semester of undergraduate studies at Stony Brook, I’m excited to return to WSHU next semester for an independent study with J.D. He has been a wonderful mentor to me during my time at WSHU, and I’m excited to continue this journey next semester.