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"Apply for anything; dream big because you never know what is going to happen," said the not-so-typical-mass-communications major, Nalina Shapiro. And that is exactly what she did.
Shapiro is a senior from upstate NY. Her major is mass communications with a focus on broadcast journalism. She had one of the most amazing internships this past summer at CBS National News in New York City. Shapiro worked weekends on the CBS weekend edition. Although she did not work with Katie Couric all of the time, she did get to work with her a few times. Shapiro's CBS internship experience was "life changing, and unreal."
"Before this internship I was 95% sure that I wanted to be in the news business, but after the internship, I'm 150% sure it is what I want to do." Shapiro recommends job shadowing as the best way to make sure that you like what you are going to do as a career, and knowing that you really want to do it.
"All of the little things don't really matter after that one big thing happens to you," Shapiro said. Shapiro did not know anyone when she applied for the internship. She was hired because they liked her sound and the information she brought.
"Looks, sounds, and information are all important because they are not going to hire you if they don't like you," Shapiro said.
Freshmen year, Shapiro worked at the Franklin Pierce TV station, and the first week they had her anchoring and reporting.
"Other schools don't even let you touch equipment or anchor until they're juniors. Here at Franklin Pierce, I started as a freshman, and not many people get that chance at other schools," Shapiro said. It did not come naturally to Shapiro, and she did not have the same luck that she did at CBS.
"The first couple of years were difficult, and I didn't really know what I was doing. But, the seniors were great mentors." Shapiro took critique because she knew that is how she would grow.
"I watched myself on tape afterwards, and learned from my mistakes. I think mentors are important because they judge your work, and it helps you." Learning from her mistakes, and taking advice from others got Shapiro to where she is today. She took little steps and made it big.
"You are always going to get grime work, but just do it. Be good at what you do, and enjoy it. People will see that you're serious, and will eventually give you better jobs. But, if you complain and turn the job down, you won't learn or grow." Someone suggested to her that she should apply for an internship at WBZ in Boston, MA, and at WMUR for sports. Although she does not truly want to report on sports, she "would not turn down options, especially if she was working in a news room."
Last year in 2008, Shapiro was selected to be a reporter for Dan Rather's show on HD net for the 2008 Presidential Election. Shapiro worked with one other reporter, and a handful of students for Dan Rather Reports all around New Hampshire reporting on the election. It was a program that colleges could participate in, and Franklin Pierce University was one of them.
Now, Shapiro is working with people for an alumni interview, and Franklin Pierce University is using some of her clips for the Franklin Pierce University's website. She interns at WMUR Channel 9, in Manchester two days a week. She is also working on her news reporter reel. This is a video of clips of her in action for employers to see what she has done, and how she presents herself.
Shapiro says that "networking is the best thing that you can do to get your ideas out there. Don't just talk to the 'big people,' but talk to the 'small people' too." That will help you get where you want to be.
After talking with Shapiro, I can see that she is going to have great success in the news business. She has a very positive attitude and it doesn't seem that she will be pushed down, and if she is, she will get right back up and learn from her mistakes. With her obvious hard work and dedication to her career she will go far. Who knows, maybe she will be the next Katie Couric.
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