NGC Interns Talk Back

Lawyers at Every Turn

2009-08-26T12:59:30Z

Ojay All
Intern, Business and Legal Affairs

When I was home recently to visit family, I had a chance to meet up with one of my friends for coffee. As I neared the bottom of my second cup, my friend asked, "So, what type of work do lawyers do at National Geographic Channel?" That was an excellent question. While everyone knows that lawyers can defend them in court, prepare a will, or finalize a divorce, fewer (including myself before entering law school) are familiar with their work in obscure areas such as television, media, and entertainment.

This summer, through my internship in the Business and Legal Affairs Department at National Geographic Channel in Washington, D.C., I've had the opportunity to learn first-hand the integral role lawyers play in operating an international cable channel. From negotiating and drafting contractual agreements for new programs, to protecting NatGeo's intellectual property from copyright infringement, the attorneys I work with interact with departments across the channel and are involved in most major business decisions.
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Now, fast-forward nine months into the future. The filmmaker has successfully shot, edited, and delivered the film to NatGeo and they love it. The program is a month from airing and the NatGeo Executive Producer has chosen a person or actor to narrate the program. Business and Legal Affairs is notified and an attorney drafts and sends an independent contractor agreement to the person or actor's agent and gets it signed. The narration is recorded and added to the program. In the meantime, the Communications and Marketing Departments, which have been working feverishly on promoting the show, decide to add cutting-edge CGI animation to the on-air promos. The work will be done by an outside design company and Business and Legal Affairs drafts a contract for the work and sends it to the company for signature.

Finally, all work is done and the program airs - it is a huge critical and ratings success. Sequel anyone? Better call Business and Legal Affairs.

Now for another cup of coffee.

You Mean I Get a Badge?

2009-08-18T14:00:06Z

By Katie Jewett
Intern, Research, Standards, and Practices

At the juncture of 17th and M, the institution famed for its yellow frame bustles with activity. Throughout my first day (or few weeks for that matter), I couldn't quite grasp that this was the place where it all comes together--the stories, photographs, and footage that have comprised America's lens on the world for over a century. The atmosphere of the place seemed to pulse with a contagious sense of adventure, history, and enthusiasm which has only become more apparent with time.
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The strange thing is, despite my very intern-ish enthusiasm and probably naive amazement, it seems as if the novelty never wears off. I still secretly delight in watching people's reaction to that wearisome question, "So where do you work?" Even better is when the people who ask are interns on the Hill. That's right, I say to myself as I read their awed expressions, I even get an email account.

Nearly every staff member I talk to unknowingly confirms this observation of pride for working at this institution. One recently told me, "I've been here for ten years, and I still can't believe I work at National Geographic." From the cross-cubicle talk on the third floor to random conversations in the cafeteria, I know that the talent, drive, and good humor I've encountered will stay with me as I soon navigate my way out of class and hopefully into a career.

My brief association with National Geographic has broadened my perspective on what I would like a future career to hold. No matter where I end up, I hope my work is driven by two things: one--a passion for the work I do, and two--a real respect and pride for the organization or institution I contribute to. And this, perhaps, is the greatest impression National Geographic Society has made on me during the summer. After all, behind the thousands of timely stories produced here for over a century, there is a multitude of staff that passionately worked to see them through, sustaining this institution so that you and I might dream big too.

Lessons from Nat Geo

2009-08-11T13:34:42Z

By Christine Gosney
Intern, NGC Creative

With only one more week left for me at NGC and many interns already gone, here are some things I've been reflecting on about my summer internship at Nat Geo:

-There's something for everyone to watch on our channel and to do at work.
-It's about the stories--the visuals, the sounds, and the visceral feeling of being right there.
-Having a renowned, credible society behind us means the work we all output needs to meet high standards.
-Every day is different.
-Great people make a job great.
-It's not always about getting ahead, but paying attention to what you're doing right now... and contributing your best.

This summer I worked with the Creative team to write and produce promos to air on our channel. Here are some highlights:
-A promo can be a 30-second powerhouse. Or even 10 seconds.
-Writing is a muscle and needs exercise.
-We work with all kinds of footage from shows: beautiful, captivating, and stirring.
-Have something for everyone. Grab people's attention in different ways.
-Tell what's new about this story.
-When people passionately tell their own story, it packs a punch. Even if it's only a 3-second sound bite in a promo.
-Simplicity.
-Inform. Captivate.

It's been a fantastic summer at Nat Geo! With one week left, I have no doubt that my list of things I've learned will grow. The most important thing I've learned: NGC is a perfect environment to gain experience and to grow, so apply to intern if you're interested. You won't regret it.

"Hello" Nine-to-Five and Pantyhose World

2009-08-05T22:26:07Z

Rachael Cansler
Intern, Creative and Marketing
National Geographic Domestic Home Entertainment

Young professionals are entering a world market rampant with issues I'm sure our parents never had to deal with fresh out of college. With many of us facing menial, or no, entry level professions often completely sidetracked from what we'd really like to do, the dark shadow of loan repayment and grown-up bills cast over us, it's difficult to feel optimistic about saying "goodbye" to textbooks and "hello" to nine-to-five and pantyhose. Furthermore, given the state of the union, the idea of relocating seems like a geographical game of roulette that could make or break how quickly graduates wean themselves off ramen noodles powder-mix Gatorade. Suddenly growing up appears an insurmountable colossus and I find myself considering graduate school as a means of prolonging my oblivion to such dire considerations--and don't even think about mentioning interest rates to me.
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Maybe being an intern at National Geographic is not quite, as Pat put it, "the very best of the best" or similar, but the people I have met, the skills I have learned, and the overall encouraged participation in vastly diverse projects and inter-departmental goals have given me a self-awareness as a strong, prepared, valuable professional. I'm not disillusioned to the mountains my peers and I will be faced with summiting, but I am absolutely confident that I have what is necessary to go far in my life. Pat yourself on the backs, interns, we're here!

Mingling, Meeting, and Music

2009-07-21T14:58:26Z

Grace Ross
Intern, Creative and Marketing
International Channel

'Networking' is one of the reoccurring terms that seems to pop up in all of the NGC 101 intern meetings; connections, good attitude, and passion also count among the more frequent. Twice a week all the Channel interns gather to listen to speakers representing every department, effectively following the path of a show, from Acquisitions and Development to Marketing and Legal. These meetings, known as NGC 101, not only provide an opportunity to learn about the departments, but also to meet the people within and engage directly with them, helping to establish the connections we hear so much about. Unlike many of our parents, the young generation of today must rely on connections and networking in order to land a job. The NGC 101 sessions are a wonderful chance to hone these networking skills, helping the interns prepare for the cutthroat nature of the current job market.

Working for the International Channel has also given me an interesting perspective within NGC 101, revealing distinctions and differences between the domestic and international market that I never would have been aware of. A few weeks ago CJ Fahey, from Nat Geo Music, spoke to the International Channel's interns. Before the meeting, for homework, CJ provided a CD that gave us some examples of the kind of music aired on the Channel. I loved the wide variety of music represented, types of music rarely heard within the US from all around the world. The exposure to new forms of music canceled out the fact that I was doing homework over summer break. As singing is one of my passions, to meet someone who was more passionate than I about music was a definite highlight of my time at Nat Geo.

The Reality

2009-07-16T14:01:39Z

Lilly Lukas
Intern, Digital Media

On Tuesday, the interns were given the opportunity to speak with National Geographic staff photographer Mark Thiessen, who has worked with National Geographic since 1990. Almost everyone recognizes National Geographic for its stunning, world-renown images, so needless to say, a lot of interns showed up. Probably about half of the group wished they were Thiessen. Amateur photographers would ~~kill~~ seriously injure for his "dream job." Photographing a forest fire beats a desk job any day.

"But how do we get to where you are?" asked one eager intern. We were all secretly wondering the same. Thiessen's answer was disheartening, but honest. Back in the good old days, you could work your way to the top. Start as a mail boy or copy girl (a.k.a. The Intern), and in a few years, you're driving a Bentley with "IMACEO" on the license plate. If only you work hard enough. These days, disappointingly, this American dream seems to be just that. Are we the generation who must make a name for itself elsewhere before we find our desired path? According to Thiessen, to work as a photographer at National Geographic: yes.

The Deciding Factor

2009-07-10T15:22:29Z

Melissa Harward
Intern, Digital Media

When I submitted my resume to National Geographic, I thought for sure my future supervisors would be impressed with my accounting experience at my last job, the degrees I am pursuing, or even my creative--yet professional--watermark. Though I hoped all of this evidence of my hard work would separate me from the other applicants, there was only one deciding factor that got me the job: I played volleyball in high school.

The National Geographic Channel is known for its competitive volleyball team. Each Wednesday, the best of the best gather together and trek to the polo fields near the Lincoln Memorial to spike, dig, and kill. The games are so serious that the captains even agree to play with people from the Discovery Channel, in order to stack the team.

In the past few seasons, however, the team's unusually fantastic record has slowly diminished. Its days of being undefeated slowly faded away, revealing a gaping hole in the team's strategy. That's where I step in.

On my second day on the job, my supervisor approached me with an offer I couldn't refuse. She had seen my resume, and she knew what I was good for.

There were no tryouts. Shoved into the first game, I struggled to keep my composure under shouts of "wrong person Setter!" and "watch that hole in the ground!" I returned home, grass-stained but victorious.

Now, every week, I head out to that polo field knowing that I am about to step into a fierce battle of strength, athleticism, and good footwork. I am proud to say that the team is back to its previous undefeated title, though I still can't quite pinpoint the cause.

On the rarest of occasions, we even have fun. Last game, we saw one of our celebrity show hosts, the vampire-fish guy, who, I suppose, came out to watch his Channel play. Even he was speechless in our great presence. When we said hello, he gave a small nod and walked off.

Beyond the "Tourist" Phase

2009-07-08T21:05:17Z

Kathleen Quigley
Intern, Production Management
International Channel

When I tell people that I am an intern living in D.C., I feel nice and smug that "intern" is not a euphemism for "Capitol-Hill-peon." (Look here for more information about our Hill counterparts). I dabble in a wee bit of drudgery here and there, but it is necessary, National Geographic, yellow-framed drudgery.

I have been at National Geographic Channel International for over a month, and it is my first time living in D.C. Let me say that I am officially beyond the tourist phase. All signs point to this being true:

1. I know the aggravation brought on by those unknowing individuals who stand on the left side of the escalator.
2. I've catalogued an inventory of commuter footwear.
3. I have been here long enough to wish D.C. were a bit more like New York.

Days at NatGeo are spent working on a slew of tasks, some more stimulating than others. My duties range from updating Excel spreadsheets that are the foundation for the organization of my department, to watching shows at different stages in post-production, to calling hotels in Europe for an Executive Producer's journey abroad to find out if he has internet in his rooms. In the background, there is always an extremely friendly and productive environment that I sincerely look forward to entering everyday.

While I don't answer phone calls from my Alaskan Congressman's disgruntled constituents, nor do I ever have to match my ties and cuff links (rather, I tend to mix it up), I am getting a valuable taste of what it's like to be a grown-up in a professional setting. And I just figured out a way to make iced coffee in the office kitchen, so I am totally set for the rest of summer.

Explorers Symposium

2009-07-02T16:41:43Z

Grace Ross
Intern, Creative and Marketing
International Channel

A few weeks ago I participated in the Explorers Symposium. I even came in on my day off to attend the panels. The symposium offered an opportunity for National Geographic affiliates to attend panels of explorers-in-residence and to listen to these traveled explorers describe their experiences and discoveries. Each panel revolved around a theme, engaging participants on subjects ranging from oceanography to cultural heritage to sustainability. Despite limited time, each panelist inspired the hidden conservationist within me. The excitement and participation within conservation activism is often overshadowed by day to day affairs. But the symposium reminded me of the importance of environmental awareness in a society still young in the conservation effort. Of all the panels, the Frontiers of Exploration with Ted Waitt interested me the most. I felt like a little girl on the peak of discovery inspired by the passion evident in the explorers.

Another example of the wonderful opportunities at National Geographic manifested itself in the form of a tour of the Maps Department. Kaitlin Yarnall guided us around the 7th floor explaining the complexities of map making and the history of maps at Nat Geo. I was amazed at the extensive editing and research required for each map, especially when shown some of the original maps that had been hand printed. At the end of the tour, the interns were allowed to take a map or two with us. My struggled to protect the maps from the onslaught of rain that drenched Washington that afternoon was well worth the effort in memory of all I had learned that afternoon.

Glass Doors and Other Obstacles

2009-06-29T13:31:06Z

Melissa Harward
Intern, Digital Media Department

When I first received confirmation that I would be working at the National Geographic Channel for the summer, I was, of course, ecstatic, but I didn't really know what to expect. Would I be working for a bunch of old men with safari hats and pipes? I'd never been to D.C.--would I get run over by the President's black suburbans (more like a taxi)?

Growing up, National Geographic was just a magazine that had pretty pictures in it. I remember picking one up at my grandmother's house and tearing out a picture of a zebra's eye. You could see the photographer in its reflection. It was kind of awesome.

Flash forward eight years or so, and here I am, standing in front of a glass door trying to figure out how to open it after my first day on the job. Push. Pull. Nothing. How hard is it to open a door?

"You have to push the big red button first," said one of the many people I met that day. Of course, I didn't remember her name.

"Thanks." I sulked out feeling a bit dumb. But that door was the lowest point of my day.

The first person I met at NatGeo, besides the security guard, was David, a research manager for the Channel. He pointed me in the right direction to one of my supervisors. I learned later that he's "the crazy loud one."

I sat at a "pod" (because cubicles are too uninviting) and tried to follow along with Leslee, my supervisor, as she tried to explain what we did at the Digital Media department. I was so overwhelmed that I forgot to eat lunch.

At the end of the day, the glass door finally opened, and I walked "home" to my crappy, expensive dorm ("in a good location," said the housing lady at GWU), dodging taxis and the like.

I thought about my zebra eye picture, which I still have. I'm working at National Geographic. I'm 19 years young. I'm in D.C. by myself.

It's going to be a good summer.

Why Are We Here Anyway?

2009-06-24T13:41:51Z

Christine Gosney
Intern, Creative Department

Internships. They look great on resumes. Experiential education is important. Networking is the backbone of the job market. These are all true, but why are we here, at National Geographic Channel? There are still paid internships out there, gasping for life in our hire-freezed country. Academic credit in exchange for three to five days of free labor? My grandfather would not approve. Nevertheless, NGC still attracts the starry eyes of over 25 undergrads, grads, and recent grads. So what's the allure? Well, ask yourself that too. The same things that attract you to NGC's programming certainly resonate with most of us too. I'm sure most interns would agree that we're very excited to be here. So it was encouraging when everyone I met at NGC was eager to have me and the rest of the interns on board. You can see how open NGC is by how diverse everyone's background is. We have people from marketing, journalism, science, law, television, and film, just to name a few. There are so many ways to apply what we're passionate about to our work at the Channel. This passion is key. The staff too is eager to teach. In an increasingly challenging job and education market, it can be easy to feel bogged down by the desire to compete or shine. Here, we've been encouraged to be open, to learn, and to just give it a try. This is exactly what we came here for.

I shouldn't have been surprised when I came to intern at Nat Geo that they would have an internship program, called NGC 101. Each week we have at least one meeting with members of a specific department to hear about their career and work. I'm sure it might seem intimidating for one or two staff members: they look down the conference table and see ten or so interns sitting quietly with wide, attentive eyes. It's not easy on public speaking nerves. But we're just guppies right now. Sure, some of us may have more hands-on experience or feel comfortable with our supervisors. But we all can feel like tiny fish when we're listening to people with years of experience and wisdom--and we hush before them. We're excited and a bit nervous. We want to learn and make good impressions and be ourselves. But in the face of the big, bad Nat Geo, that can be a bit intimidating. Luckily, it's only the beginning of the summer, and we're in an ideal atmosphere to grow.

That's Right, We're Running This Show Now!

2009-06-20T05:09:28Z

Welcome to NGC Interns Talk Back, the first blog made solely for National Geographic Channel interns. Despite its cute title, we actually enjoy working for NatGeo and probably talk back very little to our supervisors. [NOTE FROM SUPERVISOR: I don't know, this is a pretty mouthy bunch!]

Through this blog, we hope to give you an inside view of the Channel--what we're doing and how we're doing. From personal anecdotes about our bosses, to an insight we had while touring the buildings, we want to give you NatGeo through the eyes of the little guys.