Liz Schultz (left) and Kayla Smith (right) completed an internship with KCCI this summer.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication students Liz Schultz and Kayla Smith have returned to Iowa City after a three-month summer internship with Iowa’s News Leader, KCCI 8 News. 

KCCI, a CBS-affiliated news organization based in Des Moines, IA, is known for both its delivery of “non-biased news” and range of storytelling topics that are relatable to the central Iowa community, according to Schultz. These topics include—but are not limited to—breaking news, crime, politics, traffic, weather and sports.

During their time with KCCI, the two University of Iowa seniors had the opportunity to learn about each level of the storytelling process; that is, from interviewing to reporting, editing, producing and even anchoring. 

Schultz—a reporter and digital producer for DITV as well as a member of the SJMC Student Advisory Board—said she spent much of her time shadowing general assignment reporters and photographers. With them, she assisted with interviews, taking photos and further carrying out daily assignment tasks. She also frequently had the opportunity to travel around the state to meet with her sources. 

“...any chance that I got to get out of the newsroom…I wanted to get out and go experience it all, and I was able to visit a lot of towns in Iowa I would have never thought I would be going to,” she said.

Along with general reporting and photography, Schultz also performed B-roll voiceovers, practiced anchoring and gained more on-camera experience. This has brought her one step closer to her goal of one day becoming an on-screen reporter.

“There was not a single day where I wasn’t learning something…” she said. “...I learned how to ask better interview questions, I learned how to just be more confident on camera, really how to use my surroundings when it comes to stand-ups or live shots.”

Similar to Schultz, Smith, who serves as the news director for DITV, started working with general assignment reporters at the beginning of the summer. During this time, she also recorded her own stand-ups, worked with the digital team to create web stories, wrote, edited and made graphics.

“I got a lot of really great hands-on experience there, which I am forever grateful for,” Smith said.

After spending a considerable amount of time working with the reporting team, Smith later gained an interest in the news production process. 5:00 p.m. Producer Kaitlyn Thurman took Smith in under her wing, giving her both practice and creative control, Smith said.

“I got to help her write all of the 5:00 p.m. newscasts from that point on,” Smith said. By the end of the summer, she had been writing around half of the 5:00 p.m. show on a regular basis. This experience helped her discover her drive to one day become a full-fledged news producer as well.

“Every single piece came into place…KCCI was able to help me figure that out for myself,” she said. “I was encouraged and I was put into a place where I could grow and learn that for myself, which I was so grateful for.”

Looking back on their experiences, Schultz and Smith both reported having covered a story that deeply stood out to them. In her case, Schultz said she was able to tell a “super impactful, empowering story” about a young man named Truman with mononucleosis as well as a ruptured spleen.

“The entire team at Mercy One Des Moines Medical Center, they didn’t think he was going to survive, but he is fully recovered within three to four weeks,” she said.

Although Schultz originally thought she was only going to be interviewing members of the Mercy One team, she was later surprised to discover she would also have the opportunity to talk with the young man and his family.

“I’m so honored to have had the opportunity to tell this story because it really is a miracle and such an inspiring story, especially with anyone who’s experienced something like that,” she said.

On another note, Smith said her most memorable experience was accompanying DITV alumni and KCCI Reporter Beau Bowman to gather information from a Farnhamville murder trial. She said being in the courtroom made her feel a sense of shock, but the gratitude she received for covering this and many other stories emphasized the importance journalism plays in providing a voice to the voiceless.

“Every single conversation I would have with someone, it would be this…huge thank you at the end,” she said. “They (sources) would be like ‘thank you for covering this, thank you for being here,’ because people care to be seen and to be heard and have their stories told.”

Although fond memories and experiences were a big takeaway from this internship, Schultz and Smith said this opportunity also helped to prepare them for their future in journalism. Along with stating “there was not a single day where (she) wasn’t learning something,” Schultz said her experience with KCCI bettered her skills in relation to long-form storytelling and creating news packages as well.

“I think all of it has really prepared me to become an impactful storyteller,” she said.

According to Smith, not only did her internship with KCCI help her advance professionally, but it also taught her lessons relevant to her personal life.

“Every single day, I was getting advice and feedback from professionals on how to make my work better, but I was also getting tips on how to take care of myself in a really demanding field,” she said.

As they wrap up their final year as undergraduates here at the University of Iowa, Schultz and Smith have a few words of wisdom to pass on to younger SJMC students.

“Always say yes,” Schultz said. “There’s so many different opportunities, and if anything comes your way, don’t be afraid to just explore it.”

Taking into consideration the lessons she learned from KCCI, Smith said it is important to remember that when it comes to college and internship experiences, one will get out what they put in.

“There’s a different opportunity for every single person that walks through the doors of Adler…” she said. “There are countless opportunities here. So, you have to take advantage of it, but also allow yourself a world outside of Adler.”

For more information about pursuing internships or other opportunities within SJMC, feel free to reach out to Michelle Sillman–SJMC’s Recruitment, Internship and Placement Coordinator–at michelle-sillman@uiowa.edu.