What professional and research experiences are available to media students?
Media students at Duquesne can pursue national and international internships in media
design, video production, social media, public relations, advertising, visual and
interface design, user experience (UX) design, sports communication, and news reporting.
Our internship program is built on a strong network of corpprate and nonprofit sponsors
in the Pittsburgh area, several of whom have placed Duquesne students in internships
in New York and Los Angeles. Beyond formal placements, the department's on-campus
organizations offer addditional networking opportunities that connect students directly
with industry professionals.
Approved media internships can count toward college credit.
Where have media students interned?
Recent internship placements include:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Magazine
Elias/Savion Advertising
Brunner
American Eagle Outfitters
Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, Pirates, and Riverhounds
All four network affiliate broadcasting stations: ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX
How Student Organizations Build Careers
Ryanna Avvisato, A'28, is an active member of Duquesne's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
Through PRSSA, Ryanna gets to work with clients in the Pittsburgh area, thanks to
the connections her advisors and professors have built over the years.
"These opportunities always start with meeting the client, learning about their company
and mission, and what we can do for them. Often, clients request that we create advertisements,
advergames, content calendars, or provide them with strategic business or marketing
recommendations," she said.
For Ryanna, the value goes beyond the finished product.
"These experiences allowed me to put what I am learning in lectures to action and
help prepare me for future careers working with clients," she said.
That hands-on work is complemented by what Ryanna learns in the classroom. A double
major in applied media, advertising and public relations and psychology, she likes the experience she gets from classes such as Social Media and Digital
Marketing.
"I have the opportunity to develop, post, work with a CMS and social media platforms,
as well as perform social media audits. This class has expanded my knowledge and proficiency
in using SEO/AEO, understanding consumer behavior, and understanding the importance
of strategic organic content," she said.
Her coursework across both majors reinforces the same skills she applies through PRSSA.
"My majors have taught me the skills of understanding consumer behavior, developing
creative and effective advertisements, communicating with consumers and clients, and
how to interpret and conduct research," she said.
Prepared for Anything with Student Orgs
Speak with our director of undergraduate recruitment to see how clubs can
shape your college experience.
Advertising Club provides you with the opportunity to participate in national advertising
competitions and networking opportunities with advertising professionals who are actively
involved in discussions of major issues in the rapidly evolving advertising and marketing
industries. Members work in teams to develop campaign concepts, pitch creative strategy
and present finished work to judges and industry guests, giving you a taste of agency
life well before graduation.
Skills you can learn
Campaign strategy and creative concepting
Client pitch presentations
Market research and audience analysis
Copywriting and brand messaging
Team collaboration under deadline pressure
The Duquesne Duke
The Duquesne Duke is the university's independent, student-run newspaper, covering
campus news, sports, opinion and arts and culture in print and online. Staffed entirely
by students, the Duke gives writers, editors, photographers and designers the chance
to produce a real publication on a real deadline, from the first pitch meeting to
the final layout. No prior journalism experience is required to join, and students
can work their way from staff writer to editor over their time at Duquesne.
Skills you can learn
News writing and reporting
Editing and AP style
Photojournalism and visual storytelling
Page layout and design
Deadline management
Editorial decision-making
Duquesne Student TV (DSTV)
Duquesne Student TV is Duquesne's independent programming network. Students produce
news, sports, game shows and informational programs from concept through final edit,
working alongside classmates who handle everything from camera operation to on-air
hosting. There is no experience required to participate, and each meeting includes
training sessions along with hands-on collaboration on preproduction and postproduction
work, so new members pick up technical skills quickly.
Skills you can learn
Camera operation and studio production
Video editing and postproduction
On-air hosting and broadcast presence
Script writing for TV segments
Show planning and production scheduling
Off the Bluff Magazine
Off the Bluff magazine focuses on the Pittsburgh Neighborhoods Project. Our student-written,
edited, designed and produced magazine explores Pittsburgh's rich and varied neighborhoods,
giving members the chance to dig into long-form storytelling and visual design while
getting to know the city beyond campus. Students take ownership of every stage of
the magazine, from pitching neighborhood profiles to shooting photography and laying
out final pages.
Skills you can learn
Long-form magazine writing
Editorial photography
Print layout and design
Story pitching and editorial planning
Interviewing and community reporting
The Public Relations Student Society of America is open to all undergraduates from
all schools within the university. Students collaborate in weekly meetings and create,
develop and implement an actual public relations campaign for a local nonprofit organization,
working through the same planning and execution process used by professional PR agencies.
In addition, PRSSA sponsors networking opportunities in the form of talks and roundtable
discussions led by Pittsburgh's top public relations professionals. Get your work
seen and heard while building your portfolio.
Skills you can learn
PR campaign planning and execution
Media pitching and press release writing
Social media strategy
Client and stakeholder communication
Event planning and coordination
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation's oldest journalism organization.
Dedicated to improving and protecting journalism, our SPJ chapter holds regular meetings,
organizes travel to journalism conferences, holds workshops and hosts speakers such
as ESPN's John Clayton, a Duquesne media alumnus, and CNN's Lisa Burns, along with
a variety of local reporters, editors and designers. Members gain direct exposure
to working journalists and the ethical and practical questions shaping the field today.
Skills you can learn
Journalistic ethics and standards
Investigative research techniques
Networking with industry professionals
Conference and workshop participation
Interviewing and source development
Duquesne Student Radio (WDSR)
WDSR is Duquesne University's student-run and student-operated radio and podcast station,
open to all Duquesne students looking to gain valuable experience in radio broadcasting
and broadcasting systems. Our production studio is in College Hall, and we are live
24/7. Our mission is to provide quality programming that is entertaining and informative
while reflecting the lifestyle of Duquesne University students, and members have a
hand in everything from show concepts to on-air delivery.
Skills you can learn
Radio and podcast production
On-air hosting and voice presentation
Audio editing and mixing
Broadcast systems operation
Show concepting and programming
The Digital Experience & Prototyping Lab (DEPL) is a facility open to any media student
studying user experience.
The lab's testing area has three user workstations. Two are equipped with Morae software
and cameras for usability testing, and the third runs Noldus Video Observer XT observation
and analysis software.
A dedicated room supports small meetings and focus groups, outfitted with video cameras
and microphones to capture both verbal and nonverbal communication.
Broadcasting Experience Starts at DSTV
DSTV gave me the hands-on sports broadcasting experience to travel the country
and cover the A10 tournament, leading to broadcast clips and opportunities with outside
organizations like ESPN. Student media was the best way for me to build a portfolio
before graduation.
Jack Morgan, A'26Sports information and media alumnus, former station manager at Duquesne Student Television
